PT-2 "The Plot Frustrated" (Acts 23:23-35)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/27/2018 7:46 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  PT-2 “The plot Frustrated”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:23-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings: 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusersarrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            As we look at the letter that Lysias wrote to Felix we can see that he left a few things out, and he probably did this to embellish these things to make himself look better in the eyes of his boss, Felix who was the governor over Judah.  He left out the part that he was going to scourge Paul, which is how he found out that he was a Roman.  I suppose that all in all he did what he wanted to do in order to get Paul away from him, as I don’t think that he actually wanted to deal with this problem.  After all the Jews had some sway over the political things that went on in Judah, and it was probably best to get Paul to the governor. 

 

            The troops got Paul out of danger as they spent the night in Antipatris, and so the next day only those on horseback continued to Caesarea where they delivered Paul and the all important letter to those in charge there.  The verdict was that Felix would give a hearing to Paul once those who were accusing him arrived.  MacArthur adds “The stage was thus set for the first in Paul’s series of Roman trials.”

 

            He goes on to conclude his writings on this chapter:  “God’s providential protection of His servant demonstrates His faithfulness.  Based in part on his own experiences, Paul could declare to the Corinthians that ‘God is faithful’ (1 Cor. 1:9; cf. 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18; 2 Thess. 3:3).  The first step in that direction occurred the day after God’s promise to bring Paul to Rome.  He also showed His care for Paul by sovereignly providing a safe and comfortable trip to Caesarea and providing the best of accommodations when he arrived there.  Paul experienced the truth expressed by Peter:  ‘Casting all you anxiety upon Him because He cares for you’ (1 Pet. 5:7).

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Upon the earth.”

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who were the drowned in the Red Sea while pursuing the Israelites?” 

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/27/2018 8:07 AM

PT-1 "The Plot Frustrated" (Acts 23:23-35)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/26/2018 8:13 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  PT-1 “The Plot Frustrated”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:23-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings: 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusersarrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            Lysias’ actions as seen in the first part of this section show that he was a really good commander.  He had to get Paul out of Jerusalem for if he was assassinated then he would have been responsible for the death of a Roman citizen.  He decided to pass the problem onto his supervisor who was the Roman governor Felix.

 

            I have always thought that it was overkill as far as the amount of soldiers that would take Paul to Caesarea, which was a 65 mile trip, and was the seat of the Roman government in Judea, and this was where Felix was headquartered.  Perhaps it was with good reason that he had so many troops because of the threat that he had heard about with the Jews. 

 

            Lysias did not even wait for morning as they left at 9:00 P. M.  He also provided a mount for Paul so that they could move faster. 

 

            John MacArthur writes “As was required when a Roman officer sent a prisoner to his superior (Everett F. Harrison, Interpreting Acts: The Expanding Church [Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1986], 373), Lysias ‘wrote a letter’ of explanation to Felix, which Luke summarizes:”  The letter can be seen above verses 26-30, the indented part of our Scripture reading for this section. 

 

            “Claudius was the Roman name he took (perhaps in honor of Emperor Claudius) when he obtained his citizenship (22:28).  Since Lysias is a Greek name, it signifies he was probably a free-born Greek by nationality.”

 

            We will end here as I have mentioned that Sunday’s I do a shorter SD because of my responsibilities of teaching Sunday school.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Pilate” (John 18:31).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Where did the first angel in Revelation 16:2 pour out his vial?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/26/2018 8:36 PM

 

 

 

 

"The Plot Found out" (Acts 23:16-22)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/25/2018 10:39 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Plot Found Out

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:16-22

 

            Message of the verses:  “16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you." 22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."”

 

            I learned some things here that I did not know before reading this section of Scripture for the first time, and that is that Paul had a sister, and a nephew.  How old his nephew is I do not know, but old enough to come to Paul on his own and tell him what he had learned.  More of the providence of God displayed here.

 

            There are some questions that John MacArthur brings up about Paul’s family.  What were his sister and nephew, and probably husband doing in Jerusalem?  Was his nephew studying to become a Rabbi like his uncle?  If his family disowned him after he became a believer did they now become believers and are supporting him.  Well the Bible does not tell us all of these answers, so my thoughts are that God did not want us to know, but like all human beings we are curious in wondering about these things.

 

            Because there were forty people involved in this plot one has to believe that the word would get out, and so it did, but how Paul’s nephew heard about it is not told.  Once he found out about the plot he came and told Paul about it right away.  After that Paul called a soldier to him and asked him to take his nephew to see the commander.  We can see that Paul did not tell Lysias out of respect for him, but asked a soldier and because Paul was a Roman citizen the soldier did as Paul asked him to do.

 

            The commander still did not know what to do with Paul, and as we will see it seems that he was eager to hand him off to someone higher in the Roman world.  Because of this he listened to what Paul’s nephew said.  The boy told him what he had heard, and then after hearing from him he told the young man not to breathe a word to anyone about what he had told him.

 

            John MacArthur concludes his comments on this section by writing:  “If the conspirators realized that their plot had been uncovered, they would undoubtedly have abandoned it and formulated another.  And if that one were not discovered, Lysias reasoned, Paul might be killed.  Further, if the Jews did not know that he knew of the plot, they could not question his motives for sending Paul to Caesarea.  Then he took the necessary measures, without imaging he was carrying out God’s providential protection of Paul.”

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “To seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said, ‘Take him, and judge him according to your law’?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/25/2018 11:01 AM

"The Plot Formulated" (Acts 23:12-15)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/24/2018 11:14 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  The Plot Formulated

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:12-15

 

            Message of the verses:  “12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place."”

 

            First of all I want to remind you the name that John MacArthur gives this chapter in his book that begins at verse 12 of Acts 23 and goes to the end of the chapter:  “Providential Protection.”  We have mentioned that there is no doctrinal issues found in this section with the exception of what we call providential meaning found here, similar to the book of Ester, a book that is all about the providential care of God’s people Israel.  The book of Ester has no mention of God in it, but you know he is there when you read that book similarly to what is seen in this last part of the 23^rd chapter of the book of Acts.

 

            As we can see from this section, particularly in verse one that the Jews were disappointed that Paul was still alive, and therefore they formed a plot to kill him, even stating that they would not eat or drink until Paul was dead.  John MacArthur states “The Greek text reads, “They anathematized themselves’ (cf. Gal. 1:8, 9), thus invoking divine judgment if they failed to carry out their oath.  They probably spoke words to the effect of ‘May God do so to us and more if we eat or drink anything until Paul is dead’ (cf. 1 Sam. 14:44; 2 Sam. 3:35; 19:13; 1 Kings 2:23; 2 Kings 6:31).”

 

            As we look at what is happening to Paul in this situation we can compare what happened to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Both were Jews, preachers of the Gospel to their people and both were guilty of no crime.  Yet both were plotted against, both stood before a confused Sanhedrin, and both were prisoners in Fort Antonia.  MacArthur adds “Paul shared in ‘the fellowship of His sufferings’ (Phil. 3:10; cf. Gal. 6:17).”

 

            What was the reason that the Jews acted in such hostility to Jesus and then to Paul?  I have mentioned this in previously SD’s and that is that there are two kinds of people in this world, only two.  Those who are lost and those who are saved through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the lost people who are spiritually dead do dead things, and these are two examples of spiritually dead people doing spiritually dead things.

 

            Luke goes on to say that there were forty people involved in this plot.  It would take forty people to kill Paul because they knew that the Romans would have a heavy guard on him, and they also knew that the Romans would not kill him.

 

            Luke goes on to talk about the role that the Sanhedrin played in this role, and that was that they were to ask the commander to bring Paul back to the Sanhedrin in order to question him more thoroughly, and then on the way they would have him killed.  In our next SD we will see the providential way God works in having this plot found out. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Even though there are no theological themes in this chapter it is enough for me to realize that God is caring for me in a providential way, His way.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord as He leads me so that my life will bring honor and glory to His Son.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The rich” (1 Timothy 6:17-18).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “According to Luke, why did Jesus come to earth?”

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/24/2018 12:04 PM

"Intro to Acts 23:12-35

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/23/2018 9:50 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                        Focus:  Intro to Acts 23:12-35

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:12-35

 

            Message of the verses:  “12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place." 16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately,

"What is it that you have to report to me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you." 22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." 23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

 

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. 30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

 

 31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”

 

            As I look at this section of Scripture, the last part of chapter 23 I can’t help but think about what the Lord had just told Paul in a vision that He was thankful that Paul was obedient to Him in Jerusalem, testifying to the Jews, and now the Lord tells Paul that he must testify of Him in Rome too.  It will take a while before Paul goes to Rome, but he will get there, as the book of Acts closes while Paul is in Rome.

 

            Another thing I think about is what the Lord had told to Peter found in the 21^st chapter of the book of John where He tells him exactly how he will die to the glory of the Lord, and then later on we found Peter in a cell chained between two soldiers where he was to be executed the next morning.  Peter was asleep, and I believe he was asleep because of the assurance of what the Lord had told him earlier how he would die, and it was not by the sword.

 

            In John MacArthur’s commentary he introduces this section by talking about how perhaps Paul may have been thinking about King David and the ten years that he was on the run, running from King Saul, but David was assured that he would become King of Israel because the prophet Samuel had anointed him to be king when he was a young man.  As we look at these three Biblical characters they all have in common that the Lord had given them promises and they all believed them.  I suppose that the dream that Joseph had when he was a young man also fits into this category too. 

 

            MacArthur writes that perhaps Paul was thinking about a psalm that David wrote which I will include in this SD.  Psalm 56:1-13 is the psalm quoted in his commentary.

 

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. 2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? 5 All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6 They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. 7 Because of wickedness, cast them forth, In anger put down the peoples, O God! 8 You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, In the LORD, whose word I praise, 11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. 13 For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.”

 

            John MacArthur writes:  “This narrative passage contains no doctrinal truths or practical exhortations; it merely recounts an event in Paul’s life.  Yet no passage of Scripture could more clearly illustrate the providence of God.

 

            “God’s providence is His sovereign control over and ordering of natural circumstances to accomplish His will.  It is also illustrated clearly in the Old Testament in the book of Ester, where God providentially protected His people, Israel, from their destructive enemies.  God’s providence underlies such familiar and comforting passages as Philippians 4:4-7; Hebrews 13:6; and Luke 12:22-34.

 

            “God’s dramatic, providential deliverance of Paul plays out in three scenes; the plot formulated, found out, and frustrated.” 

 

            Lord, willing, we will begin by looking at Acts 23:12-15 in our next SD, “The Plot Formulated.” 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have always believed that God is in control of all things and that He will use these things to bring about His will upon the earth.  In believing this it makes me think just how great, and how powerful God is as He takes even sinful things and causes them to bring glory to His name.  For instance, as we look at what happened in World War Two we see that out of all the mass killing and terrible things that happened out of that war came the re-birth of the nation of Israel, something that was prophesied in Ezekiel chapters 36-37.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord even in times when things do not seem to be going the way I would want them to go as I know He is working things out for His glory and for my good.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “First day of the first month of the second year” (Exodus 40:2, 17).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Whom did Paul counsel to be rich in good works?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/23/2018 10:32 AM

 

 

 

 

           

"The Consolation" (Acts 23:11)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/22/2018 9:45 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                      Focus:  The Consolation

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                           Reference:  Acts 23:11

 

            Message of the verses:  “11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."”

 

            Paul was kept at Fort Antonia, which was very near the temple, as the Roman’s kept Paul there to insure his safety.  As we think about the condition of the Apostle Paul at this time, we would probably conclude that perhaps his mental condition was not really as good as perhaps it should be.  He knew that the Spirit of God had sent him into Jerusalem for His purposes, and yet here he sits in a prison cell, badly beaten from the blows that he took at his so-called trial wondering about his future, what the Lord would want him to do next as he had just completed his third missionary journey.  I have to believe that Paul was a bit discouraged because of all that he went through, and to top it all he was alone, not having any of his companions with him to help comfort him.  Well we read the following from verse 23:11 “on the night immediately following,” and this speaks of his so-called trial, “the Lord stood at his side.”  Let us look at some verses that we have already looked at from the book of Acts to show that this was not the only time that this occurred in his life.  “And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; (Acts 18:9).”  “17 “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ’Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 “And I said, ’Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20 ’And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ 21 “And He said to me, ’Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles’ (Acts 22:17-21).”  (This was from Paul’s speech in Jerusalem before he was arrested.)

 

            As the Lord began to talk to Paul he began by consoling him, exhorting him to “take courage.”  Let us look at a couple verses from 2 Corinthians to show that God graciously comforts His downcast servants “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, “4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ (2 Cor. 1:3-5).”  Paul then goes on later in 2 Corinthians to write that he was filled with comfort (7:4), and the reason was because God comforts the depressed (7:6).

 

            The Lord goes on to commend Paul for witnessing to His cause in Jerusalem.  Paul had successfully completed the task the Lord had given him to do at Jerusalem, something that Paul knew that was a part of the reason for him being in Jerusalem.

 

            Lastly the Lord tells Paul that he would also be a witness of the cause of Christ in Rome, something we have mentioned that was what Paul desired to do.  “9  For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10  always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; (Romans 1:9-11).”  “but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you (Rom. 15:23).”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful that the Lord does bring comfort to me when I am in need of comfort.  One of the ways He does this is through my reading of the book of Psalms.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to pray for our Evangelism Explosion teams as they go out to talk to families that the Lord directs them to go to.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Revelation.”

 

Today’s Bible Question:  “What day and year was the tabernacle actually built?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/22/2018 10:21 AM

"The Conquest" (Acts 23:6-10)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/21/2018 8:51 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                                          Focus:  The Conquest

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                       Reference:  Acts 23:6-10

 

            Message of the verses:  “6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!" 7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10 And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.”

 

            We have been looking at different parts of the life of Paul who was named earlier in the book of Acts “Saul of Tarsus,” and one of the things that we know about Paul is that he was very intelligent, and that shows up here in this section.  Paul realized that things were not going to be fair in this hearing, especially since he was almost beaten when the high priest ordered him to be “slapped in the face.”  Paul then realizes that in the Sanhedrin there were both Pharisees and Sadducees and he knew that the Sadducees did not believe in anything that was supernatural like angels or spirits or the resurrection of the dead.  I know that you have probably heard this before but I can’t resist in writing it again.  It is because that the Sadducees did not believe in the supernatural, in the resurrection of the dead that they were “sad you see.”  Paul was on trial for the hope of the resurrection and so he knew, at least for the time being that the Pharisees would be sympathetic towards him and that is why he stated that he was on trial because he believed in the resurrection of the dead.

 

            We can say that one of the themes of the book of Acts is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for if Jesus had not been raised from the dead assuring those who believed in Him eternal life, then there would be no need for the book of Acts at all.  Paul writes the following to the Corinthians:  “12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:12-19).”

 

            Now once Paul stated that he was on trial because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the place became almost like another mob scene and this was not what the commander was hoping for, for he wanted to find out why people were upset with Paul, and not he is involved in another place filled with arguments over things that he probably knew nothing or little about. 

 

            Lysias, the commander had little choice but to rescue Paul from this mob scene between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and so he order Paul to be taken by force back to the barracks.  I know that when we read this story we can see the hand of God in it, as it was God’s plan to have Paul go to Rome, something that Paul wanted to do for some time, as he had written to the Romans that it was his desire to visit Rome. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Sometimes, or perhaps even many times in my life when I don’t understand what is going on I have to believe that God is moving things in my life to work out for my good and for His glory.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to work things out in my life for His glory and for my good.

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Nebuchadnezzar” (2 Kings 25:1).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Which book of the Bible tells of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/21/2018 9:16 AM

PT-2 "The Conflict" (Acts 23:2-5)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/20/2018 8:38 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  PT-2 “The Conflict”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:2-5

 

            Message of the verses:  “2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?" 4 But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God’s high priest?" 5 And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ’YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’"”

 

            We begin by looking at the shocking bystanders who said to Paul in verse 4 “Do you revile God’s high priest?’”  John MacArthur writes that “Revile’ translates loidoreo, which means ‘to reproach,’ ‘to insult,’ or ‘to abuse.’  It is used in John 9:28 when the Jewish leaders insulted and mocked the blind man whom Jesus had healed.  Paul used it in 1 Corinthians 4:12 to describe the opposite of blessing.  Peter used it to describe the abuse heaped on Jesus (1 Peter   2:23).  The noun form appears twice in the New Testament, both times in lists of vices that characterize unbelievers (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10).  The adjectival form also appears twice in the New Testament.  First Timothy 5:14 describes reviling as an activity of Satan, while 1 Peter 3:9 forbids Christians to do it.

 

            “The use of loidoreo shows that the people felt Paul’s strong language was not some calculated legal ploy to take advantage of Ananias’s violation of the law but an expression of anger.  It was something, as he himself acknowledges in verse 5 that violated God’s law.  Although an evil man and a disgrace to his office, the high priest still occupied a God-ordained position of authority.  He was not to be reviled but respected (cf. Deut. 17:8-12).  ‘The high-priest stands before God.  To abuse him, especially in the discharge of his office, is blasphemy’ (H. Hanse, ‘loidoreo,’ in Gerhard Kittle, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament).”

 

            We have learned that Paul was a very humble man, and thus he quickly admitted his error as he explained in verse five “"I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ’YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’"”  In Paul’s case he only was admitting that he did not realize that this man was the high priest, but the high priest was still wrong in causing him to be hit in the face.  The quote comes from Exodus 22:28 “"You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”  By quickly quoting this verse it shows that Paul knew the Old Testament very well and it also shows the maturity of his walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul was dealing with this sin in his life very rapidly “But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged (1 Cor. 11:31).” 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Pride is probably the reason that I am not willing to admit when I sin, but pride is something that I need to rid myself of and agree with God quickly whenever I sin so that I can stay in fellowship with my Lord.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To remember that I am to count it all joy.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Ebenezer” (1 Samuel 7:12).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was the king of Babylon that destroyed Jerusalem?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/20/2018 9:06 AM

 

           

PT-1 "The Conflict" (Acts 23:2-5)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/19/2018 8:52 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  PT-1 “The Conflict”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 23:2-5

 

            Message of the verses:  “2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?" 4 But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God’s high priest?" 5 And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ’YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’"”

 

            The high priest was troubled by Paul stating that he had a clear conscience so he commanded those who were beside him to strike him on the mouth.  John MacArthur writes “Ananias the son of Nedebaeus is not to be confused with the former high priest Annas (Luke 3:2).  Ananias reigned for eleven or twelve years, beginning in A. D. 47, and was one of the most cruel, evil, corrupt high priests ever to hold office.  According to Josephus, he stole from the common priests the tithes that should have gone to them, beating any who resisted (Antiquities 20. 9. 2).  He did not hesitate to use violence to further his goals; in fact, a few years earlier the Romans had suspected him of complicity in atrocities committed against the Samaritans.  They sent him to Rome to appear before Emperor Claudius, but he was acquitted (Antiquities 20. 6. 2-3).  He was hated by the Jewish nationalists because of his staunchly pro-Roman stand.  When the Jewish revolt against Rome broke out in A. D. 66, Ananias was promptly killed by the Jewish rebels (Wars 2. 17.9).”

 

            Now that we have some background on this high priest we want to look at what he ordered those standing beside Paul to do to him.  They were told to strike him “Tupo” “1) to strike, beat, smite 1a) with a staff, a whip, the fist, the hand.”  So as we can see it was more than just a slap on his face. 

 

            We can see by what Paul said that he was upset by what happened to him and so he states “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!”  Jesus said something similar in Matthew 23:27 “"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”  Perhaps Paul was thinking of that but more likely he was thinking about what Ezekiel said in Ezekiel 13:10-16 “10 "It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ’Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; 11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out. 12 “Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ’Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’" 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and hailstones to consume it in wrath.”

 

            I have read this passage over many times in my journey through the Bible and have always thought that this high priest had done something wrong to Paul, and what I have found out is that since Paul had not even been charged yet there should not have been anything like this done to him, but that didn’t seem to bother that awful mean high priest.  Paul knew that he should not have been struck “Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"”  We know that Paul knew the Law probably better than anyone in that room, and this was what probably upset him the most, not the blow.

 

            We will finish this SD with a quote from John MacArthur that hopefully gives us an answer to a question some have raised.  “Some have wondered how to harmonize Paul’s strong language with his declaration to the Corinthians that ‘when we are reviled, we bless’ (1 Cor. 4:12).  They point out, in contrast, the example of Jesus, who ‘while being reviled, did not revile in return; while suffering, uttered no threats’ (1 Pet. 2:23).  When Jesus was struck in violation of the law, He merely asked, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?’  (John 18:23).

 

            “The answer is, of course, that Paul was not Jesus.  Jesus was the sinless Son of God.  Paul, while no doubt the godliest man who ever lived, was still a sinner.  He vividly described his battle with indwelling sin in Romans 7:14ff; this was on time when the flesh prevailed.”

 

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jacob” (Genesis 27:19).

 

Today’s Bible question:  “The name of what place means ‘Hitherto hath the Lord helped us’?”

 

Answer in our next SD.

 

8/19/2018 9:26 PM