MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION ROME VIA CAESAREA P/4

Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XXIII - VI

"I, Paul, had listened to my nephew who had come to see me in the barracks here in Jerusalem... But I knew I needed to do more than just listen to him... I needed to take action... God had made sure I found out about this plot to kill me.... He, no doubt, wanted me to do something with the information I had received.... I sensed I should send my nephew to the Commander with this very important information.... That is what I have done.... I am now praying that the Commander will treat my nephew with kindness.... And will listen to him.... So that he can decide what will be the best way to keep me safe... No doubt, I will find out in due course what he has planned... I know that whatever he has planned, it will be in accordance with God's will for my life... And it will be part of His plan to have me go to Rome to testify about Him."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Paul arranged for his nephew to see the Commander....

              ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART XXIII - VI

Paul, knowing what was planned for him, knew that it was now time to act. He could just leave it up to God and say, "Ok, God, if it is Your will for me to die then so be it." But he knew it was not yet his time to die, for God had already appeared to him and told him that he was to go to Rome to testify there for the Lord. However, he knew that would not automatically happen; he needed to take some action for him to stay alive. And he knew exactly what he should do to keep alive: he needed to send his nephew  to the Commander so the Commander was warned about this plot as you can read in Acts 23:17-19

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the Commander; he has something to tell him. 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. The Commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What it is you want to tell me?"

The Commander realised that this young man would have an important message to share with him, a message that he needed to take seriously. Moreover, it would be a message no one else should hear.

Read Part Five HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION ROME VIA CAESAREA P/3

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                     PART XXIII - V  

"Earlier today, I, Paul, had a visit while here in the barracks in Jerusalem... I was delighted to see him... He is my nephew... When he walked in his face looked very serious as if there was something wrong... I asked him what the matter was... For I realised his visit was not just a casual visit.... He then told me that he had learned of a plot to kill me... I knew right away that he was not making this story up.. For I know my Jewish brothers... And I know that they are capable of doing these things if they believe it will serve God... I used to be like them.... Thankfully, God has changed me so much.... And God can change them as well.... However, I knew that until God changed them they would be serious about killing me... It knew too that it was not yet my time to die.... For God had told me I was to go to Rome....That is why God had allowed my nephew to find out about this plot.... So he could tell me about it..... And it could be prevented... Isn't God good?"... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the visit of Paul's nephew to the barracks.....

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART XXIII - V

Now God was very aware of the plot to have Paul killed and stepped in, for He had His plans for Paul. And His plans for Paul did not include his death.... at least not yet... Paul was eventually beheaded for his faith... But that happened a number of years later.... So God used a young man to find out about this plot to kill Paul. This young man was the son of Paul's sister. ... Obviously, Paul had relatives in Jerusalem who knew of his circumstances. And this nephew of Paul went to see him to tell him of this plot against him as you can read in Acts 23:16

But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

I am quite sure that no one, apart from the 40 men and the religious leaders, were supposed to know about this plot. But we all know that it can be difficult to keep a secret so someone must have "spilled the beans," who, in turn, shared the "secret" with someone else.... And that is how it eventually reached the ears of this young man. Was it a co-incidence that he found out about it? I don't think so. I believe it was more likely one of those God-incidences.

Read Part Four HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION ROME VIA CAESAREA P/2

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XXIII - IV

"When I, Paul, woke up in the morning I remembered the visit of the Lord while here in the barracks.... He had told me I would be going to Rome....I wondered if I was to speak about it to the Roman Commander... But I decided I would not mention anything.... For I knew everything was in God's hands.... And He would know how things could be arranged so I would arrive in Rome one day... In the meantime, unbeknownst to me, a group of Jewish men were plotting to kill me.. Apparently they spoke to the hight priest to petition the Roman Commander to have me appear before them once again....They planned to kill me before I got to the meeting... I did not know about these plans... But God knew about them, of course."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of  a plot against Paul...

                     ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                      PART XXIII - IV

As for Paul a large group of Jews decided they needed to do more as you can read in Acts 23:12-13

The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.

The Jews were very serious about getting rid of Paul so they came up with a plan and shared that with the religious leaders as you can read in Acts 23:14-15

They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the Commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about this case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here."

Apparently, the religious leaders were not at all opposed to the plan of these forty men. In fact, they may well have been pleased that there were some people who were willing to do the "dirty work" for them....

Read Part Three HERE

 

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION ROME VIA CAESAREA P/1

  

                                          

                                       

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                  PART XXIII - III     

"After I, Paul, had been removed from the room where the Sanhedrin had been meeting here in Jerusalem, I was brought back to the barracks.. I wondered what the Lord had in mind for me next... I did not have to wait long... For He appeared to me the following night... He spoke to me and told me He wants me to testify about Him in Rome... That means I will be going to Rome... I am not sure how or when that will happen.... But one thing I do know... I will be going to Rome....I know too that it will happen in God's time and in His way... It is very reassuring to know that my life is in His hands... And not in the hands of men.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's next assignment.....

 

 

                        ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                             PART XXIII - III

The next night Paul had a visit from the Lord to encourage him as you can read in Acts 23:11

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."

The Lord knew Paul needed some specific direction so He appeared to him to help him know that, just as the Holy Spirit had led him to go to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit would now lead him to go to Rome.

That is what He will do for us as well, It may not happen in the same dramatic way. But He will show us where to go and what to do whenever we have need of specific direction, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever as you can read in Hebrews 13:8

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Read Part Two HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/20

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                      PART XXIII - II

As, I, Paul looked around the room where the Sanhedrin had gathered here in Jerusalem.... I realised that some of them were Pharisees and others were Sadducees.... I know that they have different viewpoints on the afterlife.... So I decided to bring that up... I believe in the Resurrection of the dead... And so do the Pharisees.... As soon as I brought up the subject of the Resurrection I noticed a change in the atmosphere.... Things became more tense.... In fact, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees... The Pharisees began to argue in my favour.... Unfortunately, things became so heated that the Commander became afraid for my life... So he had me removed from the room.... This, despite the fact, that he still did not know what I was being accused of."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about the dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees....

 

                  ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                     PART XXIII - II

Then Paul began to focus on the division within the Sanhedrin as you can know from Acts 23:6

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees, and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Phrisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the Resurrection of the dead."

Paul was, hereby, taking the spotlight off himself and, at the same time, used that opportunity to get support from the Pharisees because he had been one of them.

His method was effective in that a dispute broke out as soon as he finished his sentence as you can read in Acts 23:7

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the Assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no Resurrection and that there are neither angels not spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all).

Paul knew how to bring a division because he knew the viewpoint of both and could therefore create a division within a moment. And he was not afraid to do so, if it served his purpose, as it did here in this situation.

Not surprisingly, he was then able to win the Pharisees over to his side as you can read in Acts 23:9

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisess, 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?"

Paul did not have to say anything more, for his brothets, the Pharisees, were completely willing to support him. However, that did not go down well with the Sadducees, who continued to dispute with the Pharisees as you can read in Acts 23:10

The dispute became so violent that the Commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them.

The dispute got to the point where the Commander had no choice but to move Paul to safety, despite the fact that he was still not clear as to why Paul had caused these people to react so violently towards him.

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/19

Read Part One HERE
   

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS  

                      PART XXIII - I

"Today, I, Paul, appeared before the Sanhedrin here in Jerusalem.... That happened at the order of the Roman Commander... I am now under his care... He wanted to know why I was being accused by my Jewish brothers.... I don't think he has gotten any wiser....The moment I was brought in before the Sanhedrin I addressed them.... However, the high priest was not pleased with what I said.... So he ordered to have me struck on my mouth.... I reacted quite strongly to his command... But I did not realise that it was the high priest who had given the order...And the high priest needs to be honoured because of his position.",,, Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what happened when Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin....

               ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                    PART XXIII - I

The Roman Commander in Jerusalem, who had taken Paul to the barracks to keep him safe from the rioters, decided to have Paul appear before the Sanhedrin as you can know from Acts 22:30

The next day, since the Commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he releasd him and ordered him, the chief priest and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

The Commander wanted to know what Paul had done to cause the Jews to be so angry with him and he thought that the best way for him to find out was to have Paul come before the religious leaders so that he could learn from their mouths what he was being accused of. When Pal was brought before the Sanhedrin, he looked at them calmly and began to speak as you can read in Acts 23:1

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

His words caused quite a reaction by the high priest Ananias as you can read in Acts 23:2

At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Paul did not wait to respond to what had happened to him as you can read in Acts 23:3

Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding me to be struck!"

However, it was clear that Paul did not know who he was speaking to as you can read in Acts 23:4

Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?"

When Paul heard that the man he had so strongly spoken against was the high priest, he realised he should not have spoken these words as you can read in Acts 23:5

Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realise he was the high priest; for it is written: "Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people."

Paul understood that he should honour the position of the high priest even if the high priest was opposed to him, as was the case with Ananias.

Read Part Twenty HERE

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/18

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                   PART XXII - VIII

"I, Paul, knew that the next statement I was going to make to the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem would be a most challenging statement.... Yes I knew that I had no choice but to make it... I waited for a moment or two before making that statement.... So far the crowd had behaved so well... They had patiently listened to me... But I knew that could change any moment....I was concerned that the moment of change had arrived...And I was right!....For as soon as I uttered the next words the crowd broke out in an uproar.... Why was that?... Because I had told them that the Lord had said to me to go to the Gentiles.... As good Jews, they consider Gentiles to be unclean... I used to believe that as well.... But God has shown me differently.... I now know that God views Jews and Gentiles alike.... That He loves all people regardless of nationality, status in life, or gender.... I now love all people like He does... But the crowd in front of me did not know that as yet... They began to riot so the commander had me taken into the barracks.".. Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Paul told the crowd in front of him that God had sent him to the Gentiles....

                          ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                 PART XXII - VIII

However, Paul had more to say to the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem as you can read in Acts 22:21

"Then the Lord said to me, "Go, I will send you far away to the Gentiles."

The moment the people heard these words, they broke out in an uproar for how could God have told this man Paul to go to the Gentiles? Did he not know that Gentiles are unclean and should not be communicated with? They had listened long enough. It was time to deal with this man Paul by getting rid of him as you can read in Acts 22:22

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"

All of a sudden the situation changed so the Roman commander decided to step in as you can know from Acts 22:23-24

As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.

Having been taken to a place of safety, Paul was next in danger of being floggd. The people, no doubt, would have been happy for him to have gone through that.

Read Part Nineteen HERE

 

                                   

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/17

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                       PART XXII - VII

"I, Paul, had shared with the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem all the important details of my trip to Damascus....  I then decided I should let the know about an experience I had when I visited Jersualem soon after that trip.... At that time I had gone to the temple to pray... While praying the Lord appeared to me in a vision... And He spoke to me... He told me to leave Jerusalem immediately... The reason the Lord told me to leave Jerusalem was because, according to Him, no one would accept my words about Him... Everyone in the crowd continued to listen to me... No one stirred when I began to share with them my response to the Lord's warning... They may well have wondered what my response was going to be... They did not have to wait long for I next began to share with the Lord about all the things I had done in the past....Including approving the stoning of the deacon Stephem... And that these things were known by all the people in Jerusalem."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's encounter with the Lord Jesus during an earlier visit to Jerusalem....

                       ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART XII - VII

Paul then carried on by sharing with the crowd in front of the temple in Jersualem his experience while at the temple during an earlier visit to Jerusalem as you can read in Acts 22:17-18 

"When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance and saw the Lord speaking. "Quick," He said to me, "Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about Me."

Paul was here referring to an earlier trip to Jerusalem just after his conversion. At that time he did leave Jerusalem and eventually went to Tarsus.

The people were still listening to him, not interrupting him for they wanted to know what else he had to share with them They did not need to wait long for Paul then continued by sharing with them details of the conversation he had had with the Lord as you can read in Acts 22:19-21

"Lord," I replied, "These men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in You. And hen the blood of Your martyr Stepehen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of him who were killing him."

All the people listening to him would have known that he was speaking the truth for they would have known him as the persecutor of the church. And they would have heard the story of the death of Stephen. Moreover, they would have approved of all his actions...

Read Part Eighteen HERE

                                      

MORE PLACES TO GO TO: DESTINATION JERUSALEM P/16

 

                                                                                    Read Part One HERE

A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                       PART XXII - VI 

"I, Paul, continued to share with the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem about my visitor Ananias... He had come to see me in Damascus... I believed that my earlier words about him had been favourably received...So I sensed I could continue to share with them what else Ananias had said to me... I knew too that it was very important to let the crowd know Ananias was not speaking on his own behalf... He was speaking on behalf of the God of our fathers....I next shared with them the words from Ananias that the God of our fathers had chosen me to know His will... And to see the Rightous One... And to hear the words from His mouth... And to be His witness to all people of what I had seen and heard...For the crowd needed to hear that I myself had not chosen God's will... But that God had chosen me to let me know His will... He was the One who had made the decision to let me know His will.... My role is simply to obey.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's revelation to the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem of his new task...

   

                     ATTACHMENT A ALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                           PART XXII - VI

Paul knew that what he was going to share next was very important so he must be very clear in what he was going to present to the crowd in front of the temple in Jerusalem as you can read in Acts 22:14-16

Then Ananias said, "The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Rightous One and to hear words from His mouth. You will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on His Name."

Paul made it very clear that, according to Ananias, it was none other than the God of their fathers who had spoken to him....And He had given him a new task: he had to share everything he had heard with others.

Read Part Seventeen HERE