Acts 23-24; Psalms 130 - Prayer Tents

23Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: "Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!"G1161G3972G816G4892G2036G435G80G1473G4176G3956G18G4893G2316G891G5026G22502Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.G1161G749G367G2004G3936G846G5180G846G47503But Paul said to him, "God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?"G5119G2036G3972G4314G846G2316G3195G5180G4571G2867G5109G2532G2521G4771G2919G3165G2596G3551G2532G2753G3165G5180G38914Those standing near Paul said to him, "Do you dare to insult God's high priest?"G1161G3936G2036G3058G2316G7495"I'm sorry, brothers. I didn't realize he was the high priest," Paul replied, "for the Scriptures say, 'You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.'"G5037G5346G3972G1492G3756G80G3754G2076G749G1063G1125G2046G3756G2046G2560G758G4675G29926Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!"G1161G3972G1097G3754G1520G3313G2076G4523G1161G2087G5330G2896G1722G4892G435G80G1473G1510G5330G5207G5330G4012G1680G2532G386G3498G1473G29197This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—G1161G846G2980G5124G2980G1096G4714G5330G2532G4523G2532G4128G49778for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.G1063G3303G4523G3004G1511G3361G386G3366G32G3383G4151G1161G5330G3670G2979So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. "We see nothing wrong with him," they shouted. "Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him."G1161G1096G3173G2906G2532G1122G5330G3313G450G1264G3004G2147G3762G2556G1722G5129G444G1161G1487G4151G2228G32G2980G846G2313G3361G231310As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.G1161G1096G4183G4714G5506G2125G3361G3972G1288G5259G846G2753G4753G2597G726G846G726G1537G3319G846G5037G71G1519G392511That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well."G1161G3571G1966G2962G2186G846G2036G2293G3972G1063G5613G1263G4012G1700G1519G2419G3779G1163G4571G3140G2532G1519G4516

The Plan to Kill Paul

12The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.G1161G1096G2250G5100G2453G4160G4963G332G1438G332G3004G5315G3383G5315G3383G4095G2193G3739G615G397213There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.G1161G2258G4119G5062G3588G4160G5026G494514They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.G3748G4334G749G2532G4245G2036G332G1438G331G1089G3367G2193G3739G615G397215So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way."G3568G3767G5210G4862G4892G1718G5506G3704G2609G846G2609G4314G5209G839G5613G3195G1231G197G4012G846G1161G2249G4253G846G1448G2070G2092G337G84616But Paul's nephew—his sister's son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.G1161G3972G79G5207G191G1749G3854G2532G1525G1519G3925G518G397217Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him."G1161G3972G4341G1520G1543G5346G520G5126G3494G4314G5506G1063G2192G5100G518G84618So the officer did, explaining, "Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."G3767G3303G3880G846G71G4314G5506G2532G5346G3972G1198G4341G3165G2065G71G5126G3494G4314G4571G2192G5100G2980G467119The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"G1161G5506G1949G846G5495G2532G402G2596G2398G4441G5101G2076G3739G2192G518G342720Paul's nephew told him, "Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.G1161G2036G3754G2453G4934G2065G4571G3704G2609G3972G839G1519G4892G5613G3195G4441G5100G4012G846G19721But don't do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."G3767G3982G3361G4771G3982G846G1063G1748G846G1537G846G4119G5062G435G3748G332G1438G332G5315G3383G5315G3383G4095G2193G3739G337G846G2532G3568G1526G2092G4327G1860G575G467522"Don't let anyone know you told me this," the commander warned the young man.G3303G3767G5506G630G3494G630G3853G1583G3367G3754G1718G5023G4314G3165

Paul Is Sent to Caesarea

23Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.G2532G4341G5100G1417G1543G2036G2090G1250G4757G3704G4198G2193G2542G2532G2460G1440G2532G1187G1250G575G5154G5610G357124Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix."G5037G3936G2934G2443G1913G3972G1913G1295G4314G5344G223225Then he wrote this letter to the governor.G1125G1992G4023G5126G517926"From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!G2804G3079G2903G2232G5344G546327"This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.G5126G435G4815G5259G2453G2532G3195G337G5259G846G2186G4862G4753G1807G846G3129G3754G2076G451428Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.G1161G1014G1014G1097G156G1223G3739G1458G846G2609G846G2609G1519G846G489229I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.G3739G2147G1458G4012G2213G846G3551G1161G2192G3367G1462G514G2288G2228G119930But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you."G1161G3377G3427G5259G2453G1917G3195G1510G1519G435G3992G1824G4314G4571G3853G2725G2532G3004G1909G4675G4314G846G451731So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.G3767G3303G4757G2596G1299G846G353G3972G71G1223G3571G1519G49432They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.G1161G1887G1439G2460G4198G4862G846G5290G1519G392533When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.G3748G1525G1519G2542G2532G325G1992G2232G3936G3972G2532G84634He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. "Cilicia," Paul answered.G1161G2232G314G2532G1905G1537G4169G1885G2076G2532G4441G3754G575G279135"I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive," the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod's headquarters.G1251G4675G5346G3752G4675G2725G3854G2532G3854G5037G2753G846G5442G1722G2264G4232

Paul Appears before Felix

24Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.G1161G3326G4002G2250G367G749G2597G3326G4245G2532G5100G4489G5061G3748G1718G2232G2596G3972 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: "Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.G1161G846G2564G5061G756G2723G3004G1223G4675G5177G4183G1515G2532G2735G1096G5129G1484G1223G4674G4307 3For all of this we are very grateful to you.G5037G588G3839G2532G3837G2903G5344G3326G3956G2169 4But I don't want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.G1161G3363G4119G3363G1909G4119G1465G4571G3870G4571G191G2257G4674G1932G4935 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.G1063G2147G5126G435G3061G2532G2795G4714G3956G2453G2596G3625G5037G4414G139G3480 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.G3739G2532G3985G953G2411G2532G3739G2902G2532G2309G2919G2596G2251G3551 7G1161G5506G3079G3928G3326G4183G970G520G1537G2257G5495 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."G2753G846G2725G2064G1909G4571G350G3844G3739G846G1410G1921G4012G3956G5130G3739G2249G2723G846 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.G1161G2453G2532G4934G5335G5023G2192G3779 10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.G1161G3972G2232G3506G846G3004G611G1987G4571G5607G1537G4183G2094G2923G5129G1484G626G2115G626G4012G1683 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.G4675G1410G1097G3754G1526G2228G3756G1177G2250G4119G575G3739G3427G305G1722G2419G4352 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.G2532G3777G2147G3165G1722G2411G1256G4314G5100G2228G1999G4160G3793G1999G3777G1722G4864G3777G2596G4172 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.G3777G1410G3936G3165G4012G3739G2723G3568G2723G3450 14"But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.G1161G5124G3670G4671G3754G2596G3598G3739G3004G139G3779G3000G2316G3971G4100G3956G3588G1125G2596G3551G2532G1722G4396 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.G2192G1680G1519G2316G3739G3778G846G2532G4327G3195G1510G386G3498G5037G1342G2532G94 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.G1161G1722G5129G778G846G2192G1275G4893G677G4314G2316G2532G444 17"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.G1161G1223G4119G2094G3854G4160G1654G1519G3450G1484G2532G4376 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.G1161G1722G3739G5100G2453G575G773G2147G3165G48G1722G2411G3756G3326G3793G3761G3326G2351 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!G3739G1163G1163G3918G1909G4675G2532G2723G1536G2192G1536G4314G3165 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of,G2228G2036G846G3778G2036G1536G2147G1536G92G1722G1698G3450G2476G1909G4892 21except for the one time I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"G2228G4012G5026G3391G5456G3739G2896G2476G1722G846G3754G4012G386G3498G1473G2919G5259G5216G4594 22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, "Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case."G1161G5344G191G5023G197G1492G4012G3598G306G846G2036G3752G3079G5506G2597G1231G5209G2596 23He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.G5037G1299G1543G5083G3972G5037G2192G425G2532G2967G3367G846G2398G5256G2228G4334G846 24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.G1161G3326G5100G2250G5344G3854G4862G846G1135G1409G5607G2453G3343G3972G2532G191G846G4012G4102G1519G5547 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. "Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."G1161G846G1256G4012G1343G2532G1466G2532G2917G3195G1510G5344G1096G1719G611G4198G3568G1161G2192G3335G2540G3333G4571 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.G1679G260G1161G2532G3754G5536G1325G846G5259G3972G3704G3089G846G1352G3343G846G4437G2532G3656G846 27After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.G1161G4137G1333G4201G5347G2983G5344G1240G5037G5344G2309G2698G2453G5485G2641G3972G1210

130[A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.] From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.H7892H4609H4615H7121H3068 2Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.H136H8085H6963H241H7183H6963H8469 3Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?H3050H8104H5771H136H5975 4But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.H5547H3372 5I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.H6960H3068H5315H6960H1697H3176 6I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.H5315H136H8104H1242H8104H1242 7O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.H3478H3176H3068H3068H2617H7235H6304 8He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.H6299H3478H5771