XPost: alt.christnet, alt.messianic, alt.religion.christian.biblestudy   
   XPost: alt.religion.christian   
   From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca   
      
   Day 339, 5 December 2025, - 13th Day of Advent   
      
   1) Acts 24, Acts 25, Acts 26   
      
   Acts 24   
      
   The Case Against Paul   
      
   1 (Ac 23:2; 24:11) After five days Ananias the high priest arrived with some   
   of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They brought before the governor   
   their charges against Paul.   
   2 When he was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Since through   
   you we enjoy much peace, and your foresight is bringing reforms   
   to this nation,   
   3 (Ac 23:26; 26:25) with all thankfulness, most excellent Felix,   
   we always welcome it everywhere.   
   4 But not to detain you further,   
   I beg you to briefly hear us in your patience.   
   5 (Ac 28:22; 24:14; 15:5) "We have found this man a troublemaker, instigating   
   riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect   
   of the Nazarenes.   
   6 He even tried to profane the temple.   
   So we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law.   
   7 But the commander, Lysias, came to us and forcefully took him   
   out of our hands,   
   8 ordering his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself you   
   will be able to learn about all these things concerning which we accuse him."   
   9 The Jews assented, alleging these things to be true.   
      
   1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and   
   with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.   
   2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing   
   that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done   
   unto this nation by thy providence,   
   3 we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all   
   thankfulness.   
   4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that   
   thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.   
   5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among   
   all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the   
   Nazarenes:   
   6 who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took,   
   and would have judged according to our law.   
   7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him   
   away out of our hands,   
   8 commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself   
   mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.   
   9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.   
      
   Paul's Defense Before Felix   
      
   10 After the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul answered, "Knowing that   
   for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully defend   
   myself.   
   11 (Ac 24:1; 21:18) You may verify that it is no more than twelve days since   
   I went up to Jerusalem to worship.   
   12 (Ac 25:8; 28:17) They did not find me in the temple or in the synagogues   
   or in the city disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd.   
   13 (Ac 25:7) They cannot prove the things concerning which they now accuse me.   
   14 (Ac 3:13; 9:2) However, I affirm that in accordance with the Way, which   
   they call a sect, I worship the God of my fathers and believe everything   
   written in the Law and in the Prophets.   
   15 (Da 12:2; Jn 5:28-29) I have hope in God that there will be a resurrection   
   of the dead, both of the just and the unjust, which they also expect.   
   16 (Ac 23:1) In this do I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God   
   and toward men.   
   17 (Gal 2:10; Ac 11:29-30) "Now after many years I came to bring alms   
   and offerings to my nation,   
   18 (Ac 26:21) when some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,   
   neither with a crowd nor an uproar.   
   19 (Ac 23:30) They ought to be here before you to accuse me if they have any   
   charges.   
   20 Or let these men say what crime they found in me when I stood before the   
   Sanhedrin,   
   21 (Ac 23:6) unless it is concerning this one statement which I cried out   
   while standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead,   
   I am being judged by you this day.' "   
   22 When Felix, who had more exact knowledge concerning the Way, had heard   
   this, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander   
   arrives, I will decide your case."   
   23 (Ac 27:3; 28:16) Then he ordered the centurion to guard Paul,   
   and to let him have liberty, and to forbid none of his own people from   
   attending to him.   
      
   10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak,   
   answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto   
   this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:   
   11 because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days   
   since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.   
   12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither   
   raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:   
   13 neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.   
   14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy,   
   so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written   
   in the law and in the prophets:   
   15 and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there   
   shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.   
   16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of   
   offence toward God, and toward men.   
   17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.   
   18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither   
   with multitude, nor with tumult.   
   19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought   
   against me.   
   20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me,   
   while I stood before the council,   
   21 except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching   
   the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.   
   22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that   
   way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come   
   down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.   
   23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and   
   that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.   
      
   Paul Held in Custody   
      
   24 (Ac 20:21; Gal 2:16) After several days, when Felix arrived with his wife   
   Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning   
   faith in Christ.   
   25 (Ac 10:42; Gal 5:23) As he lectured about righteousness, self-control,   
   and the coming judgment, Felix was afraid and answered, "For now, leave!   
   When time permits, I will send for you."   
   26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he   
   might release him. So he sent for him more often and conversed with him.   
   27 (Ac 25:9; 25:14; 12:3) But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix.   
   And Felix, desiring to do the Jews a favor, left Paul imprisoned.   
      
   24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)