13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”
He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
The Curious Case of Jesus Christ
This passage sets the stage for tomorrow’s reading, and you can feel the suspense. Festus is discussing with the king what to do with Paul. Paul was about to be tried by the Jewish religious leaders, but since he was a Roman citizen, he had the right to be tried in a Roman court. But the charges against Paul were not so-called “normal crimes”; instead, as Festus puts it, “they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.”
Imagine what King Agrippa probably thought when he heard this: “Wait, alive? Did you say they are arguing over whether a man is alive or not?”
This aspect of the case intrigues the king and leads him to want to meet Paul himself.
Then in dramatic fashion, Festus says, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
King Agrippa is curious because he has never witnessed a trial over whether someone has come back to life. To be honest, that’s not a usual topic of discussion and definitely not something to be argued in a court case, so naturally this would raise the king’s intrigue. Yet, this supposition is at the heart of what Christians believe. Christians believe that Jesus did, in fact, come back to life and that through His resurrection, He overcame the problem of sin and enables all of us to achieve eternal life. It is a pretty big deal in the Christian faith. Most people today would probably also be curious if you were to tell them about a dead man who came back to life.
Now I am going to add to your curiosity… Do you want to know how the conversation between King Agrippa and Paul goes?
Join us tomorrow at aylharvesters.com.
- Brian Hall
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Acts 25: 1-12
Paul’s Trial Before Festus
25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” 6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” 10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Acts 24:1-27
24 Five 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. 2 When 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. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
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 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] [a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When 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. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My 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. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear 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. 18 I 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. 19 But 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. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless 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.’”
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about 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.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When 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.
-Acts 24:1-27
Felix was basically a super high ranking Roman judge. His job was to decide legal cases. What’s crazy was how the Apostle Paul, an accused criminal, was able to share the Gospel with him. Check out verse 24.
Felix was impacted in such a way that he secretly wanted the Apostle Paul to be released. There was something about the Gospel preached by Paul that convicted Felix. There was something attractive about the Gospel. Notice in verse 26 how often Felix talked with Paul.
This is a reminder that God can use you anywhere. You can be in jail and he can still use you to reach one of the most powerful men in the area. Some of you might think, “I’m only a high school student” or “I’m only a college student.” God can use you, if you let Him.
How can God use you where you are to further His Kingdom? Who can you share the Good News of God’s love and mercy with?
Saturday, August 15, 2020
Acts 23: 23-35
23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency, Governor Felix:
Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. 33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
- Acts 23: 23-35
From yesterday’s passage, we read that some Jews had made an oath to themselves and planned to ambush Paul and kill him. His sister’s son heard about this and told the Tribune. From today’s passage, we then read how they prevented Paul from being ambushed and how the tribune has sent over 400 men to protect Paul.
Isn’t it amazing how God can deliver us from such great danger? Since becoming a follower of Jesus, Paul has been spreading His good news and held on to His truth. He was really bold at proclaiming the word of God and did not fear judgement from people. He continued to speak about God and His truth even though many are starting to accuse him and wanted to kill him.
But our God is so good that He can deliver us from any great danger. He allowed for Paul’s nephew to over hear about the plot to kill Paul so that he could give a warning to the tribune. Not only that, but God made way for hundreds of men to protect a single person. How amazing is it that our God would do that for one person.
God had a plan and purpose for Paul. He delivered him for the sake of the gospel. Being a Christian is not always going to be easy. We will face many trials and many are going to judge and persecute us. But God is greater than any of this. He can and will deliver us from the evils that we will face. He is faithful!
Friday, August 14, 2020
Acts 23:12-22
12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.
The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Throughout the bible God is constantly using seemingly unqualified people to do his work. The people you least expect to be present at the most important moments. God used mere fishermen to become the first disciples of Jesus. God used a shepherd, youngest of 8 brothers, to become the next King of Israel in the Old Testament. God used Mary Magedeline and other women, who at the time were heavily underrepresented and seen as much lower than men, to be the first witnesses of Jesus' resurrection! God uses unlikely characters to show that with Him we are the most qualified, with Him we can accomplish things previously impossible.
The same happens in this passage. Paul here has just preached the Resurrection to a large group of Jewish leaders. One group, the Sadducees, did not believe in the Resurrection, so angered by Paul's proclamation they plotted to kill him. But again in unlikely fashion, Paul's young nephew is the one who overheard this plotting and was able to report it to Paul. Paul then uses him as a messenger to tell the centurions what was going on so that they could save his life. Not to spoil the rest of the chapter, but Paul makes it out of there alive.
Again here God uses a young man to do his work, to help Paul survive another day. They don't even mention his name! Yet he did very important work as Paul's ministry wasn't over yet. I think God works very similarly with us today. He takes those who are young, who are average or unqualified in society's eyes, and directs them to do important work in his name. He completes us, whatever we think is lacking in ourselves He provides. So lets not let our age, occupation or abilities stop us from doing great things for the Lord.
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Acts 22:30-23:11
30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
-Acts 22:30-23:11As the situation continues to be tense, Paul finds himself having to appear before the Sanhedrin even after being released. The pressures seem to never end and his faith continues to be tested.
Something I admire about Paul is his firmness in what he believes in and what the truth is. As he takes on beatings, strikings, and continuous persecution, he continues to testify for God, similar to when Jesus was put on trial and endured the beatings and persecution prior to his crucifixion. Furthermore, as we see in verse 5, Paul stays true to God's word and law and knows his place in this certain situation. How difficult must it have been to be able to respond to being hit with remembering God's words and humbling oneself in front of authorities. Yet this is what God calls us to do, to not be overrun by our emotions.
Afterwards, Paul seems to cleverly find a way to get out of the situation by bringing up a sensitive topic that divides the assembly. It's interesting that there's this divide in the Senhedrin, and when the topics of resurrection or angels/spirits are brought up, debates are surely to arise. It reminds me of the divide we see today in our government with the two political parties, but I digress...
What I get out of Paul's actions in this situation is how after understanding his place and who he is speaking to, Paul finds a way to get out of the situation by speaking nothing but the truth. Yes, this ticked off half of the room, but it in a way call them out on their inaccurate beliefs. So by knowing the crowd and being rooted in scripture and his faith, he is able to turn a messy situation into one where he is able to be a testimony for God and speak truth. Although this is probably not the ideal and most comfortable way of doing this, but these are how the events unfolded and God reminds us that he is in all of this, and encourages Paul to take courage and continue on with his ministry.
So by exercising humility and being rooted in scripture and the truth, Paul is able to do God's work in this time by being a testimony for Him, all while enduring all the trials and persecution. Amazing!
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Acts 22:22-29
Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live." And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen." So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes." The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth." So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
In this passage we see Paul once again being persecuted for preaching the Gospel. He was causing a near riot to the point where he was taken in just based on the commotion he stirred. Unfortunately the whipping didn’t come after they found out what he might have been doing wrong, instead for them they planned on whipping him before to get him to reveal what he was doing wrong. As they were about to flog him, he revealed his Roman citizenship by birth. Israel was being occupied by the Roman Empire at this time and because of this they let him go because they were afraid of the implications of hurting one someone of Roman birth.
Paul’s Roman citizenship continued to play a part in opening paths for his missionary journey because his unique background allowed him opportunities that the Jewish disciples didn’t always have. God created us with our unique identities so it makes sense that God would take advantage of this when calling us into ministry. God uses all things for good for His glory. This includes things like our upbringing, our cultural background, our experiences and even our hardships to break barriers and open paths for us as we are called to do His will.
For me, God used the fact that I’m an Asian American graduate of the Academies @ Englewood to help understand and serve the same type of high schoolers years later. I can lean on my experiences to see what struggles they may have and empathize with their difficulties. Dr. Hall might not be Asian but God used his time studying Asian American Faith for his doctorate as well as his time in Taiwan to expose him to a culture that he would eventually minister to. When we allow ourselves to be used by God, God makes the most of who we are and uses all of who we are. It’s a testament to the power of our God but also encouraging to know that something as simple as your citizenship, ethnicity or just where you went to high school can be used to open unique opportunities.
Pray to God that He would use you, that you would would find your calling and that you would understand how your own unique background can play a part.
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