Participants: Kelly Mowrer
Series Code: HWAL
Program Code: HWAL000401
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00:16 Hi, thank you again for joining us for His Words are Life.
00:19 I'm Kelly Mowrer and we'll be reading today from the 00:22 book of Acts. But before we start, let's pray together. 00:24 Dear God, we're coming apart from the things that fill each 00:29 of our days, to spend some time reading Your word. 00:32 We're reading the story of your servant, Paul, who stood boldly 00:36 for You and so many times we fail to even think of ways 00:42 that we could be standing for You. Please help us to learn 00:46 from Paul, the lessons that You want each of us to know. 00:49 Write them into our hearts, and may our walk from here on out 00:53 be more pleasing in your eyes; because we spend this time 00:56 with You today. We love you. Amen 00:58 Hi, again. Thank you for joining me for His Words are Life, and 01:03 we're reading from the King James version, the book of Acts 01:06 Paul is in the middle of being taken from one governor 01:10 to another to hear his case. Nobody can quite decide what 01:13 to do with him because he is a Roman citizen and the Jews 01:16 want to do away with him, but they haven't brought anything 01:18 worthy of this. And he's now in the care of Festus and when we 01:23 left off, King Agrippa and Bernice had come down to visit 01:26 Festus, and Festus was telling them the story of this Paul, 01:30 who's been brought to him by the Jews. And there's accusation 01:34 against him. We pick up now in verse 17 of chapter 25. 01:39 Therefore, when they were come hither, 01:43 - and when he said, "they", talking about the Jews - 01:46 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the 01:49 morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man 01:52 to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up 01:56 they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed. 02:01 But had certain questions against him of their own 02:04 superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, 02:07 whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such 02:12 manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to 02:15 Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 02:17 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of 02:22 Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him 02:26 to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear 02:32 the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 02:36 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, 02:39 and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place 02:43 of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men 02:46 of the city, at Festus' commandment 02:49 Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, 02:54 and all men which are here present with us, 02:56 ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have 03:01 dealt with me, both at Jerusalem and also here, crying that he 03:06 ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had 03:10 committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath 03:14 appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 03:17 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. 03:20 Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, 03:24 and specially before thee O king Agrippa that, after examination 03:29 had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me 03:34 unreasonable to send a prisoner and not withal to signify 03:38 the crimes laid against him. - Again reading from the book of 03:42 Acts in the King James version. We're now beginning chapter 26.- 03:45 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak 03:50 for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and 03:55 answered for himself: I think myself happy, King Agrippa, 03:59 because I shall answer for myself this day before these 04:04 touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 04:07 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and 04:12 questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee 04:15 to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth 04:20 which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, 04:24 know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, 04:28 if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect 04:32 of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 04:35 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made 04:40 of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, 04:44 instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. 04:47 For which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of 04:51 the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible 04:54 with you, that God should raise the dead? 04:57 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things 05:01 contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 05:03 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many 05:07 of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received 05:11 authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death, 05:14 I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every 05:18 synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; 05:21 and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them 05:24 even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus 05:29 with authority and commission from the chief priests; 05:32 At midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven, 05:37 above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them 05:42 which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the 05:45 earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew 05:49 tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 05:54 it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 05:57 And I said, Who are thou Lord? and he said, I am Jesus 06:04 whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet: 06:08 for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, 06:11 to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things 06:16 which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which 06:19 I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people 06:22 and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 06:25 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, 06:30 and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive 06:34 forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are 06:38 sanctified by faith that is in me. 06:41 Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient 06:46 unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them 06:50 of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of 06:54 Judaea, and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn 06:58 to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes 07:05 the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. 07:08 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day 07:14 witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things 07:20 than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 07:24 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first 07:28 that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the 07:31 people and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself 07:36 Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; 07:41 much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, 07:46 most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth 07:50 and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, 07:55 before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of 07:59 these things are hidden from him for this thing was not done 08:03 in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? 08:07 I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 08:12 Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, 08:18 I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me 08:24 this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, 08:30 except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose 08:35 up, and the governor, and Bernice, 08:37 and they that sat with them: And when they were gone aside, 08:41 they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing 08:45 worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, 08:50 This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed 08:54 unto Caesar. - We're continuing to read from the book of Acts 08:59 the King James version and we're beginning now chapter 27. 09:03 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, 09:07 they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named 09:11 Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship 09:18 of Adramytium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts 09:22 of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, 09:28 being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon, 09:31 And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and have him liberty to go 09:36 unto his friends to refresh himself. And when we had 09:40 launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds 09:44 were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia 09:48 and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 09:51 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into 09:57 Italy; and he put us therein; And when we had sailed slowly 10:02 many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, 10:06 the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, 10:10 over against Salmone; And, hardly passing it came unto a 10:15 place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the 10:19 city of Lasea. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing 10:24 was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, 10:27 Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that 10:32 this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, 10:36 not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. 10:41 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and 10:45 the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken 10:48 by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, 10:53 the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means 10:58 they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; 11:01 which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south-west 11:05 and north-west. And when the south wind blew softly, 11:09 supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, 11:13 they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose 11:19 against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. 11:23 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into 11:26 the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island 11:30 which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: 11:34 which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding 11:38 the ship; and fearing lest they should fall into the 11:41 quicksand's, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being 11:48 exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they 11:51 lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our 11:54 own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor 11:58 stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, 12:02 all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 12:06 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them 12:11 and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, 12:14 and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm 12:17 and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: 12:22 for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, 12:26 but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel 12:31 of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; 12:36 thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, 12:40 God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 12:43 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, 12:47 that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast 12:53 upon a certain island. But when the fourteenth night was come 12:58 as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight 13:02 the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 13:06 and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: 13:09 and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, 13:13 and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have 13:17 fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, 13:21 and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee 13:25 out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, 13:28 under colour as though they would have cast anchors out 13:31 of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion 13:33 and unto the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, 13:37 we cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of 13:41 the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, 13:44 Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is 13:49 the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, 13:52 having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: 13:56 for this is for you health: for there shall not an hair fall 14:00 from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, 14:04 he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: 14:07 and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 14:10 Then were they all of good cheer and they also took some meat. 14:14 And we were in all the ship two hundred threescore and 14:18 and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened 14:22 the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. 14:25 Thank you for joining me today to read the word of God. 14:29 Please come again and join us nest time. Until then God bless 14:32 you. Goodbye. |
Revised 2014-12-17