This part of the Bible was straightforward reading, easy to understand, and likely not so easy to live out. We are all human just like the people written about in this part of the Bible.

Man is about to die and consults the wrong god.

The Right God is angered and very jealous. There is only one God of Israel—God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen. Al-le-lu-ia!

Ochozias: Go, consult Beelzebub, the god of Accaron, whether I shall recover of this my illness.

Lord to Elias: Arise, and go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria (Ochozias), and say to them: Is there not a God in Israel, that ye go to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron?

And the angel of the Lord spoke to Elias, saying: Go down with him, fear not, He arose therefore, and went down with him to the king (Ochozias), and he said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Because thou has sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron, as though there was not a God in Israel, of whom thou mightiest inquire the word; therefore from the bed on which thou are gone up, thou shalt not come down, but thou shalt surely die.

So he (Ochozias) dies according to the word of the Lord which Elias spoke, and Joram his brother reigned in his stead.

Here is a good tip for living and acquiring wisdom: Ask for the right thing, be persistent and don’t every bully another human being!

Eliseus to Elias: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Sons of the prophets to Eliseus: Dost thou know that this day the Lord will take away thy master from thee? And he (Eliseus) answered: I also know it: hold your peace.

Eliseus to Elias in Jericho: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Eliseus to Elias at the Jordan: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Elias to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee that in me may be thy double spirit. And as they walked together, a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder; and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof…

And he (Eliseus) took up the mantle of Elias, that fell from him… And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias… and they were not divided.

Eliseus said: Where is now the God of Elias?

And he struck the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.

Little boys came out of the city (of Bethel) and mocked him (Eliseus), saying: Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord: and there came forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of them two and forty boys…

And when you make a deal (a league in biblical times) keep your deal or it may cost you more than the sheep, it may cost you the life of your son!

Now Mesa, king of Moab, nourished many sheep, and he paid to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams with their fleeces. And when Achab was dead, he broke the league which he had made with the king of Israel.

Eliseus:  But now bring me hither a minstrel. And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him (Eliseus), and he said: Thus saith the Lord: Make the channel of this torrent full of ditches… You shall not see wind, nor rain: and yet this channel shall be filled with water, and you shall drink, you and your families, and your beasts.

Eliseus: and this is a small thing in the sight of the Lord; moreover he will deliver also Moab into your hands.

…the Moabites saw the waters over against them red, like blood, and they said: It is the blood of the sword: the kings have fought among themselves, and they have killed one another: go now, Moab, to the spoils.

 

And they being conquerors (camp of Israel), went and smote Moab… and the city was beset by slingers, and a great part thereof destroyed.

Then he (the king of Moab) took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall: and there was great indignation in Israel, and presently they departed from him, and returned to their own country.

Know that the Lord takes care of people in many ways, including the miracles of multiplication of the widow’s oil; a barren birth and revival of a dead child; bitter pottage made sweet; multiplication of 20 loaves of bread to feed a hundred men with leftovers; and leprosy taken from a humble man and given to a deceiving servant:  

Now a certain woman of the wives of the prophets cried to Eliseus, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead… and behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him… I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me.

Eliseus to the woman: Go, borrow of all thy neighbors empty vessels not a few… And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons: and pour out thereof into all those vessels… Go sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live of the rest.

A great woman of Sunam: I perceive that this is a holy man of God (Eliseus), who often passeth by us. Let us therefore make him a little chamber, and put a little bed in it for him, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that when he cometh to us, he may abide there…

Eliseus to his servant Giezi say to her: Behold thou hast diligently served us in all things, what wilt thou have me to do for thee?

She answered: I dwell in the midst of my people.

Giezi to Eliseus: Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Eliseus to servant Geizito woman: At this time, and this same hour, if life accompany, thou shalt have a son in thy womb… And the woman conceived, and brought forth a son in the time, and at the same hour, that Eliseus had said.

Child to father: My head acheth, my head acheth…

Father to servant: Take him, and carry him to his mother.

She set him on her knees until noon, and then he died.

Woman to husband: Send with me, I beseech thee, one of thy servants, and an ass that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

Father to woman:  Why dost thou go to him? To day is neither new moon nor Sabbath.

Man of God (Eliseus): Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Eliseus to servant Giezi: lay my staff upon the face of the child…

Mother to Eliseus: As the Lord liveth, and as the soul liveth, I will not leave thee…

Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child… The child is not risen…

And going in he (Eliseus) shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands” and he bowed himself upon him, and the child’s flesh grew warm… and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes… She (the mother) came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out.

Eliseus to one of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one (servant) went out into the field to gather… wild herbs…. wild vine… wild gourds… for he knew not what it was…

…when they had tasted of the pottage, they cried out, saying: Death is in the pot, O man of God. And they could not eat thereof.

Eliseus said: Bring some meal… he cast it in the pot… and there was now no bitterness in the pot…

And a certain man came from Baalsalisa…  bringing twenty loaves…

Eliseus said: Give to the people that they may eat… his servant answered him: before one hundred men? They shall eat, and there shall be left. So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left according to the word of the Lord…

Naaman, general of the army of the king of Syria…he was a valiant man and rich, but a leper.

Eliseus sent a messenger to Naaman: Go, and wash seven times in the Jordan, and thy flesh shall recover health, and thou shalt be clean.

Naaman was angry and went away, saying: I thought he would have come out to me, and standing would have invoked the name of the Lord his God, and touched with his hand the place of the leprosy, and healed me… So he returned, and was going away with indignation…

Naaman’s servants to Naaman: Father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, surely thou shouldst have done it; how much rather what he now hath said to thee…

Then Naaman went down, and washed in the Jordan seven times: according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored, like the flesh of a little child, and he was made clean.

Naaman to Eliseus: In truth, I know there is no other God in all the earth, but only in Israel. I beseech thee therefore take a blessing (gift) of thy servant.

Eliseus to Naaman: As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.

So he (Naaman) departed from him in the springtime of the earth.

Giezi: I will run after him (Naaman), and take something of him…

Giezi to Naaman: Well: my master hath sent me to thee saying… two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them a talent of silver, and two changes of garments…

Eliseus to Giezi: Whence comest thou, Giezi? …Was not my heart present, when the man (Naaman) turned back from his chariot to meet thee? But the leprosy of Naaman shall also stick to thee, and to thy seed forever.

And he (Giezi) went out from him a leper as white as snow.

Miracles abound for us; yet humans all are we in need of one miracle!

Day 125: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Miracles Abound for Us; Yet Humans All are We!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Fourth Book of Kings Chapters 1-5.

Bible Notes:

This Book continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

4 Kings Chapter 1: Moab rebels; Ochozias tries to consult Beelzebub; Elias predicts the death of Ochozias; Elias twice brings fire from heaven; Elias visits Ochozias; Joram succeeds Ochozias.

And Moab rebelled against Israel, after the death of Achab.

Ochozias: Go, consult Beelzebub, the god of Accaron, whether I shall recover of this my illness.

Lord to Elias: Arise, and go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria (Ochozias), and say to them: Is there not a God in Israel, that ye go to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron?

Messengers to Ochozias: Thus saith the Lord: Is it because there was no God in Israel that thou sendest to Beelzebub the god of Accaron? Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed, on which thou are gone up, but thou shalt surely die.

Ochozias: It is Elias the Thesbite.

And he (Ochozias) sent to him a captain fifty, and the fifty men that were under him: Man of God (Elias), the king hath commanded that thou come down.

Elias to the captain: If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee, and thy fifty.

And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him, and the fifty that were with him.

And again he (Ochozias) sent to him (Elias) another captain of fifty men, and his fifty with him.

Elias answered: If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee, and thy fifty.

And fire came down fire from heaven, and consumed him, and his fifty.

Ochozias sent a third captain of fifty men, and the fifty that were with him.

And when he (Elias) was come, he fell upon his knees, before Elias, and besought him, and said: Man of God despise not my life… but now I beseech thee to spare my life.

And the angel of the Lord spoke to Elias, saying: Go down with him, fear not, He arose therefore, and went down with him to the king, and he said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Because thou has sent messengers to consult Beelzebub the god of Accaron, as though there was not a God in Israel, of whom thou mightiest inquire the word; therefore from the bed on which thou are gone up, thou shalt not come down, but thou shalt surely die.

So he (Ochozias) dies according to the word of the Lord which Elias spoke, and Joram his brother reigned in his stead.

4 Kings Chapter 2: Eliseus refuses to depart from Elias; Elias divides the Jordan; Elias taken up to heaven; Eliseus divides the Jordan; Sons of the prophets worship Eliseus; Eliseus heals the water; Bears destroy the boys who mock Eliseus.

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take Elias into heaven by a whirlwind…

Eliseus to Elias: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Sons of the prophets to Eliseus: Dost thou know that this day the Lord will take away thy master from thee? And he (Eliseus) answered: I also know it: hold your peace.

Eliseus to Elias in Jericho: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Sons of the prophets to Eliseus in Jericho: Dost thou know that this day the Lord will take away thy master from thee? And he (Eliseus) answered: I also know it: hold your peace.

Eliseus to Elias at the Jordan: As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

And Elias took his mantle, and folded it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and they both passed over dry ground.

Elias to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee that in me may be thy double spirit. And he (Elias) answered: Thou hast asked for a hard thing: nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it.

And as they walked together, a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder; and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof…

And he (Eliseus) took up the mantle of Elias, that fell from him… And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias… and they were not divided.

Eliseus said: Where is now the God of Elias?

And he struck the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.

Sons of the prophets: The spirit of Elias hath rested upon Eliseus…seek thy master (Elias), lest perhaps the spirit of the Lord hath taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley… And they sent fifty men: and they sought three days but found him not…

Men of Jericho to Eliseus: but the waters are very bad, and the ground barren…

Eliseus: This saith the Lord: I have healed these waters, and there shall be no more in them death or barrenness.

Little boys came out of the city (of Bethel) and mocked him (Eliseus), saying: Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord: and there came forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of them two and forty boys…

4 Kings Chapter 3: Joram’s reign in Israel; King Mesa’s rebellion; Three kings visit Eliseus; Eliseus procures water without rain; Eliseus foretells victory; The Israelites defeat the Moabites.

And Joram the son of Achab reigned over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Josaphat king of Juda. And he (Joram) reigned twelve years. And he did evil before the Lord, but not like his father and his mother: for he took away the statues of Baal, which his father had made. Nevertheless he struck to the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin, nor did he depart from them.

Now Mesa, king of Moab, nourished many sheep, and he paid to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs, and a hundred thousand rams with their fleeces. And when Achab was dead, he broke the league which he had made with the king of Israel.

Joram king of Israel to Josaphat king of Juda: The king of Moab is revolted from me, come with me against him to battle

Josaphat to Joram: I will come up: he that is mine is thine: my people, thy people: and my horses, thy horses.

Joram, Josaphat and the king of Edom went, and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey (by the desert of Edom)…

Joram: Alas, alas, alas, the Lord hath gathered us three kings together, to deliver us into the hands of Moab!

Here is Eliseus… who poured water on the hands of Elias…

Eliseus:  But now bring me hither a minstrel. And when the minstrel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him (Eliseus), and he said: Thus saith the Lord: Make the channel of this torrent full of ditches… You shall not see wind, nor rain: and yet this channel shall be filled with water, and you shall drink, you and your families, and your beasts.

Eliseus: and this is a small thing in the sight of the Lord; moreover he will deliver also Moab into your hands.

…the Moabites saw the waters over against them red, like blood, and they said: It is the blood of the sword: the kings have fought among themselves, and they have killed one another: go now, Moab, to the spoils.

And they being conquerors (camp of Israel), went and smote Moab… and the city was beset by slingers, and a great part thereof destroyed.

Then he (the king of Moab) took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall: and there was great indignation in Israel, and presently they departed from him, and returned to their own country.

4 Kings Chapter 4: Eliseus multiplies the widow’s oil; Eliseus promises a son to the Sunamitess; The son of the Sunamitess dies; She goes to Eliseus; Eliseus sees the dead child; Eliseus raises the child to life; Bitter pottage made sweet; Eliseus multiplies the bread.

Now a certain woman of the wives of the prophets cried to Eliseus, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead… and behold the creditor is come to take away my two sons to serve him… I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little oil, to anoint me.

Eliseus to the woman: Go, borrow of all thy neighbors empty vessels not a few… And go in, and shut thy door, when thou art within, and thy sons: and pour out thereof into all those vessels… Go sell the oil, and pay thy creditor: and thou and thy sons live of the rest.

A great woman of Sunam: I perceive that this is a holy man of God (Eliseus), who often passeth by us. Let us therefore make him a little chamber, and put a little bed in it for him, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick, that when he cometh to us, he may abide there…

Eliseus to his servant Giezi say to her: Behold thou hast diligently served us in all things, what wilt thou have me to do for thee?

She answered: I dwell in the midst of my people.

Giezi to Eliseus: Do not ask, for she hath no son, and her husband is old.

Eliseus to servant Geizito woman: At this time, and this same hour, if life accompany, thou shalt have a son in thy womb… And the woman conceived, and brought forth a son in the time, and at the same hour, that Eliseus had said.

Child to father: My head acheth, my head acheth…

Father to servant: Take him, and carry him to his mother.

She set him on her knees until noon, and then he died.

Woman to husband: Send with me, I beseech thee, one of thy servants, and an ass that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

Father to woman:  Why dost thou go to him? To day is neither new moon nor Sabbath.

Man of God (Eliseus): Let her alone for her soul is in anguish, and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Eliseus to servant Giezi: lay my staff upon the face of the child…

Mother to Eliseus: As the Lord liveth, and as the soul liveth, I will not leave thee…

Giezi was gone before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child… The child is not risen…

And going in he (Eliseus) shut the door upon him, and upon the child, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child: and he put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands” and he bowed himself upon him, and the child’s flesh grew warm… and the child gaped seven times, and opened his eyes… She (the mother) came and fell at his feet, and worshipped upon the ground: and took up her son, and went out.

Eliseus to one of his servants: Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one (servant) went out into the field to gather… wild herbs…. wild vine… wild gourds… for he knew not what it was…

…when they had tasted of the pottage, they cried out, saying: Death is in the pot, O man of God. And they could not eat thereof.

Eliseus said: Bring some meal… he cast it in the pot… and there was now no bitterness in the pot…

And a certain man came from Baalsalisa…  bringing twenty loaves…

Eliseus said: Give to the people that they may eat… his servant answered him: before one hundred men? They shall eat, and there shall be left. So he set it before them: and they ate, and there was left according to the word of the Lord…

4 Kings Chapter 5: Naaman goes to Samaria to see Eliseus; Naaman is healed of leprosy; Eliseus refuses Naaman’s gifts; Giezi’s avarice; Giezi’s punishment.

Naaman, general of the army of the king of Syria…he was a valiant man and rich, but a leper.

Little maid, led captive out of the land of Israel to Naaman: I wish my master had been with the prophet, that is in Samaria: he would certainly have healed him of leprosy which he hath.

King of Syria to Naaman: Go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. And he (Naaman) departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of golf, and ten changes of a raiment.

When the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his garments, and said: Am I God, to be able to kill and give life, that this man hath sent to me, to heal a man of his leprosy? Mark, and see how he seeketh occasions against me.

Eliseus to the king of Israel: Why hast thou rent thy garments? Let him come to me, and let him know that there is a prophet in Israel.

Eliseus sent a messenger to Naaman: Go, and wash seven times in the Jordan, and thy flesh shall recover health, and thou shalt be clean.

Naaman was angry and went away, saying: I thought he would have come out to me, and standing would have invoked the name of the Lord his God, and touched with his hand the place of the leprosy, and healed me… So he turned, and was going away with indignation…

Naaman’s servants to Naaman: Father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, surely thou shouldst have done it; how much rather what he now hath said to thee…

Then Naaman went down, and washed in the Jordan seven times: according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored, like the flesh of a little child, and he was made clean.

Naaman to Eliseus: In truth, I know there is no other God in all the earth, but only in Israel. I beseech thee therefore take a blessing (gift) of thy servant.

Eliseus to Naaman: As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.

So he (Naaman) departed from him in the springtime of the earth.

Giezi: I will run after him (Naaman), and take something of him…

Giezi to Naaman: Well: my master hath sent me to thee saying… two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them a talent of silver, and two changes of garments…

Eliseus to Giezi: Whence comest thou, Giezi? …Was not my heart present, when the man (Naaman) turned back from his chariot to meet thee? But the leprosy of Naaman shall also stick to thee, and to thy seed forever.

And he (Giezi) went out from him a leper as white as snow.

 

 

 

 

 

Now… Paul… came to Euphesus… and found certain disciples…

Paul: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

Disciples: “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Paul: “How then were you baptized?”

Disciples: “With John’s baptism.”

Paul: “John baptized the people with a baptism of repentance, telling them to believe in him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”

On hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; and when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve men in all.

Now this went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Gentiles, heard the word of the Lord. And God worked more than the usual miracles by the hand of Paul; so that even hankerchiefs and aprons were carried from his body to the sick. And the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

 

Paul’s address to the Ephesians:

“You know in what manner I have lived with you all the time since the first day that I came into the province of Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and in trials that befell me because of the plots of the Jews; how I have kept back nothing that was for your good, but have declared it to you and taught you in public and from house to house, urging Jews and Gentiles to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now behold, I am going to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there; except that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me, saying that imprisonment and persecution are awaiting me. But I fear none of these, nor do I count my life more precious than myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.”

Paul asks them to remember his teaching:

“And now, behold, I know that you all among whom I went about preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no longer. Therefore O call you to witness this day that I am innocent of the blood of all; for I have not shrunk from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops, to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will get in among you, and will not spare the flock. And from among your own selves men will rise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Watch, therefore, and remember that for three years night and day I did not cease with tears to admonish every one of you.

Paul’s farewell:

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up and to give the inheritance among all the sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my needs and those of my companions. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling you ought to help the weak and remember the word of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Amen! Al-le-lu-ia!

Day 126: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective;  Paul’s Farewell Address to the Ephesians; More Blessed to Give than Receive!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 19-20.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 19:  Paul comes to Ephesus; Paul remains at Ephesus for two years; False exorcists; They burn their books publicly; Paul plans to continue his journey; Silversmiths at Ephesus fear Paul’s doctrine; A riotous assembly; The town clerk restores order.

Now it was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul… Came to Euphesus… and found certain disciples…

Paul: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

Disciples: “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Paul: “How then were you baptized?”

Disciples: “With John’s baptism.”

Paul: “John baptized the people with a baptism of repentance, telling them to believe in him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”

On hearing this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; and when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve men in all.

Now this went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Gentiles, heard the word of the Lord. And God worked more than the usual miracles by the hand of Paul; so that even hankerchiefs and aprons were carried from his body to the sick. And the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

But certain of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, also attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits in them, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” …But the evil spirit answered and said to them, “Jesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know, but who are you?

…and the name of the Lord Jesus came to be held in high honor…

And many who practiced magical arts collected their books and burnt them publicly; and they reckoned up the prices of them, and found the sum to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. Thus mightily did the word of the Lord spread and prevail.

After all this, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and to go to Jerusalem, saying “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

For a silversmith named Demetrius, by making silver shrines of Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsman… “Men, you know that our wealth comes from this trade”… this man Paul has persuaded and turned away numbers of people, saying, “Gods made by human hands are not gods at all.”

“Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

“Men of Ephesus, what man indeed is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana and of Jupiter’s offspring?

Acts Chapter 20:  Journey through Macedonia and Greece; Paul restores life to a boy at Troas; Leaving Troas; Paul’s address to the Ephesians; Paul asks them to remember his teaching; His farewell; Paul’s departure.

And a young man named Eutychus, who was sitting at the window, was overcome by drowsiness and, as Paul addressed them at great length, he fell fast asleep and fell down from the third story to the ground and was picked up dead. Paul went down and laid himself upon him, and embracing him, said, “Do not be alarmed, life is still in him.”

Paul’s address to the Ephesians:

“You know in what manner I have lived with you all the time since the first day that I came into the province of Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and in trials that befell me because of the plots of the Jews; how I have kept back nothing that was for your good, but have declared it to you and taught you in public and from house to house, urging Jews and Gentiles to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now behold, I am going to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there; except that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me, saying that imprisonment and persecution are awaiting me. But I fear none of these, nor do I count my life more precious than myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.”

Paul asks them to remember his teaching:

“and now, behold, I know that you all among whom I went about preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no longer. Therefore O call you to witness this day that I am innocent of the blood of all; for I have not shrunk from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops, to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will get in among you, and will not spare the flock. And from among your own selves men will rise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Watch, therefore, and remember that for three years night and day I did not cease with tears to admonish every one of you.

Paul’s farewell:

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up and to give the inheritance among all the sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my needs and those of my companions. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling you ought to help the weak and remember the word of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

And there was much grieving among them all… being grieved most of all at his saying that they would no longer see his face.

There’s a soft, spiritual, and inspiring side to this part of the Old Testament and a hard, brutal, and violent side to the demise of the house of Achab (Israel’s former king along with his son Joram) and Ochozias the king of Juda.

First the soft, spiritual, and inspiring side that has the potential to open us up to all that is good in the Universe and the Kingdom of God:

Not talking about mere eyesight here, more about perspective, what can one see with their heart? Or how is our heartfelt eyesight clouded from one’s fears or resentments or the untruths of their life story?

Eliseus: Lord, Open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw: and behold the mountain was full of Horses and chariots of fire round about Eliseus.

Eliseus: Lord, Strike, I beseech thee, this people with blindness. And the Lord struck them with blindness, according to the word of Eliseus.

Eliseus: Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord Opened their eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria.

For the Lord had made them hear, in the camp of Syria, the noise of chariots, and of horses, and of a very great army…

The Lord made the Syrian army hear things that were not there!

What of our other three of our five senses—touch, smell, and taste? Surely God has the power to have us touch or feel something differently than it is; to smell something appealing that is rancid or vice versa; and to taste bitterness when it should be sweet?

He can make emotions, whether worldly good or bad, just be emotions and a part of the human experience. He can make us indifferent between pain and pleasure, once again coming from our Splendid Spiritual Selves there is no difference.

Our five senses are God given and we trust them or should we trust them?

Perhaps it is our Silly Ego or our denial or our rationalization or our justification that we are tricked by?

If we can free ourselves, surrender, and align our free will and its choices with the Will of God which comes complete with a mighty source of power then indeed the Universe is all ours to enjoy in the glimpse of a lifetime with the promise of God’s Kingdom eternally a big bonus!

Now the hard, brutal, and violent side to the demise of Achab and Ochozias and their legacies whether human or material:

In the fifth year of Joram son of Achab king of Israel, and of Josaphat king of Juda, reigned Joram son of Josaphat king of Juda. He was two and thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Achab had walked… and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

And Joram slept with his fathers… and Ochozias his son reigned in his steed.

In the twelfth year of Joram son of Achab king of Israel, reigned Ochozias son of Joram king of Juda. Ochozias was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem… and he did evil before the Lord, as did the house of Achab…

He went also with Joram son of Achab, to fight against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth Galaad, and the Syrians wounded Joram, and he went back to be healed in Jezrahel…

Eliseus the prophet called one of the sons of the prophet… take this little bottle of oil in thy hand… go to Ramoth Galaad… thou shalt see Jehu… thou shalt put it (the oil) on his head, and shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: I have anointed thee king over Israel, (the people of the Lord. And thou shalt cut off the house of Achab thy master)…

Jehu is king… conspired against Joram. Now Joram had besieged Ramon Galaad, he and all Israel, fighting with Hazael king of Syria, and returned to be healed in Jezrahel of his wounds… and Ochozias king of Juda was come down to visit Joram.

Then there was a showdown:

Joram king of Israel, and Ochozias king of Juda went out, each in their own chariot… to meet Jehu…

Joram to Jehu: Is there peace Jehu?

Jehu: What peace? So long as the fornications of Jezabel thy mother, and her many sorceries are in their vigor.

Joram turned his hand, and fleeing, said to Ochozias: There is treachery Ochozias.

Jehu bent his bow with his hand and shot Joram between the shoulders; and the arrow went out through his heart, and immediately he fell in his chariot.

Jehu to Badacer his captain: So now take him, and cast him into the field (of Naboth), according to the word of the Lord.

Ochozias king of Juda seeing this, fled… and Jehu pursued him, and said: Strike him also in his chariot. And they struck him… and he fled into Mageddo, and died there… and they carried him to Jerusalem: and they buried him in the sepulcher with his fathers in the city of David.

Jehu came into Jezrahel… Jezabel hearing of his coming in, painted her eyes with stibic stone, and adorned her head, and looked out of a window…

Jehu said…Throw her down headlong: and they threw her down, and the wall was sprinkled with her blood, and the hoofs of the horses trod upon her… It is the word of the Lord… In the field of Jezrahel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezabel, and the flesh of Jezabel shall be as dung upon the face of the earth… so that they who pass by shall say: Is this that same Jezabel?

 

And now the ridding of Achab and Ochozias and the possibility of any descendants:

And Achab had seventy sons in Samaria so Jehu wrote letters… But they (Achab’s seventy sons) were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?

And he (Jehu) wrote letters the second time to them saying: If you be mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and come to me to Jezrahel by to morrow this time… And when the letters came to them (the chief men of the city), they took the king’s (Achab’s) sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him (Jehu) in Jezrahel.

Jehu to People: You are just: if I conspired against my master (Joram king of Israel, son of Achab), and slew him, who hath slain all these?

Jehu: See therefore now that there hath not fallen to the ground any of the words of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Achab, and the Lord hath done that which he spoke in the hand of his servant Elias.

So Jehu slew all that were left of the house of Achab in Jezrahel, and all his chief men, and his friends, and his priests, till there were no remains left of him (Achab).

And he arose, and went to Samaria… he met with the brethren of Ochozias king of Juda… and he said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and killed them… two and forty men, and he left not any of them.

And now to rid Israel of Baal:

Jehu to Jonadab: Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart?

Jonadab: It is. If it be, said he, give me thy hand. And Jehu gave him his hand and lifted him up to him into the chariot…

Jehu to Jonadab: Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. And he slew all that were left of Achab in Samaria, to a man, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke to Elias.

Jehu to the people: Achab worshipped Baal a little, but I will worship him more… call to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests, let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal: whosoever shall be wanting shall not live. Now Jehu did this craftily, that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal… there was not one left that did not come… and Jehu and Jonadab… but that there be the servants of Baal only…

Jehu to fourscore men without (outside): If any of the men escape, whom I have brought into your hands, he that letteth him go shall answer life for life… Go in, and kill them, let none escape…brought the statue out of Baal’s temple, and burnt it, and broke it into pieces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, and made a jakes (outhouse) in its place unto this day.

But Jehu was not perfect in the eyes of God:

So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel; but yet he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel sin, nor did he forsake the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan…

The Lord to Jehu: Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right and pleasing in my eyes, and hast done to the house of Achab according to all that was in my heart, thy children shall sit upon the throne Of Israel to the fourth generation.

Apparently there was revenge in the heart of the Lord?

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel to sin.

In those days the Lord began to be weary of Israel: and Hazael ravaged them in all the coasts of Israel from the Jordan eastward…

And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel, in Samaria, was eight and twenty years and his son Joachaz reigned in his steed.

Amidst this two-sided section of the Old Testament is a lot of confusion on my part:

Two different Jorams? One the son on Achab the king of Israel and the other the son of Josaphat king of Juda who died and Ochozias took over for?

There were two battles in Ramoth Galaad as the former king of Israel Achab was killed in Ramoth Galaad.

There also was one technicality as Third Kings has Ochozias, son of Achab too reigning over Israel in Samaria for two years whereas Fourth Kings has it for only one year?

And for a short period of time there were two kings of Israel—Joram, Achab’s son and Jehu, courtesy of Eliseus the prophet and God, of course.

Actually I think I am confused as there were two Ochozias (son of Joram king of Juda and son of Achab king of Israel)? I know I am confused!

So there you have it—imperfection—found in me and all us human beings!

 

Day 127: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Inspiring Perspective, Jehu Cleans up Israel, & My Confusion!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Fourth Book of Kings Chapters 6-10

Bible Notes:

This Book continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B. C. led Juda into captivity.

4 Kings Chapter 6: Eliseus causes iron to float; Eliseus reveals the Syrian plans; The Syrian army is blinded; Their sight and freedom restored; Benadad besieges Samaria; Famine causes a woman to eat her son; The king orders the beheading of Eliseus.

The sons of the prophet

And it happened, as one was felling some timber, that the head of the axe fell into the water… for this same (axe) was borrowed… Then he (Eliseus) cut off a piece of wood, and cast it in thither: and the iron swam… Take it up. And he (a servant) put out his hand and took it.

The man of God (Eliseus)

No one… but Eliseus the prophet… telleth the king of Israel all the words, that thos speakest in thy privy chamber.

Eliseus: Lord, Open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw: and behold the mountain was full of Horses and chariots of fire round about Eliseus.

Eliseus: Lord, Strike, I beseech thee, this people with blindness. And the Lord struck them with blindness, according to the word of Eliseus.

Eliseus: Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord Opened their eyes, and they saw themselves to be in the midst of Samaria.

And it came to pass after these things, that Benadad king of Syria gathered together all his army, and went up, and besieged Samaria.

Certain Woman: Save me, my lord O king.

King: If the Lord doth not save thee, how can I save thee?

King: What aileth thee?

Certain Woman: This woman said to me: Give me thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day: Give thy son that we may eat him. And she hath hid her son.

King: May God do so and so to me, and may he add more, if the head of Eliseus… stand on him this day.

4 Kings Chapter 7: Eliseus prophesies a time of plenty; Four lepers find the Syrians have fled; Fulfillment of Eliseus’ prophecy; The doubting lord is trod to death.

Eliseus: Thus saith the Lord: To morrow about this time a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a stater, and two bushels of barley for a stater, in the gate of Samaria…

Lord to the man of God (Eliseus): If the Lord should make flood-gates in heaven, can that possibly be which thou sayest?

Eliseus: Thou shalt see it with thy eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

Four lepers to the camp of the Syrians…

For the Lord had made them hear, in the camp of Syria, the noise of chariots, and of horses, and of a very great army…

Wherefore they arose, and fled away in the dark… desiring to save their lives.

Four lepers: We went to the camp of the Syrians, and found no man there…

The five horses that are remaining in the city (because there are no more in the whole multitude of Israel, for the rest are consumed)…

…And the people trod upon him in the entrance of the gate; and he died, as the man of God said… And it came to pass according to the word of the man of God…

4 Kings Chapter 8: The Sunamitess among the Philistines; Her property restored; Hazael goes to Eliseus; Hazael murders Benadad; Joram’s wicked reign; Edom and Lobna revolt; Ochozias succeeds Joram; Ochozias’ wicked reign; Joram is wounded.

Eliseus: for the Lord hath called a famine, and it shall come upon the land for seven years…

And when the seven years were ended…

And the king talked with Giezi, the servant of the man of God (Eliseus), saying: Tell me all the great things that Eliseus has done… the woman appeared, whose son he had restored to life, crying to the king for her house, and her lands… And the king appointed her an eunuch, saying: Restore her all that is hers, and all the revenues of the lands, from the day that she left the land, to this present.

Google Search: The eunuchs of the Bible were usually castrated males or those incapable of reproduction due to a birth defect. A eunuch could also be someone who performed work typical of eunuchs, although he remained perfectly capable of having sex—i.e., “eunuch” in some cases was simply a title. The purpose of intentional castration was to induce impotence and remove sexuality. It was a common practice in ancient times for rulers to castrate some of their servants and/or advisers in order to subdue and pacify them. It was especially common to castrate men who tended the royal harem.

Eliseus also came to Damascus, and Benadad king of Syria was sick…

King to Hazael: Can I recover of this my illness?

Eliseus to Hazael: Go tell him: Thou shalt recover; but the Lord hath shown me that he shall surely die.

And he stood with him, and was troubled so far as to blush; and the man of God (Eliseus) wept.

Hazael to Eliseus: Why doth my lord weep?

Eliseus: Because I know the evil that thou wilt do to the children of Israel. Their strong cities thou wilt burn with fire, and their young men thou wilt kill with the sword, and thou wilt dash their children, and rip up their pregnant women.

Hazael: Nut what am I thy servant a dog, that I should do this great thing?

Eliseus: The Lord has shown me that thou shalt be king of Syria.

Benadad… and on the next day… he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.

In the fifth year of Joram son of Achab king of Israel, and of Josaphat king of Juda, reigned Joram son of Josaphat king of Juda. He was two and thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Achab had walked… and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

But the Lord would not destroy Juda, for David his servant’s sake, as he had promised him, to give him a light, and to his children always.

In his days (Joram?) Edom revolted, from being under Juda, and made themselves a king… So Edom revolted from being under Juda, unto this day. Then Lobna revolted at the same time.

And Joram slept with his fathers… and Ochozias his son reigned in his steed.

In the twelfth year of Joram son of Achab king of Israel, reigned Ochozias son of Joram king of Juda. Ochozias was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem… and he did evil before the Lord, as did the house of Achab…

He went also with Joram son of Achab, to fight against Hazael king of Syria in Ramoth Galaad, and the Syrians wounded Joram, and he went back to be healed in Jezrahel…

King of Israel Achab was killed in Ramoth Galaad…

4 Kings Chapter 9: Eliseus sends a messenger to Jehu; Jehu is anointed king; Jehu goes to see Joram in Jezrahel; Jehu slays Joram; Ochozias is slain; Jezabel is slain and eaten by dogs.

Eliseus the prophet called one of the sons of the prophet… take this little bottle of oil in thy hand… go to Ramoth Galaad… thou shalt see Jehu… thou shalt put it (the oil) on his head, and shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: I have anointed thee king over Israel, (the [people of the Lord. And thou shalt cut off the house of Achab thy master)…

Jehu is king… conspired against Joram. Now Joram had besieged Ramon Galaad, he and all Israel, fighting with Hazael king of Syria, and returned to be healed in Jezrahel of his wounds… and Ochozias king of Juda was come down to visit Joram.

King: Are all things peaceful?

Jehu: What has thou to do with peace?

King: Is there peace?

Jehu: What has thou to do with peace? Pass, and follow me.

Joram king of Israel, and Ochozias king of Juda went out, each in their own chariot… to meet Jehu…

Joram to Jehu: Is there peace Jehu?

Jehu: What peace? So long as the fornications of Jezabel thy mother, and her many sorceries are in their vigor.

Joram turned his hand, and fleeing, said to Ochozias: There is treachery Ochozias.

Jehu bent his bow with his hand and shot Joram between the shoulders; and the arrow went out through his heart, and immediately he fell in his chariot.

Jehu to Badacer his captain: So now take him, and cast him into the field (of Naboth), according to the word of the Lord.

Ochozias king of Juda seeing this, fled… and Jehu pursued him, and said: Strike him also in his chariot. And they struck him… and he fled into Mageddo, and died there… and they carried him to Jerusalem: and they buried him in the sepulcher with his fathers in the city of David.

Jehu came into Jezrahel… Jezabel hearing of his coming in, painted her eyes with stibic stone, and adorned her head, and looked out of a window…

Jehu said…Throw her down headlong: and they threw her down, and the wall was sprinkled with her blood, and the hoofs of the horses trod upon her… It is the word of the Lord… In the field of Jezrahel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezabel, and the flesh of Jezabel shall be as dung upon the face of the earth… so that they who pass by shall say: Is this that same Jezabel?

4 Kings Chapter 10: Jehu destroys seventy sons of Achab; Slaying of the house of Achab in Jezrahel; Jehu slays forty-two brothers of Ochozias; Slaying of the house of Achab in Samaria; Jehu destroys the worshipers of Baal;  Jehu follows Jeroboam’s wickedness; Hazael ravages Israel; Joachaz succeeds Jehu.

And Achab had seventy sons in Samaria so Jehu wrote letters… But they (Achab’s seventy sons) were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?

And he (Jehu) wrote letters the second time to them saying: If you be mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and come to me to Jezrahel by to morrow this time… And when the letters came to them (the chief men of the city), they took the king’s (Achab’s) sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him (Jehu) in Jezrahel.

Jehu to People: You are just: if I conspired against my master (Joram king of Israel, son of Achab), and slew him, who hath slain all these?

Jehu: See therefore now that there hath not fallen to the ground any of the words of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Achab, and the Lord hath done that which he spoke in the hand of his servant Elias.

So Jehu slew all that were left of the house of Achab in Jezrahel, and all his chief men, and his friends, and his priests, till there were no remains left of him (Achab).

A d he arose, and went to Samaria… he met with the brethren of Ochozias king of Juda… and he said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and killed them… two and forty men, and he left not any of them.

Jehu to Jonadab: Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart?

Jonadab: It is. If it be, said he, give me thy hand. And Jehu gave him his hand and lifted him up to him into the chariot…

Jehu to Jonadab: Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. And he slew all that were left of Achab in Samaria, to a man, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke to Elias.

Jehu to the people: Achab worshipped Baal a little, but I will worship him more… call to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests, let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal: whosoever shall be wanting shall not live. Now Jehu did this craftily, that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal… there was not one left that did not come… and Jehu and Jonadab… but that there be the servants of Baal only…

Jehu to fourscore men without (outside): If any of the men escape, whom I have brought into your hands, he that letteth him go shall answer life for life… Go in, and kill them, let none escape…brought the statue out of Baal’s temple, and burnt it, and broke it into pieces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, and made a jakes in its place unto this day.

Jakes—an outdoor privy; outhouse; an archaic slang word for lavatory.

So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel; but yet he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel sin, nor did he forsake the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan…

The Lord to Jehu: Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right and pleasing in my eyes, and hast done to the house of Achab according to all that was in my heart, thy children shall sit upon the throne Of Israel to the fourth generation.

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jerobaum, who had made Israel to sin.

In those days the Lord began to be weary of Israel: and Hazael ravaged them in all the coasts of Israel from the Jordan eastward…

And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel, in Samaria, was eight and twenty years.

 

 

 

It’s time for Paul to come home to Jerusalem where it all started with Christ’s Resurrection. After a year and a half in Corinth and three years with the Ephesians, Paul wants to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost.

Here is his journey to Jerusalem:

After sighting Cyprus and leaving it to the left, we sailed for Syria and landed at Tyre.

Having looked up the disciples, we stayed there seven days. And they told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.

Paul: “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

And when we could not persuade him, we acquiesced and said. “The Lord’s will be done.” After this we made our preparations and went our way to Jerusalem.

On our arrival in Jerusalem the brethren gave us a hearty welcome. On the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the presbyters came in. After greeting them, he related in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

They to Paul: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them zealous upholders of the Law.

Now, they have heard about thee that thou dost teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, telling them they should not circumcise their children, nor observe customs. What then?

So do what we tell thee. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and sanctify thyself along with them, and pay for them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that what they heard of thee is false, but that thou thyself also observes the Law.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day after being purified along with them he entered the temple and announced the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.

Jews from the province of Asia: “Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place, and moreover he has brought the Gentiles also into the temple and has desecrated this holy place.”

Stirred up, thrown into confusion, was in a tumult…

…seizing Paul, they proceeded to drag him out of the temple… They were trying to kill him… and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul… shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul was saved by the tribune and the soldiers but all he wanted to do was tell his story to the people, most of who were disbelieving Jews:

Paul to the tribune: “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. But I beg thee, give me leave to speak to the people.

He gave him leave, and Paul… addressed them in Hebrew, saying…

Paul: “I am a Jew, and I was born at Tarsus in Cilicia bit was brought up here in this city, a pupil of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict acceptation of the Law of our fathers. I was zealous for the Law just as all of you are today. And I persecuted this way even to the death, binding and committing to prisons both men and women, as the high priest can bear me witness, and all the elders. In fact I received letters from them to the brethren in Damascus, and I was on my way to arrest those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.”

Paul: “And it came to pass that, as I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly about noon there shone round about me a great light from heaven: and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me:

The Lord: “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”

Paul: “Who art thou, Lord?”

The Lord: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou are persecuting.”

Paul: “What shall I do Lord?”

The Lord Jesus: “Get up and go into Damascus, and there thou shall be told of all that thou art destined to do.”

And as I could not see because of the dazzling light, my companions (who saw indeed the light, but they did not hear the voice) had to lead me by hand, and so I reached Damascus.

Paul: “Now one Ananias, an observer of the Law… came to me…

Ananias: “Brother Saul, regain thy sight.”

Ananias: “The God of our fathers has appointed thee beforehand to learn his will and to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for thou shalt be his witness before all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why dost thou delay” Get up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.”

Paul: “And it came to pass that, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy and saw him as he said to me…”

The Lord Jesus: “Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”

Paul: “Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat in one synagogue after another those who believed in thee; and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I was standing by and approved it, and took charge of the garments of those who killed him.”

The Lord Jesus: “Go, for to the Gentiles far away I will send thee.”

The People: “Away from the earth with such a one! For it is not right that he should live.”

The tribune ordered him to be taken into the barracks and to be scourged and tortured that he might find out why they shouted so against him.

Paul to the centurion: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman, and without a trial?

Centurion to Tribune: “What art thou about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.”

Tribune to Paul: “Tell me, art thou a Roman?”

Paul: “Yes.”

Tribune: “I obtained this citizenship at a great price.”

Paul: “But I am a citizen by birth.”

At once therefore those who had been going to torture him left him…

The next day, as he wished to find out the real reason why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him and ordered the priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble; and taking Paul forth, he placed him in front of them.

Why did the Jews turn on Paul after he shared his conversion story?

 

Fear of change, the unknown, what is beyond the law?

Resentment and pride, why Paul speaking to the Lord Jesus and not me?

This setting seems like a re-enactment of Jesus’ trials and tribulations.

A tribune in place of Pontius Pilate trying to understand the issue and help Paul

Once again Paul has an opportunity to tell his story and we have an ongoing opportunity to learn more about how Jesus works on us from the inside-out and through other people.

Stay tuned, only six more chapters in the Acts of the Apostles.

Paul has returned to Jerusalem; to what extent will the prior persecutor become the persecuted?

Day 128: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul Returns to Jerusalem; Persecutor becomes Persecuted.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 21-22.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 21:  Arrival at Tyre; Ptolemais and Caesarea; Arrival at Jerusalem; Paul and the Law of Moses; The Jews drag Paul out of the Temple; A tribune arrests Paul; Paul asks to address the people; Paul receives permission to speak.

After sighting Cyprus and leaving it to the left, we sailed for Syria and landed at Tyre.

Having looked up the disciples, we stayed there seven days. And they told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.

…came to Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four daughters, virgins, who had the gift of prophecy.

…there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus… and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose girdle this is the Jews will bind like this at Jerusalem, and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

Paul: “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

And when we could not persuade him, we acquiesced and said. “The Lord’s will be done.” After this we made our preparations and went our way to Jerusalem.

On our arrival in Jerusalem the brethren gave us a hearty welcome. On the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the presbyters came in. After greeting them, he related in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

They to Paul: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them zealous upholders of the Law.

Now, they have heard about thee that thou dost teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, telling them they should not circumcise their children, nor observe customs. What then?

So do what we tell thee. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and sanctify thyself along with them, and pay for them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that what they heard of thee is false, but that thou thyself also observes the Law.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day after being purified along with them he entered the temple and announced the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.

Jews from the province of Asia: “Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place, and moreover he has brought the Gentiles also into the temple and has desecrated this holy place.”

Stirred up, thrown into confusion, was in a tumult…

…seizing Paul, they proceeded to drag him out of the temple… They were trying to kill him… and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul… shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul to the tribune: “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. But I beg thee, give me leave to speak to the people.

He gave him leave, and Paul… addressed them in Hebrew, saying…

 

Acts Chapter 22:  Paul’s address: his former life; His Conversion; His baptism by Ananias; His vision; Paul ordered to be scourged and tortured; Roman citizenship saves him, Paul before the Sanhedrin.

Paul: “I am a Jew, and I was born at Tarsus in Cilicia bit was brought up here in this city, a pupil of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict acceptation of the Law of our fathers. I was zealous for the Law just as all of you are today. And I persecuted this way even to the death, binding and committing to prisons both men and women, as the high priest can bear me witness, and all the elders. In fact I received letters from them to the brethren in Damascus, and I was on my way to arrest those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.”

Paul: “And it came to pass that, as I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly about noon there shone round about me a great light from heaven: and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me:

The Lord: “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”

Paul: “Who art thou, Lord?”

The Lord: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou are persecuting.”

Paul: “What shall I do Lord?”

The Lord Jesus: “Get up and go into Damascus, and there thou shall be told of all that thou art destined to do.”

And as I could not see because of the dazzling light, my companions (who saw indeed the light, but they did not hear the voice) had to lead me by hand, and so I reached Damascus.

Paul: “Now one Ananias, an observer of the Law… came to me…

Ananias: “Brother Saul, regain thy sight.”

Ananias: “The God of our fathers has appointed thee beforehand to learn his will and to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for thou shalt be his witness before all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why dost thou delay” Get up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.”

Paul: “And it came to pass that, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy and saw him as he said to me…”

The Lord Jesus: “Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”

Paul: “Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat in one synagogue after another those who believed in thee; and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I was standing by and approved it, and took charge of the garments of those who killed him.”

The Lord Jesus: “Go, for to the Gentiles far away I will send thee.”

The People: “Away from the earth with such a one! For it is not right that he should live.”

The tribune ordered him to be taken into the barracks and to be scourged and tortured that he might find out why they shouted so against him.

Paul to the centurion: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman, and without a trial?

Centurion to Tribune: “What art thou about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.”

Tribune to Paul: “Tell me, art thou a Roman?”

Paul: “Yes.”

Tribune: “I obtained this citizenship at a great price.”

Paul: “But I am a citizen by birth.”

At once therefore those who had been going to torture him left him…

The next day, as he wished to find out the real reason why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him and ordered the priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble; and taking Paul forth, he placed him in front of them.

A ruthless mother rules while her daughter hides her grandson to become the king later on at the age of seven. Joiada the priest protects the young ruler and together they restore the temple in Jerusalem:

And Athalia the mother of Ochozias, seeing that her son was dead, arose, and slew all the royal seed. But Josaba the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ochozias, took Joas the son of Ochozias… and hid him from Athalia, so that he was not slain. And he (Joas) was with her six years, hid in the house of the Lord. And Athalia reigned over the land.

Joiada the priest… made him (Joas) king, and anointed him: and clapping their hands, they said, God save the king.

…and she (Athalia) saw the king standing upon a tribunal… she rent her garments, and cried: A conspiracy, a conspiracy…

Joiada commanded the centurions… Let her not be slain in the temple of the Lord. And they laid hands on her: and thrust her out by the way by which the horses go in, by the palace, and she was slain there.

Joiada restores true worship… And Joiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and the people… and all the people of the land went into the temple of Baal, and broke down the altars… they slew also Mathan the priest of Baal…

Now Joas was seven years old, when he began to reign.

In the seventh year of Jehu, Joas began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem… And Joas did that which was right before the Lord all the days that Joiada the priest taught him.

Here is a first glimpse of the inside finances of the early temple in Jerusalem:

All the money of the sanctified things, which is brought into the temple of the Lord by those that pass, which is offered for the price of a soul, and which of their own accord, and of their own free heart they bring into the temple of the Lord, let the priests take it according to their order, and repair the house, wheresoever they shall see any thing that wanneth repairing.

…the priests did not make the repairs of the temple… and the priests were forbidden to take any more money of the people…

And Joiada the high priest took a chest and bored a hole in the top, and set it by the altar at the right hand of them that came into the house of the Lord, and the priests that kept the doors put therein all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord.

For it (the money collected in the chest) was given to them that did the work, that the temple of the Lord might be repaired… they bestowed it faithfully…

But the money for the trespass, and the money for sins, they brought not into the temple of the Lord, because it was for the priests.

The ongoing saga of the kings in power in Israel over Samaria, in Juda including Jerusalem, and in Syria to the north continues…

Most who reigned were evil in the eyes of the Lord:

…reigned… over Israel in Samaria. And he did that which is evil before the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin.

More details are to be found in the book of words of the days of the kings of Israel and Juda:

And the rest of the acts of Azarias, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?

…are thy not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

 

What have I learned about my faith through these passages?

 

I am not sure but… there was a young king, there were temple finances, and the reign of kings over time were many, and there is a book of words!

Glory be to God! Al-le-lu-ia! Amen!

Day 129: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; A Young King, Temple Finances, the Reign of Kings, and the Book of Words!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Fourth Book of Kings Chapters 11-16

Bible Notes:

This Book continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

4 Kings Chapter 11: Athalia usurps the throne by murder; Joiada’s plot; Joas is proclaimed king; Athalia is slain; Joiada restores true worship.

And Athalia the mother of Ochozias, seeing that her son was dead, arose, and slew all the royal seed. But Josaba the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ochizias, took Joas the son of Ochozias… and hid him from Athalia, so that he was not slain. And he (Joas) was with her six years, hid in the house of the Lord. And Athalia reigned over the land.

Joiada the priest… made him (Joas) king, and anointed him: and clapping their hands, they said, God save the king.

…and she (Athalia) saw the king standing upon a tribunal… she rent her garments, and cried: A conspiracy, a conspiracy…

Joiada commanded the centurions… Let her not be slain in the temple of the Lord. And they laid hands on her: and thrust her out by the way by which the horses go in, by the palace, and she was slain there.

Joiada restores true worship… And Joiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and the people… and all the people of the land went into the temple of Baal, and broke down the altars… they slew also Mathan the priest of Baal…

Now Joas was seven years old, when he began to reign.

4 Kings Chapter 12: Joas’ good reign; Joas orders repairs to the Temple; Hazael bribed not to attack Jerusalem; Joas murdered and succeeded by Amasias.

In the seventh year of Jehu, Joas began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem… And Joas did that which was right before the Lord all the days that Joiada the priest taught him.

All the money of the sanctified things, which is brought into the temple of the Lord by those that pass, which is offered for the price of a soul, and which of their own accord, and of their own free heart they bring into the temple of the Lord, let the priests take it according to their order, and repair the house, wheresoever they shall see any thing that wanneth repairing.

…the priests did not make the repairs of the temple… and the priests were forbidden to take any more money of the people…

And Joiada the high priest took a chest and bored a hole in the top, and set it by the altar at the right hand of them that came into the house of the Lord, and the priests that kept the doors put therein all the money that was brought to the temple of the Lord.

For it (the money collected in the chest) was given to them that did the work, that the temple of the Lord might be repaired… they bestowed it faithfully…

But the money for the trespass, and the money for sins, they brought not into the temple of the Lord, because it was for the priests.

Then Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Geth, and took it and set his face to go up to Jerusalem… Wherefore Joas king of Juda took up all the sanctified things… all the silver… and sent it to Hazael king of Syria, and he went off from Jerusalem.

And his (Joas) servants arose, and conspired among themselves, and slew Joas… and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amasias his son reigned in his stead,

4 Kings Chapter 13: Joachaz’ wicked reign in Israel; Israel saved by the prayers of Joachaz; Joas succeeds Joachaz; Joas’ wicked reign; Jeroboam succeeds Joas; Eliseus prophesies three victories; Death and burial of Eliseus; Hazael afflicts Israel until his death.

Israel/Samaria to the north and Juda/Jerusalem to the south (referenced map).

In the three and twentieth year of Joas son of Ochozias king of Juda, Joachaz the son of Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria, seventeen years. And he did evil before the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin, and he departed not from them.

And the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael the king of Syria, and into the hand of Benadad the son of Hazael, all days.

Bit Joachaz besought the face of the Lord; and the Lord heard him, for he saw the distress of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them, and the Lord gave Israel a savior, and they were delivered out of the hand of the king of Syria…

And Joachaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: and Joas his son reigned in his stead.

In the seven and thirtieth year of Joas, king of Juda, Joas the son of Joachaz reigned over Israel in Samaria sixteen years. And he did that which is evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin, but he walked in them.

And Joas slept with his fathers: and Jeroboam sat upon the throne.

Now Eliseus was sick of the illness whereof he died: and Joas king of Israel went down to him…

Joas to Eliseus: O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the guider thereof…

Eliseus to Joas: The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of the deliverance from Syria: and thou shall strike the Syrians in Aphec, till thou consume them… And he struck three times and stood still. And the man of God (Eliseus) was angry with him (Joas)… If thou hadst smitten five or six or seven times, thou hadst smitten Syria even to utter destruction: but now three times shalt thou smite it.

And Elias died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab… were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulcher of Eliseus. And when he had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood on his feet.

Now Hazael king of Syria afflicted Israel all the days of Joachaz, and the Lord had mercy on them, and returned to them because of the covenant, which he had made with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob…three times did Joas (king of Israel) beat him (Benadad king of Syria, son of Hazael), and restored the cities to Israel.

4 Kings Chapter 14: Amasias’ good reign in Juda; Amasias defeats the Edomites; Joas defeats Amasias; Jeroboam succeeds Joas; Amasias assassinated; Azarias succeeds Amasias; Jeroboam’s wicked reign; Zacharias succeeds Jeroboam.

… reigned Amasias son of Joas king of Juda… And he did that which was right before the Lord, but yet not like David his father… And when he had possession of the kingdom, he put his servants to death that had slain the king his father, but the children of the murderers he did not put to death, according to that which is written in the look of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded saying:

The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: but every man shall die for his own sins.

He (Amasias) slew of Edom in the valley of the Saltpits ten thousand men, and took the rock by war, and called the name thereof Jectehel, unto this day.

Amasias (Juda/Jerusalem) sent messengers to Joas (Israel/Samaria): Come let us see one another… And Juda was put to the worst before Israel… But Joas took Amasias and him into Jerusalem: and he broke down the wall of Jerusalem… four hundred cubits… And he (Joas) took all the gold, and silver, and all the vessels, that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the king’s treasures, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

And Joas slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria… and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead…

Now they made a conspiracy against him (Amasias) in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachis… and killed him there.

And all the people of Juda took Azarias, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amasias…

…reigned Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel in Samaria… And he did that which was evil before the Lord. He departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin. He restored the borders of Israel from the entrance of Emath, unto the sea of wilderness, according to the word of the Lord the God of Israel… that there was no one to help Israel… but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam…

 Kings Chapter 15: Azarias becomes leprous; Joathan succeeds Azarias; Zacharias is assassinated; Manahem slays Sellum and takes the throne; Manahem pays tribute to the Assyrians; Phaceia succeeds Manahem; Phacee slays and succeeds Phaceia; Osee slays and succeeds Phacee; Joatham’s good reign in Juda; Achaz succeeds Joatham.

…reigned Azarias son of Amasias, king of Juda. He was sixteen years old when he began to reign… And the Lord struck the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and he dwell in a free house apart: but Joatham the king’s son governed the palace, and judged the people of the land… And the rest of the acts of Azarias, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? …and Joatham his son reigned in his stead.

…reigned Zacharias son of Jeroboam over Israel in Samaria. And he did that which is evil before the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam… who made Israel to sin.

Sellum… reigned one month in Samaria. And Manahem… came into Samaria, and struck Sellum… and slew him, and reigned in his stead. And the rest of the acts of Sellum, and his conspiracy, which he made, are thy not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

And Manahem slept with his fathers; and Phaceia his son reigned in his stead.

…reigned Joatham son of Ozias king of Juda.

And Joatham slept with his fathers… and Achaz his son reigned in his stead.

4 Kings Chapter 16: Achaz’ wicked reign in Juda; Achaz hires the Assyrians to help him; Achaz desecrates the Temple; Ezechias succeeds Achaz.

…reigned Achaz… But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel: moreover he consecrated also his son, making him pass through the fire according to the idols of the nations: which the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel.

And Achaz slept with his fathers… and Ezechias his son reigned in his stead.

 

Paul’s Roman citizenship saves him from doom in Jerusalem with the Sanhedrin. Instead of possible death he is transferred to Caesarea to be tried in front of the sympathetic, yet politically astute governor Felix. The trial is adjourned awaiting the presence of the tribune from Jerusalem. 

Paul is kept in custody but given some liberties while being ‘imprisoned’ in Herod’s palace. This goes on for two years when a new governor arrives. Felix does not release Paul as he wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews:

Paul to Sanhedrin: “Brethren, I have conducted myself before God with a perfectly good conscience up to this day.”

Paul (in Sanhedrin): “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisees, it is about hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are no angels or spirits, whereas the Pharisees believe in both.

Pharisees: “We find no evil in this man; what if a spirit has really spoken to him, or an angel?

The Lord stood by Paul and said (to Paul): “Be steadfast; for just as thou hast borne witness to me in Jerusalem, bear witness in Rome also.”

There were more than forty that had made this conspiracy… “We have bound to ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul…”

The tribune to two centurions: “get ready… to mount Paul and take him in safety to Felix the governor (in Caesarea).”

The letter to Felix: …having learnt that he was a Roman… O found him accused about questions of their Law, but not of any crime deserving of death or imprisonment… I sent him to thee, directing his accusers also to state the case before thee. Farewell.”

Felix to Paul: “I will hear thee when thy accusers have come.”

And he ordered him to be kept in Herod’s palace.

Now five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and one Tertullus, an attorney; and they presented their case against Paul before the governor.

Tertullus: “We have found this man a pest, and a promoter of seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sedition of the Nazarene sect.”

Paul: “I shall answer for myself with good courage… neither in the temple did they find me disputing with anyone or creating a disturbance among the people, not in the synagogues, nor about the city; neither can they prove to thee the charges that they now make against me. But this I admit to thee, that according to the Way… that there be a resurrection of the just and unjust; and in this I too strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men… or else let these men themselves say what they found wrong in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin… It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged by you this day.”

Felix, however, having precise information about the Way, adjourned the trial, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

Felix instructed the centurion to keep Paul in custody but to allow him some liberty, and not to prevent any of his friends from looking after him.

Now some days later: Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard what he had to say about the faith in Christ Jesus. But as Paul talked of justice and chastity and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and answered: “For the present go thy way; but when I get an opportunity, I will send for thee.”

But after two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and as he wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.

“The Way” is referenced numerous times in these passages while the Lord stood by Paul and told him: “Be steadfast; for just as thou hast borne witness to me in Jerusalem, bear witness in Rome also.”

Paul has faced the Sanhedrin; knows it is not really he but “The Way to Resurrection in Christ Jesus” that is on trial.

More importantly, the Lord has plans for Paul to witness in Rome…

 

Day 130: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul faces Sanhedrin; the Way to Resurrection in Christ Jesus is on Trial.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 23-24.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 23:  He is struck in the mouth; Dispute between Sadducees and Pharisees; A plot to murder Paul; The plot is discovered; Paul brought by night to Caesarea; The letter to Felix; Felix holds Paul in custody.

Paul to Sanhedrin: “Brethren, I have conducted myself before God with a perfectly good conscience up to this day.”

But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing by him to strike him in the mouth.

Paul: “God will strike thee, thou whitewashed wall. Dost thou sit there to try me by the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?

Bystanders: “Dost thou insult God’s high priest?”

Paul: “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.’”

Paul (in Sanhedrin): “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisees, it is about hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are no angels or spirits, whereas the Pharisees believe in both.

Pharisees: “We find no evil in this man; what if a spirit has really spoken to him, or an angel?

The Lord stood by Paul and said (to Paul): “Be steadfast; for just as thou hast borne witness to me in Jerusalem, bear witness in Rome also.”

There were more than forty that had made this conspiracy… “We have bound to ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul…”

The tribune to two centurions: “get ready… to mount Paul and take him in safety to Felix the governor (in Caesarea).”

The letter to Felix: …having learnt that he was a Roman… O found him accused about questions of their Law, but not of any crime deserving of death or imprisonment… I sent him to thee, directing his accusers also to state the case before thee. Farewell.”

Felix to Paul: “I will hear thee when thy accusers have come.”

And he ordered him to be kept in Herod’s palace.

Acts Chapter 24:   Paul’s accusers speak; Paul’s defense; Paul’s story of his arrest; Felix postpones his decision; Paul remains in jail two years.

Now five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and one Tertullus, an attorney; and they presented their case against Paul before the governor.

Tertullus: “We have found this man a pest, and a promoter of seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sedition of the Nazarene sect.”

Paul: “I shall answer for myself with good courage… neither in the temple did they find me disputing with anyone or creating a disturbance among the people, not in the synagogues, nor about the city; neither can they prove to thee the charges that they now make against me. But this I admit to thee, that according to the Way… that there be a resurrection of the just and unjust; and in this I too strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men… or else let these men themselves say what they found wrong in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin… It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged by you this day.”

Felix, however, having precise information about the Way, adjourned the trial, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

Felix instructed the centurion to keep Paul in custody but to allow him some liberty, and not to prevent any of his friends from looking after him.

Now some days later: Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard what he had to say about the faith in Christ Jesus. But as Paul talked of justice and chastity and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and answered: “For the present go thy way; but when I get an opportunity, I will send for thee.”

But after two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and as he wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.

 

Israel split into two countries—Israel including Samaria in the North and Juda including Jerusalem in the South. The Juda and Israel kingships always referenced each other to one another, it was sort of a dance back and forth to time-stamp the changes in leadership with the wildcard always being Assyria:

In the twelfth year of Achaz king of Juda, Osee the son of Ela reigned in Samaria over Israel nine years.

In the third year of Osee the son of Ela, king of Israel, reigned Ezechias the son of Achaz, king of Juda.

And he (Osee) did evil before the Lord: but not as the kings of Israel that had been before him.

Against him came up Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, and Osee became his servant, and paid him tribute… And in the ninth year of Osee, the king of the Assyrians took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria…

Why did God let this happen?

For it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God… and they worshipped strange gods… and the children of the Lord offended the Lord their God… provoking the Lord… and they followed vanities, and acted vainly… and they served Baal… and they gave themselves to divinations, and soothsayings: and they delivered themselves up to do evil before the Lord, to provoke him… and the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from his sight, and there remained only the tribe of Juda… and Israel was carried away out of their land to Assyria, unto this day.

People were brought in to backfill the population of the cities of Samaria:

And the king of the Assyrians brought people from Babylon, Cutha, Avah, Emath, and from Sepharvaim: and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel… and when they began to dwell there, they feared not the Lord: and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them… so one of the priests who had been carries away captive from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel (in Samaria), and taught them how they should worship the Lord… And when they worshipped the Lord, they served also their own gods according to the custom of the nations out of which they were brought to Samaria. Unto this day they follow the old manner (the way of the nations): they fear not the Lord…

So the children of Israel were being held captive in Assyria. King Ezechias was doing well in Juda but then Sennacherib (a new) king of the Assyrians invaded Juda. Ezechias cowardly paid his ransom even to the extent of removing golf plates from the doors of the temple and giving it to Sennacherib:

He (Ezechias) trusted in the Lord the God of Israel: so that after him there was none like him among the kings of Juda, nor any of them that were before him… he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians, and served him not. He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza…

In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against the fenced cities of Juda: and took them.

Ezechias to Sennacherib: I have offended, depart from me: and all that thou shalt put upon me, I will bear… And Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the king’s treasures. At that time Ezechias broke the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them, and gave them to the king of the Assyrians.

Then Sennacherib king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces to talk to the people of Jerusalem to rebel against king Ezechias of Juda and come over to the side of the Assyrians:

And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces… to king Ezechias with a strong army to Jerusalem… and Rabsaces said to them:

…On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel (against Assyria)? Dost thou trust in Egypt?… But if you say to me: We trust in the Lord our God: Is it not he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away?… Now therefore come over to my master the king of the Assyrians… Is it without the will of the Lord that I am to come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land and destroy it… Let not Ezechias deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of my hand… Do not hearken to Ezechias… and you shall live, and not die…

But the people (of Juda) held their peace… and Eliacim, the scribe, and the recorder, came to Ezechias, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces.

What will king Ezechias do? Gather an army and attack? Or call for a prophet of the Lord and then pray for deliverance?

And when the king Ezechias heard these words, he rent his garments, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliacim to Isaias the prophet… and they said to him: Thus said Ezechias: This day is a day of tribulation, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: the children are come to the birth, and the woman in travail hath not strength. It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rabsaces… and do thou offer prayer for the remnants that are found.

Isaias: Thus saith the Lord: Be not afraid for the words which thou hast heard, with which the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me. Behold I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a message, and shall return to his own country, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own country.

Ezechias prays for deliverance:

Ezechias went up to the house of the Lord, saying: O Lord God of Israel, who sitteth upon the cherubims, thou alone art the God of all the Kings of the earth: thou madest heaven and earth, incline thy ear, and hear: open, O Lord, thy eyes, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to upbraid unto us the living God. Of a truth, O Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have destroyed nations, and all the lands of them all… Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know, that thou art the Lord the only God.

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: I have heard the prayer thou hast made to me concerning Sennacherib king of the Assyrians… (relating the Lord thy God’s perspective on Sennacherib):  Against the holy one of Israel… they became like the grass of the field… which withered before it came to maturity… Thou hast been mad against me, and thy pride hath come up to my ears… and I will turn thee back by the way, by which thou camest…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Eat this year what thou shalt find: and in the second year, such things as spring of themselves: but in the third year sow and reap: plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. And whatsoever shall be left of the house of Juda, shall take root downward, and bear fruit upward… And I will protect this city (Jerusalem), and will save it for my own sake, and for David my servant’s sake.

And it came to pass that night, that an angel of the Lord came, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when he (Sennacherib) arose early in the morning, he saw all the bodies of the dead.

And Sennacherib king of the Assyrians departing went away… Adramelech and Sarasar his sons slew him with the sword, and they fled into the land of the Armenians, and Asarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

Make a note to self: prayer does indeed work!

In those days Ezechias was sick unto death…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Give charge concerning thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live. And he (Ezechias) turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is pleasing before thee. And Ezechias wept with much weeping.

And before Isaias was gone out of the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying: Go back, and tell Ezechias the captain of the people…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: and behold I have healed thee… And I will add to thy days fifteen years…

And when Isaias laid a lump of figs upon his boil, he was healed.

Isaias to Ezechias: Wilt thou that the shadow go forward ten lines, or that it go back so many degrees? … (Ezechias) let it return back ten degrees… And Isaias the prophet called upon the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backwards by the lines, by which it had already gone down in the dial of Achaz.

Highlight that note to self that prayer really does work! Not only that but some life-and-death situations are answered immediately as prayer added fifteen years to the life of Ezechias.

But then came the bad news about Babylon…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Behold the days shall come, that thou all that is in thy house, and that thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day. Shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left. And of thy sons also that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Ezechias to Isaias (God): The word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken, is good: let peace and truth be in my days.

And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.

Amazing is the trust that Ezechias has in the Lord our God!

 

While sin let to Assyria carrying Israel away the prayers of Ezechias were answered and Juda remained a sovereign country at least for the time being.

Day 131: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Assyria takes Israel; Juda’s Prayers are Answered!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Fourth Book of Kings Chapters 17-20

Bible Notes:

This Book continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

4 Kings Chapter 17: Osee’s wicked reign in Israel; Salmanasar imprisons Osee; Israelites taken into captivity; Reason for the destruction of Israel; Prophets sent by God; The anger of God; Assyrians colonize Samaria; Mixture of religions in Samaria.

In the twelfth year of Achaz king of Jude, Osee the son of Ela reigned in Samaria over Israel nine years.

And he (Osee) did evil before the Lord: but not as the kings of Israel that had been before him.

Against him came up Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, and Osee became his servant, and paid him tribute… And in the ninth year of Osee, the king of the Assyrians took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria…

For it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God… and they worshipped strange gods… and the children of the Lord offended the Lord their God… provoking the Lord… and they followed vanities, and acted vainly… and they served Baal… and they gave themselves to divinations, and soothsayings: and they delivered themselves up to do evil before the Lord, to provoke him… and the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from his sight, and there remained only the tribe of Juda… and Israel was carried away out of their land to Assyria, unto this day.

And the king of the Assyrians brought people from Babylon, Cutha, Avah, Emath, and from Sepharvaim: and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel… and when they began to dwell there, they feared not the Lord: and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them… so one of the priests who had been carries away captive from Samaria, came and dwelt in Bethel (in Samaria), and taught them how they should worship the Lord… And when they worshipped the Lord, they served also their own gods according to the custom of the nations out of which they were brought to Samaria. Unto this day they follow the old manner (the way of the nations): they fear not the Lord…

4 Kings Chapter 18: Ezechias; good reign in Juda; Israel is carried into captivity; Ezechias pays tribute to Sennacherib; Rabsaces solicits the leaders to revolt; Rabsaces asks all the people to revolt; The people ignore Rabsaces.

In the third year of Osee the son of Ela, king of Israel, reigned Ezechias the son of Achaz, king of Juda… and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem… and he did that which was good before the Lord, according to all that David his father had done… and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made…

He (Ezechias) trusted in the Lord the God of Israel: so that after him there was none like him among the kings of Juda, nor any of them that were before him… he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians, and served him not. He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza…

In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against the fenced cities of Juda: and took them.

Ezechias to Sennacherib: I have offended, depart from me: and all that thou shalt put upon me, I will bear… And Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the king’s treasures. At that time Ezechias broke the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them, and gave them to the king of the Assyrians.

And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces… to king Ezechias with a strong army to Jerusalem… and Rabsaces said to them:

…On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel (against Assyria)? Dost thou trust in Egypt?… But of you say to me: We trust in the Lord our God: Is it not he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away?… Now therefore come over to my master the king of the Assyrians… Is it without the will of the Lord that I am to come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land and destroy it… Let not Ezechias deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of my hand… Do not hearken to Ezechias… and you shall live, and not die…

But the people (of Juda) held their peace… and Eliacim, the scribe, and the recorder, came to Ezechias, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces.

4 Kings Chapter 19: Ezechias asks Isaias to pray; Isaias prophesies death for Sennacherib; Rabsaces threatens Ezechias; Ezechias prays for deliverance; God’s promise to protect Jerusalem; An angel destroys the Assyrians; Sennacherib is slain by his sons.

And when the king Ezechias heard these words, he rent his garments, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. And he sent Eliacim to Isaias the prophet… and they said to him: Thus said Ezechias: This day is a day of tribulation, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: the children are come to the birth, and the woman in travail hath not strength. It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rabsaces… and do thou offer prayer for the remnants that are found.

Isaias: Thus saith the Lord: Be not afraid for the words which thou hast heard, with which the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me. Behold I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a message, and shall return to his own country, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own country.

Ezechias prays for deliverance:

Ezekias went up to the house of the Lord, saying: O Lord God of Israel, who sitteth upon the cherubims, thou alone art the God of all the Kings of the earth: thou madest heaven and earth, incline thy ear, and hear: open, O Lord, thy eyes, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to upbraid unto us the living God. Of a truth, O Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have destroyed nations, and all the lands of them all… Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know, that thou art the Lord the only God.

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: I have heard the prayer thou hast made to me concerning Sennacherib king of the Assyrians… (relating the Lord thy God’s perspective on Sennacherib):  Against the holy one of Israel… they became like the grass of the field… which withered before it came to maturity… Thou hast been mad against me, and thy pride hath come up to my ears… and I will turn thee back by the way, by which thou camest…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Eat this year what thou shalt find: and in the second year, such things as spring of themselves: but in the third year sow and reap: plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. And whatsoever shall be left of the house of Juda, shall take root downward, and bear fruit upward… And I will protect this city (Jerusalem), and will save it for my own sake, and for David my servant’s sake.

And it came to pass that night, that an angel of the Lord came, and slew in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And when he (Sennacherib) arose early in the morning, he saw all the bodies of the dead.

And Sennacherib king of the Assyrians departing went away… Adramelech and Sarasar his sons slew him with the sword, and they fled into the land of the Armenians, and Asarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

4 Kings Chapter 20: Isaias tells Ezechias he will die; God adds fifteen years to Ezechias’ life: The sun goes backward; Berodach Baladan sends gifts to Ezechias; Isaias predicts the Babylonian captivity; Manasses succeeds Ezechias.

In those days Ezechias was sick unto death…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Give charge concerning thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live. And he (Ezechias) turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is pleasing before thee. And Ezechias wept with much weeping.

And before Isaias was gone out of the middle of the court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying: Go back, and tell Ezechias the captain of the people…

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: and behold I have healed thee… And I will add to thy days fifteen years…

And when Isaias laid a lump of figs upon his boil, he was healed.

Isaias to Ezechias: Wilt thou that the shadow go forward ten lines, or that it go back so many degrees? … (Ezechias) let it return back ten degrees… And Isaias the prophet called upon the Lord, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backwards by the lines, by which it had already gone down in the dial of Achaz.

Isaias the Prophet (God) to Ezechias: Behold the days shall come, that thou all that is in thy house, and that thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day. Shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left. And of they sons also that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Ezechias to Isaias (God): The word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken, is good: let peace and truth be in my days.

And Ezechias slept with his fathers, and Manasses his son reigned in his stead.

 

Isn’t that the essence of what Paul is professing to the Jews? That the resurrection of Jesus Christ was foretold in the Old Testament and simply a continuation of their religion, not necessarily a whole new religion?

The new Governor Festus arrives in Caesarea, visits the Jews in Jerusalem, and invites them to come down to come down to Caesarea to make charges against Paul. They do so but the religious charges are groundless and are not applicable to Roman Law. Paul inadvertently appeals to Caesar while declaring his innocence. Governor Festus cutely agrees stating that “Thou hast appealed to Caesar; to Caesar thou shalt go.” Here is the story in the words of the Bible:

Governor Festus accordingly entered his providence, and three days afterwards he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Governor Festus to the chief priests and Jewish leaders: “let, therefore, your influential men go down with me and if there is anything wrong with this man, let them present charges against him.”

Paul: “Neither against the Law of the Jews not against the temple nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”

Governor Fetus to Paul: “Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”

Paul: “I am standing at the tribunal of Caesar; there I ought to be tried. To Jews I have done n wrong, as thou thyself very well knowest. For if I have done any wrong or committed a crime deserving of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no ground to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.”

Governor Festus: “Thou hast appealed to Caesar; to Caesar thou shalt go.”

Interestingly King Agrippa and Bernice (presumably his wife?) come to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. King Agrippa wants to hear Paul’s testimony and Governor Festus is all for it because he needs some details for the appeal when he sends Paul to Rome to be tried before Caesar:

King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus…

Governor Festus: But when his accusers got up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I had expected. But they had against him certain questions about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but who Paul affirmed was alive.

King Agrippa: “I myself also could have wished to hear this man.”

Governor Festus: “thou shalt hear him.”

Governor Festus: ”Still I have nothing definite to write to my Lord (Caesar) about him (Paul)… after an examination (by King Agrippa) has been made I may have something to put in writing. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without stating the charges against him.”

Paul tells his story to King Agrippa including his persecution of the Christians and the moment of his conversion, including these words of conversion directly from Jesus: “from the dominion of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me.’”

Afterwards Governor Festus questions if Paul is ‘mad,’ and Paul’s response is that he is “not mad but I speak words of sober truth.” The truth can only be spoken in the abstinence of our denial, justification, and rationalization of the events of our lives.

Paul, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass, nearly converts King Agrippa on the spot!

The twist at the end is that Paul would not have to go to Rome had he not made an earlier appeal to Caesar. All agree that Paul has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.

More of the story in the words of the Bible:

Paul (His persecution of Christians): …according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee… And I then thought it my duty to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth… many of the saints I shut up in prison… and when they were put to death I cast my vote against them… Often times in synagogues I punished them and tried to force them to blaspheme; and in my extreme rage against them I even pursued them to foreign cities.

 

Paul (His conversion): “But while I was journeying on this business (of persecuting Christians) to Damascus… at midday O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven brighter than the sunshine round about me and my companions… I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad (something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus).’ I said ‘Who art thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom thou are persecuting… I have appeared before thee for this purpose, to appoint thee to be a minister and a witness to what thou hast seen, and to the visions that thou shalt have of me; delivering thee from the people and from the nations, to whom I am now sending thee, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me.’”

Paul to King Agrippa: “Therefore, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; but first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem, and then all over Judea and to the Gentiles, I set about declaring that they should repent and turn to God, doing works befitting their repentance… But aided to this day by the help of God, I stand here to testify to both high and low, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ was to suffer, that he first by his resurrection from the dead was to proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus: “Paul, thou art mad; thy great learning is driving thee to madness.”

Paul: “I am not mad but I speak words of sober truth.”

Paul to King Agrippa: “Dost thou believe in the prophets? I know thou dost.”

King Agrippa to Paul: “In a short while thou wouldst persuade me to become a Christian.”

Paul to King Agrippa: “I would to God that, whether it be long or short, not only thou but also all who hear me today might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Governor Festus and King Agrippa and Bernice and those who sat with them: “This man has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”

King Agrippa to Governor Festus: “This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Day 132: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Nothing Beyond What the Prophets and Moses Said Would Come to Pass…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 25-26.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 25: Another plot to kill Paul fails; Paul before Festus; Paul appeals to Caesar; Agrippa hears of Paul’s case; Paul before Agrippa.

Governor Festus accordingly entered his providence, and three days afterwards he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Governor Festus to the chief priests and Jewish leaders: “let, therefore, your influential men go down with me and if there is anything wrong with this man, let them present charges against him.”

Paul: “Neither against the Law of the Jews not against the temple nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”

Governor Fetus to Paul: “Art thou willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”

Paul: “I am standing at the tribunal of Caesar; there I ought to be tried. To Jews I have done n wrong, as thou thyself very well knowest. For if I have done any wrong or committed a crime deserving of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no ground to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.”

Governor Festus: “Thou hast appealed to Caesar; to Caesar thou shalt go.”

King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus…

Governor Festus: But when his accusers got up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I had expected. But they had against him certain questions about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but who Paul affirmed was alive.

King Agrippa: “I myself also could have wished to hear this man.”

Governor Festus: “thou shalt hear him.”

Governor Festus: ”Still I have nothing definite to write to my Lord (Caesar) about him (Paul)… after an examination (by King Agrippa) has been made I may have something to put in writing. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without stating the charges against him.”

Acts Chapter 26:  Agrippa asks Paul to speak; Paul is glad to appear before Agrippa; Paul’s early life; His persecution of Christians; His conversion; His preaching and his arrest; The result of Paul’s defense.

Paul (His persecution of Christians): …according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee… And I then thought it my duty to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth… many of the saints I shut up in prison… and when they were put to death I cast my vote against them… Often times in synagogues I punished them and tried to force them to blaspheme; and in my extreme rage against them I even pursued them to foreign cities.

Paul (His conversion): “But while I was journeying on this business (of persecuting Christians) to Damascus… at midday O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven brighter than the sunshine round about me and my companions… I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad (something that encourages, urges, or drives; a stimulus).’ I said ‘Who art thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom thou are persecuting… I have appeared before thee for this purpose, to appoint thee to be a minister and a witness to what thou hast seen, and to the visions that thou shalt have of me; delivering thee from the people and from the nations, to whom I am now sending thee, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me.’”

Paul to King Agrippa: “Therefore, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; but first to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem, and then all over Judea and to the Gentiles, I set about declaring that they should repent and turn to God, doing works befitting their repentance… But aided to this day by the help of God, I stand here to testify to both high and low, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ was to suffer, that he first by his resurrection from the dead was to proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus: “Paul, thou art mad; thy great learning is driving thee to madness.”

Paul: “I am not mad but I speak words of sober truth.”

Paul to King Agrippa: “Dost thou believe in the prophets? I know thou dost.”

King Agrippa to Paul: “In a short while thou wouldst persuade me to become a Christian.”

Paul to King Agrippa: “I would to God that, whether it be long or short, not only thou but also all who hear me today might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Governor Festus and King Agrippa and Bernice and those who sat with them: “This man has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”

King Agrippa to Governor Festus: “This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

These five chapters are the END of The Fourth Book of Kings which continued the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

It seems Israel is finished. Jerusalem is destroyed completely. The Lord God of Israel is still angry and cannot be appeased. How did this happen? What will happen next?

In today’s world there is a “generation effect” as it seems everything changes from generation-to-generation. Although somethings like addiction can skip a generation and reappear.

What I don’t understand fully is how one king, such as Josias, can do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walk in the way of David his father keeping focused on God not turning aside to the right hand, or to the left. Basically follow and keep the straight and narrow path in life. Yet his son Joachaz when anointed king goes ahead and does evil before the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. Wasn’t his father Josias?

Maybe I answered my own question in that good and evil can skip generations no matter the environment, times (biblical or present day), or how great a childhood the future king had.

Let’s recap these final chapters with excerpted words directly from the Bible:

Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem… And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the idols of the nations… he set up altars to Baal… to do evil more than the nations which the Lord destroyed before the children of God.

The Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will bring on evils upon Jerusalem and Juda: that whosoever shall hear of them, both his ears shall tingle… Because they have done evil before me, and have continued to provoke me, from the day that their fathers came out of Egypt, even unto this day.

And Manasses slept with his father… and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

Two and twenty years old was Amon when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem… And he did evil in the sight of the Lord… And his servants plotted against him, and slew the king in his own house… and his son Josais reigned in his stead.

Josais was eight years old when he began to reign: he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem… And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of David his father: he turned not aside to the right hand, or to the left.

Helcias the high priest: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord…

And when Saphan (the scribe of the temple of the Lord) had read it before the king (Josais), and the king had heard the words of the law of the Lord he rent his garments.

King Josias… commanded Helcias the priest: Go and consult the Lord for me, and for all the people of Juda… went to Holda the prophetess… who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second…

The use of ‘Jerusalem in the Second’ must mean Jerusalem Number One gets destroyed.

The Lord the God of Israel to Helcias the priest (through Holda): Behold, I will bring evils upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, all the words of the law which the king of Juda hath read, because they have forsaken me, and sacrificed to strange gods, provoking me by all the works of their hands: therefore my indignation shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched…

The Lord the God of Israel to king Josais (through Holda): Forasmuch as thou hast heard the words of the book, and thy heart hath been moved to fear, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, hearing the words against this place, and the inhabitants thereof, to wit, that they should become a wonder and a curse, and thou hast rent thy garments, and wept before me, I also have heard thee… Therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers… that thy eyes may not see all the evils which I bring upon this place.

There was no king before him like unto him, that returned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses: neither after him did there arise any like him.

Wow, Josais found the Book of the Covenant, read it to his people, yet still failed in the eyes of the Lord? I guess even with good leadership the flock can underperform. Josais reward? Gets to pass on before it gets ugly for Juda.

That dance between Juda and Israel in terms of their kings being chronicled… well Assyria is no longer the threat. Now it becomes Egypt from the south and Babylon from the north:

In his days Pharao Nechao king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josias went to meet him: and was slain at Mageddo, when he had seen him… And the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josais: and they anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began his reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. And Pharao Nechao bound him… that he should not reign in Jerusalem: and he set a fine upon the land…

And Pharao Nechao made Eliacim the son of Josias king in the room of Josias his father: and turned his name to Joakim. And he took Joachaz away and carried him into Egypt, and he died there. And Joakim gave the silver and gold to Pharao, after he had taxed the land for every man.

Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord according to all that his fathers had done.

In his days Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him.

And Joakim slept with his fathers, and Joachin his son reigned in his stead. And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his country: for the king of Babylon had taken all that had belonged to the king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt, unto the river Euphrates. Joachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

And he (Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon) carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the valiant men of the army, to the number of ten thousand into captivity: and every articer and smith: and none were left, but the poor sort of people of the land… he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

And he (king Joachin of Jerusalem now exiled in Babylon) appointed Matthanias his uncle in his stead: and he called his name Sedecias. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began his reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that Joakim (his brother?) had done.’

For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted from the king of Babylon.

Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon came… And the city (Jerusalem) was shut up and besieged… and a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land… (king of Jerusalem) Sedecias fled by way that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness… all the warriors that were with him were scattered, and left him…and brought him to the king of Babylon… and he gave judgment upon him… And he slew the sons of Sedecias before his face, and he put out his eyes, and bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon.

Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon was ruthless…

…came Nabuzardan commander of the (Babylon) army into Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and the houses of Jerusalem, and every house he burnt with fire. And all the army of Chaldees… broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about… and carried away the rest of the people that remained in the city… But the poor of the land he left some dressers of vines and husbandmen.

And the pillars of brass that were in the temple of the Lord… the Chaldees broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon…gold in gold and such as were of silver in silver… was without weight…

Seraias the chief priest (and seventy-two leaders)…these Nabuzardan took away and carried them to the king of Babylon (Nabuchadonosor)… And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them… so Juda was carried away out of their land.

Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon was even more ruthless…

But over the people that remained in the land of Juda… he gave government to Godolias… and Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying: Be not afraid to serve the Chaldees: stay in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

But it came to pass… Ismael… of royal seed, came… and smote Godolias so that he died… And all the people both little and great, and the captains of the soldiers, rising up went to Egypt, fearing the Chaldees.

Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda out of prison… And he appointed him a continual allowance, which was also given him by the king day by day, all the days of his life.

The END of The Fourth Book of Kings which continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

Evilmerodach? Sounds like a Disney name? At least Fourth Kings ends on an up note. Even though both Juda and Israel are captive in Babylon, Joachin king of Juda, including Jerusalem is alive.

Day 133: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Both Juda & Israel are Captive in Babylon.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Fourth Book of Kings Chapters 21-25 (END)

Bible Notes:

This Book continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

4 Kings Chapter 21: Idolatrous reign of Manasses; Prophecy of Juda’s destruction; Amon succeeds Manasses; Amon assassinated; Josias succeeds Amon.

Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem… And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the idols of the nations… he set up altars to Baal… to do evil more than the nations which the Lord destroyed before the children of God.

The Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will bring on evils upon Jerusalem and Juda: that whosoever shall hear of them, both his ears shall tingle… Because they have done evil before me, and have continued to provoke me, from the day that their fathers came out of Egypt, even unto this day.

And Manasses slept with his father… and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

Two and twenty years old was Amon when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem… And he did evil in the sight of the Lord… And hos servants plotted against him, and slew the king in his own house… and his so Josais reigned in his stead.

4 Kings Chapter 22: Josias’ righteous reign; Josias orders the repair of the Temple; The book of the Law is found; Holda consulted; Holda’s prophecy of doom.

Josais was eight years old when he began to reign: he reigned one and thirty years in Jerusalem… And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of David his father: he turned not aside to the right hand, or to the left.

Helcias the high priest: I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord…

And when Saphan (the scribe of the temple of the Lord) had read it before the king (Josais), and the king had heard the words of the law of the Lord he rent his garments.

King Josias… commanded Helcias the priest: Go and consult the Lord for me, and for all the people of Juda… went to Holda the prophetess… who dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second…

The Lord the God of Israel to Helcias the priest (through Holda): Behold, I will bring evils upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, all the words of the law which the king of Juda hath read, because they have forsaken me, and sacrificed to strange gods, provoking me by all the works of their hands: therefore my indignation shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched…

The Lord the God of Israel to king Josais (through Holda): Forasmuch as thou hast heard the words of the book, and thy heart hath been moved to fear, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, hearing the words against this place, and the inhabitants thereof, to wit, that they should become a wonder and a curse, and thou hast rent thy garments, and wept before me, I also have heard thee… Therefore I will gather thee to thy fathers… that thy eyes may not see all the evils which I bring upon this place.

4 Kings Chapter 23: Josias reads the Law to the people; Josias destroys idolatry; Josias burns dead man’s bones: Celebration of the Pasch; Destruction of diviners and abominations; The wrath of the Lord; Joachaz succeeds Josias; Pharao Nechao seizes Joachaz; Joakim succeeds Joachaz.

All the men of Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, the priests and the prophets, and all the people both little and great: and in the hearing of them all he read the words of the book of the covenant, which was found in the house of the Lord.

King Josais… cast out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that had been made for Baal… he destroyed the soothsayers… them also that burnt incense to Baal, and to the sun, and to the moon, and to the twelve signs, and to all the host of heaven… he destroyed also the pavilions of the effeminate, which were in the house of the Lord…

And as Josias turned himself… (he) took the bones out of the sepulchers, and burnt them upon the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the Lord… and he slew all the priests of the high places…

Keep the phase of the Lord your God (celebration of the Pasch; the Jewish festival of Passover; Easter), according as it is written in the book of this covenant.

There was no king before him like unto him, that returned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses: neither after him did there arise any like him.

The Lord said: I will remove Juda also from before my face, as I have removed Israel: and I will cast off this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the house, of which I said: My name shall be there.

In his days Pharao Nechao king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josias went to meet him: and was slain at Mageddo, when he had seen him… And the people of the land took Joachaz the son of Josais: and they anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

Joachaz was three and twenty years old when he began his reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. And Pharao Nechao bound him… that he should not reign in Jerusalem: and he set a fine upon the land…

And Pharao Nechao made Eliacim the son of Josias king in the room of Josias his father: and turned his name to Joakim. And he took Joachaz away and carried him into Egypt, and he died there. And Joakim gave the silver and gold to Pharao, after he had taxed the land for every man.

Joakim was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord according to all that his fathers had done.

4 Kings Chapter 24: Nabuchodonosor subdues Joakim; Joachin succeeds Joakim; Joachin’s evil reign; Jerusalem us carried captive to Babylon; Sedecias reigns wickedly at Jerusalem.

In his days Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon came up, and Joakim became his servant three years: then again he rebelled against him.

And Joakim slept with his fathers, and Joachin his son reigned in his stead. And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his country: for the king of Babylon had taken all that had belonged to the king of Egypt, from the river of Egypt, unto the river Euphrates. Joachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that his father had done.

And he (Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon) carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the valiant men of the army, to the number of ten thousand into captivity: and every articer and smith: and none were left, but the poor sort of people of the land… he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

And he (king Joachin of Jerusalem now exiled in Babylon) appointed Matthanias his uncle in his stead: and he called his name Sedecias. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began his reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem… And he did evil before the Lord, according to all that Joakim (his brother?) had done.’

For the Lord was angry against Jerusalem and against Juda, till he cast them out from his face: and Sedecias revolted from the king of Babylon.

4 Kings Chapter 25: Nabuchodonosor again besieges Jerusalem; Sedecias captured and blinded; Jerusalem is destroyed; Treasures are carried to Babylon; Seventy-two leaders slain at Reblatha; Godolias made governor of Juda; Godolias slain; Joachin released from prison

Nabuchadonosor king of Babylon came… And the city (Jerusalem) was shut up and besieged… and a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land… (king of Jerusalem) Sedecias fled by way that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness… all the warriors that were with him were scattered, and left him…and brought him to the king of Babylon… and he gave judgment upon him… And he slew the sons of Sedecias before his face, and he put out his eyes, and bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon.

…came Nabuzardan commander of the (Babylon) army into Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and the houses of Jerusalem, and every house he burnt with fire. And all the army of Chaldees… broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about… and carried away the rest of the people that remained in the city… But the poor of the land he left some dressers of vines and husbandmen.

And the pillars of brass that were in the temple of the Lord… the Chaldees broke in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon…gold in gold and such as were of silver in silver… was without weight…

Seraias the chief priest (and seventy-two leaders)…these Nabuzardan took away and carried them to the king of Babylon (Nabuchadonosor)… And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them… so Juda was carried away out of their land.

But over the people that remained in the land of Juda… he gave government to Godolias… and Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying: Be not afraid to serve the Chaldees: stay in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

But it came to pass… Ismael… of royal seed, came… and smote Godolias so that he died… And all the people both little and great, and the captains of the soldiers, rising up went to Egypt, fearing the Chaldees.

Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda out of prison… And he appointed him a continual allowance, which was also given him by the king day by day, all the days of his life.

The END of The Fourth Book of Kings which continues the history of the two hostile kingdoms, Israel and Juda, up to their captivity. The Assyrians in 722 B.C. led Israel away; the Babylonians in 586 B.C. led Juda into captivity.

At least it ends on an up note. Even though both Juda and Israel are captive in Babylon, Joachin king of Juda, including Jerusalem is alive.

 

 

These last two chapters of the Acts of the Apostles are amazing verse and a final look at the heart of Paul trying to convince the Jews that the resurrection of Jesus Christ logically followed the Law of Moses and from what the prophets had prophesied.

Paul, the prisoner, took a leadership role on the voyage to Rome while witnessing to the soldiers and crew. An amazingly well told story with lots of details!

Here is the story in the words of the Bible:

Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.

Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”

…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.

Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”

But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.

Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.

But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.

Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.

Paul is amazingly focused, persistent and powerful on the voyage to Rome, all the while being a prisoner!

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer is driving the bus and still making all the stops while being robbed and fighting off the robber. When asked how he could do that, he replied ‘because they kept ringing the (stop) bells!

Faced with his own personal uncertainty, Paul is in close communication with God and following His every order. Why? Because that is what an apostle does. That was what was in Paul’s heart.

More of the story in the words of the Bible:

After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.

The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.

We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.

…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.

Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”

And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen. 

Amen indeed! The ongoing dialogue with the Jews is quite amazing as well. Paul utilizing the words of the prophet Isaias summarizing and concluding the conversation with ‘you either get it or you don’t’ or even better ‘it’s the Will of God that you either get or you don’t.’ No hard feelings either way but there is salvation for all of eternity to be received but in only one manner of the exercising of one’s own free will. It’s a dialogue that is still quite applicable today in not only religious discussions but also spiritual ones and pretty much any secular discussion.

This is it for the Acts of the Apostles—THE END—Paul’s journey to Rome has concluded with him making a final pitch of salvation to the Jews.

Day 134: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul’s Journey to Rome & His Final Pitch to the Jews.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 27-28 (END).

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 27:  Departure for Rome; From Caesarea to Myra; From Myra to Crete; Seeking a harbor in Crete; A violent storm; Paul encourages them; The sailors desert the ship; Paul assures them of safety; Shipwreck; all are saved.

Now when it was decided that he should sail for Italy, and that Paul, with the other prisoners, should be turned over to a centurion named Julius.

Paul: “Men, I see that this voyage is threatening to bring disaster and heavy loss, not only to the cargo and the ship, but to our lives also.”

…the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s gear overboard. As neither the sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up.

Paul: “Men, you should indeed have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete, this sparing yourselves from this disaster and loss. And now I beg of you to be of good cheer, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve, stood by me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted thee all who are sailing with thee.’ So, men, be of good cheer; for I have faith in God that it will be as it has been told to me. But we are to reach a certain island.”

But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea… Paul to the centurion and the soldiers: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let her drift off.

Paul: “This is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly on the watch and fasting, without taking anything to eat. So I beg you to take some food for your safety; for not a hair from the head of any one of you shall perish.” With these words he took bread and gave thanks to God before them all and broke it and begun to eat. Then all became more cheerful and took food for themselves. Now, we were in all two hundred and seventy-six souls on board. And after eating their fill, they proceeded to lighten the ship by throwing wheat into the sea.

But we struck a place open to two seas, and they ran the ship aground.

Now the soldiers planned to kill the prisoners lest any of them escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, put a stop to their plan… And so it came to pass that all got safely to land.

Acts Chapter 28:  Sojourn to Malta; Many cured at Malta; Malta to Rome; Paul speaks to the Jews in Rome; Paul holds a meeting with them; Paul imprisoned for two years in Rome.

After our escape we learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and refreshed us all because of the rain that had set in, and the cold.

Now Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

The natives said to one another: “Surely this man is a murderer, for though he has escaped from the sea, Justice does not let him live.”

Seeing no harm come to him (Paul), they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

The head man of the island, whose name was Publius… And it happened that the father of Publius was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in, and after praying and laying hands on him, he healed him. After this all the sick on the island came and were cured; and they honored us with many marks of honor, and when we sailed, they provided us with such things as we needed.

We set sail after three months in an Alexandrian ship with the Twins on her figurehead, which had wintered at the island.

…and so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, having had news of us, came… and when Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. On our arrival at Rome, Paul was given permission to live by himself with a soldier to guard him.

Paul to the leading Jews in Rome: “Brethren, although I have done nothing against the people or against the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After an examination they were ready to release me, since I was innocent of any crime that deserved death; but as the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my nation. This, then, is why I asked to see you and speak with you. For it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

…Paul explained the matter, bearing witness to the kingdom of God and trying from morning till evening to convince them concerning Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

Paul: “Well, did the Holy Spirit speak through Isaias the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: With your ear you will hear and will not understand; and seeing you will see and will not perceive. For the heart of this people has been hardened, and with their ears they have been hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest perhaps they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I will heal them.’ Be it known that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen to it.”

And for two full years Paul remained in his own hired lodging; and he welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and unhindered. Amen.