Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000400
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00:15 Hello, and welcome back to HIS WORDS ARE LIFE.
00:18 I'm Kelly Mowrer, and today we'll be reading from the book 00:21 of Acts in the King James Version. 00:22 But before we begin let's pray together. 00:25 Dear Jesus, thank You for another opportunity to come and 00:29 spend time reading the words that you've sent to us. 00:32 Thank You for loving us, and thank you that very soon we'll 00:36 be able to see You face-to-face, and hear from You how much You 00:41 love us, and be able to tell You how much we love You. 00:44 Until that time may these words take root in our heart and bear 00:49 great fruit to Your glory. 00:50 We love You. 00:51 Amen. 00:52 Again, I'm reading today from the King James Version, 00:54 and we're in the book of Acts, Chapter 22. 00:58 And when we left off Paul had just been bound over to some 01:02 centurion's and had explained to them that he was a Roman. 01:05 We're continuing now with Verse 28. 01:09 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained 01:14 I this freedom. 01:15 And Paul said, But I was free born. 01:18 Then straightway they departed from him which should have 01:23 examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, 01:26 after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he 01:29 had bound him. 01:30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty 01:34 wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his 01:37 bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to 01:40 appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. 01:44 And now we'll be reading from Acts beginning Chapter 23. 01:49 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and 01:53 brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God 01:57 until this day. 01:58 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him 02:03 to smite him on the mouth. 02:04 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, 02:10 thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, 02:14 and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 02:18 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 02:23 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the 02:27 high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the 02:31 ruler of thy people. 02:32 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, 02:37 and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, 02:40 Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: 02:45 of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am 02:48 called in question. 02:49 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the 02:53 Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 02:57 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, 03:00 neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 03:04 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the 03:09 Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil 03:13 in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, 03:17 let us not fight against God. 03:20 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, 03:24 fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, 03:28 commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force 03:32 from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 03:35 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, 03:40 Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in 03:45 Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 03:50 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, 03:54 and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would 03:58 neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 04:01 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 04:05 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, 04:08 We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat 04:12 nothing until we have slain Paul. 04:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief 04:19 captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, 04:21 as though ye would inquire something more perfectly 04:25 concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, 04:28 are ready to kill him. 04:30 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, 04:36 he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 04:39 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, 04:43 Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a 04:47 certain thing to tell him. 04:49 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, 04:53 Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this 04:57 young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 05:00 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him 05:04 aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast 05:09 to tell me? 05:10 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou 05:15 wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, 05:18 as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 05:22 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of 05:27 them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with 05:31 with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink 05:34 till they have killed him: and now are they ready, 05:37 looking for a promise from thee. 05:39 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, 05:45 and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed 05:49 these things to me. 05:50 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready 05:54 two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen 05:59 threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour 06:03 of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul 06:07 on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 06:11 And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lusias unto 06:17 the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 06:21 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of 06:25 them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, 06:29 having understood that he was a Roman. 06:31 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused 06:35 him, I brought him forth into their council: Whom I perceived 06:38 to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing 06:41 laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 06:45 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, 06:49 I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers 06:53 also to say before thee what they had against him. 06:57 Farewell. 06:59 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, 07:03 and brought him by night to Antipatris. 07:06 On the morrow they let the horsemen to go with him, 07:09 and returned to the castle: who, when they came to Caesarea, 07:13 and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul 07:16 also before him. 07:17 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what 07:21 province he was. 07:22 And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear 07:26 thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. 07:30 And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. 07:34 We're reading from the book of Acts, King James Version, 07:39 and now beginning with Chapter 24. 07:41 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the 07:45 elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, 07:48 who informed the governor against Paul. 07:51 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to be accuse 07:55 him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, 07:59 and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy 08:02 providence, we accept it always, and in all places, 08:06 most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 08:08 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, 08:12 I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency 08:16 a few words. 08:17 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of 08:21 sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, 08:24 and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath 08:29 gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, 08:32 and would have judged according to our law. 08:35 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great 08:39 violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his 08:42 accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest 08:47 take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 08:50 And the Jews also assented, saying, that these 08:54 things were so. 08:55 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him 08:59 to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been 09:05 of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully 09:09 answer for myself: because that thou mayest understand, 09:13 that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to 09:17 Jerusalem for to worship. 09:19 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, 09:23 neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, 09:26 nor in the city: neither can they prove the things whereof 09:30 they now accuse me. 09:31 but this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they 09:36 call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all 09:41 things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 09:44 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, 09:49 that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, 09:52 both of the just and unjust. 09:55 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void 10:00 of offense toward God, and toward men. 10:03 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, 10:08 and offerings. 10:09 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, 10:14 neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 10:17 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, 10:20 if they had aught against me. 10:22 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evildoing 10:26 in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for this 10:31 one voice, that I cried standing among them, touching the 10:35 resurrection of the dead I am called in question 10:38 by you this day. 10:39 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect 10:43 knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, 10:46 When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, 10:49 I will know the uttermost of your matter. 10:52 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have 10:56 liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance 10:59 to minister or come unto him. 11:00 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife 11:04 Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him 11:08 concerning the faith in Christ. 11:10 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, 11:14 and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, 11:18 Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, 11:23 I will call for thee. 11:24 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, 11:28 that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the 11:33 oftener, and communed with him. 11:35 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: 11:41 and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, 11:44 left Paul bound. 11:47 Again, reading from the King James Version in the book 11:50 of Acts, and we're now beginning Chapter 25. 11:53 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days 11:57 he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 12:00 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him 12:04 against Paul, and besought him, and desired favor against him, 12:09 that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the 12:13 way to kill him. 12:14 but Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, 12:17 and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 12:20 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, 12:24 go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness 12:28 in him. 12:29 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, 12:32 he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the 12:36 judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 12:39 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem 12:43 stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints 12:47 against Paul, which they could not prove. 12:50 While he answered for himself, neither against the law of the 12:54 Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, 12:59 have I offended any thing at all. 13:02 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, 13:08 and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged 13:12 of these things before me? 13:13 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, 13:19 where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, 13:24 as thou very well knowest. 13:26 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of 13:30 death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things 13:35 whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. 13:38 I appeal unto Caesar. 13:41 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, 13:45 answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? 13:48 unto Caesar shalt thou go. 13:51 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto 13:56 Caesarea to salute Festus. 13:58 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared 14:01 Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man 14:04 left in bonds by Felix: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, 14:08 the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, 14:12 desiring to have judgment against him. 14:14 To whom I answered, it is not manner of the Romans to deliver 14:18 any man to die, before that he which is accused have the 14:22 accusers face to face, and have license to answer 14:25 for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 14:29 Thank you for joining today to read the word of God, 14:33 please come again next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17