Tuesday, September 7, 2010

NIPTO, Day 212

Today... I did school... ate lunch and watched Chuck... finished school... went grocery shopping with Mom... came home and watched an episode of What Not to Wear... watched an episode of 19 and Counting... ate dinner... and am now watching The Cosby Show. So good.
I've missed The Cosby Show. It's funny. They would be ridiculous parents!

NIPTO!
Acts 24:1-27
1Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.


So Paul was taken to Caesarea to protect him from the mobs of people who wanted to kill him. So the high priest came to Caesarea and presented his case against Paul to Felix, the governor. 




 5"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."


So the high priest explains what he has against Paul: he's a trouble maker, he stirs up riots, he's a ringleader of this crazy sect, he tried to desecrate the temple.
So they grabbed him. And "by examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him." Intense.



 9The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
 
10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.



The Jews agreed with the high priest. Then the governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul was glad to talk!




11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.


Paul went to the city to worship. And he didn't hide that. But the people accusing him didn't find him arguing at the temple or stirring up a crowd. He said that they cannot prove the charges they were making against him. BOO YAH.




14However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.


HOWEVER. What a... word. Hah.
He admitted to worshiping God. They called that a sect. Whatever. He stated that he believed everything that was written in the Bible and agreed with all the Laws. He said he had hope in God that there would be a resurrection. So he always strove to keep a clear conscience before God and man.



 
17"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.' "



After Paul had been gone for a few years, he went to Jerusalem to bring gifts to his people and to present offerings before God. He was ceremonially clean. There was no crowd around him. He wasn't causing a disturbance. But there were some people who had some things against Paul. 
He challenged the people who were there to say something about his "crimes" that he committed while he was before the Sanhedrin... unless it was just something he said.



 22Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.



Felix decided he had heard enough. He said he would make his decision when Lysias, the commander, came. In the mean time he had Paul kept under guard, but had some freedom. He was basically under house arrest.



 24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.



Felix was with his wife a few days later when he sent for Paul. He listened to him talk about Jesus and about his faith in him. Paul was talking about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement that's coming. Felix got afraid and told him to leave and that he would send for him again when it was convenient. Felix secretly hoped that Paul would bribe him to let him go, so he sent for him a lot... and they talked a lot.



 
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.


After two years Felix... died? or was just succeeded by this other guy. Felix wanted to make the Jews happy, so he left Paul in prison. What a good guy... not.


More on Paul tomorrow!
Now I'm going to go get ready for bed. School in the morning! (Spanish is the only class I have tomorrow! YAY! I love Spanish. The hour goes by too quickly!)
Adios mi amigos :)

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