1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,840 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and as they bound him with thongs, 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Paul said, under the centurion that stood by, is it 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: lawful for you to scourge a man that is a 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Roman and uncondemned acts? Twenty two twenty five. Dear Jesus, 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: because you have called me to be an effective leader, 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: teach me through your Holy Spirit, not only what to say, 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: but how to say it in order to most powerfully 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: impact my listeners when I speak. Help me to take 9 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: into account impact and not image. Help me to evaluate 10 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 1: my audience and communicate in a way that best connects 11 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: to my listeners. As I do so, help me give 12 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: them practical applications to the message they are receiving from me, 13 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: and how to execute your words of truth and impact 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 1: in their lives. By your grace, Jesus and through your power, 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: I declare that I am a master communicator and that 16 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: I am equipped to deliver with impact and empathy the 17 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: message placed in my heart in Jesus's name, Amen, thank 18 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: you for praying with us today. Continue your time with 19 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you 20 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: by Bible in a year dot Com. 21 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 2: Paul beaten in Jerusalem in our last story Paul said 22 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 2: goodbye to the Ephesian church. He knew that danger awaited 23 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 2: him in Jerusalem. The threat of danger and death was present, 24 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 2: but Paul was determined to preach the Gospel to his kin. 25 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: With great tears, Paul left Ephesus to Jerusalem. Now we 26 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: see Paul taken up by an angry mob of Jews. 27 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 2: He is beaten and nearly killed, but saved ultimately by 28 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 2: his Roman citizenship, inspired by the Book of Acts. 29 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham once again with the Bible 30 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: in a year podcast. In our last episode, we heard 31 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 3: how Paul brought a young man back to life after 32 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 3: the youth fell from a third story window. God continued 33 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: to work through this great man in both his words 34 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: and the signs he performed in the power of the 35 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 3: Holy Spirit. We also heard Paul's farewell to the church 36 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: at Ephesus, which he dearly loved. Today we'll find Paul 37 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 3: in Jerusalem, together with the church there, led by Jesus's 38 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 3: own brother James, who gives wise counsel to Paul. Despite 39 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 3: his best efforts to make peace, the Jewish religious establishment 40 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 3: in Asia will stir up hatred towards this godly man, 41 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 3: nearly killing the Apostle Paul, So let's listen now to 42 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 3: this reading from the Book of Acts. 43 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 2: Paul went into Jerusalem under the cover of night. He 44 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: and Luke wandered in through the city, gates, hoods over 45 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: their faces, and torches snuffed. It was passover and the 46 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: city was still filled with activity. Paul and Luke weaved 47 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 2: through groups of people, avoiding fires and torches. Paul looked 48 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 2: around the city. It had been a very long time 49 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: since he had been in Jerusalem. The sweet spring air 50 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 2: blew through the city, and Paul caught a glimpse of 51 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 2: the large temple looming in the distance. The temple God's 52 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 2: holy dwelling. Paul smiled. He was thankful that now, thanks 53 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 2: to Jesus, God dwelled in the hearts of men and 54 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: women who believed. Luke and Paul made their way to 55 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 2: the home of James, Jesus's brother. He greeted them warmly, 56 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: and the three of them shared a meal with the elders. 57 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: The church in Jerusalem was thriving under the leadership of James. However, 58 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: the Jews were becoming increasingly more angry by the day. 59 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: They are all zealous for the law, James said, and 60 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: they speak about you quite often, Paul. Even I have 61 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: heard stories from them. They say you tell them not 62 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: to circumcise their children, and to forsake Moses. James took 63 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 2: a sip from his cup. There was clear concern on 64 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: his face for keeping Paul safe. To the Jews, Paul 65 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 2: was more than a threat. He was the best among them, 66 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 2: and he turned to Jesus. If Paul, a Pharisee of pharisees, 67 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 2: could convert, than anyone could. So Paul represented vulnerability. They 68 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: will hear that you have come, James said. You must 69 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: do as I say. If you want to stay alive, 70 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: you will go to the temple and cleanse yourself. You 71 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: will take part in the ceremonies so that they can 72 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: clearly see you are not a menace to them. It 73 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: was the best plan they had. If Paul remained hidden 74 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: in the city for too long, it would only make 75 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: him seem more guilty. So the next day Paul went 76 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 2: into the temple for the ceremony of purification. For seven days, 77 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: he went through the old Jewish customs and attended the 78 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 2: teachings of the synagogues. To Paul, it was a refreshing 79 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: reminder of how much Jesus had done for him. Every 80 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: ceremonial law written in the Law of Moses pointed towards 81 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: the greater cleansing of Christ. So Paul went through the 82 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: ceremonies joyfully, for they pointed towards a greater truth. Seven 83 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: days passed and Paul was nearly completed paying homage to 84 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: the Jewish traditions. That was until the Jews from Asia 85 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 2: came to Jerusalem. The group of Asian Jews had come 86 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,799 Speaker 2: to Jerusalem for the Passover. However, when they saw Paul, 87 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 2: all they could think about was murder. Paul silently sat 88 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: in the courtyard, watching the birds glide over the temple. 89 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: All was peaceful until Paul received a swift blow to 90 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 2: the back of his head. Paul fell forward into a fountain. 91 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 2: Before he could get up, a strong hand held the 92 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: back of his head down into the water. Paul flailed 93 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 2: his arms trying to break free. The men threw him 94 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 2: out of the water and grabbed him by the hair. 95 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: They dragged him into the middle of the courtyard. At 96 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: this point, many people stopped to watch what was happening. 97 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: Men of Israel. The men said, this is the man 98 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 2: who has been teaching people to abandon our law in 99 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: this temple. Gasps and chuckles filled the air. The Jews 100 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: from Asia stirred up the crowd and formed a mob 101 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 2: that stormed out of the temple, with Paul being drugged 102 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 2: by his hair. Once the gates closed behind them, they 103 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 2: kicked him into a wall. Paul was surrounded. His back 104 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: was against the wall, and a sea of angry glares 105 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: were before him. They looked at Paul like hungry wolves, 106 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: ready to grab the throat. Paul knew that death was 107 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: a possibility coming to Jerusalem, so he breathed deeply and 108 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 2: chose to accept whatever the Lord had for him. The 109 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: Chief Judge of Jerusalem got word that there was an 110 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:04,559 Speaker 2: angry mob forming outside the temple. He wasted no time 111 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 2: and had centurions sent down at once. The soldiers ran 112 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 2: down to where Paul was backed into a corner being 113 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: beaten to death. The mob was shouting out accusations towards Paul, 114 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: so no centurion could get a good idea of what 115 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,559 Speaker 2: he was in trouble for. They acted quickly, for Paul 116 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: was receiving the fury of over one hundred men. The 117 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: soldiers broke up the angry mob and dispersed them. Then 118 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 2: they bound Paul and took him to the judge. The 119 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: crowd followed, shouting lies and spinning deceit. The courtroom doors 120 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: swung open, and the judge was surprised by a half 121 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: dead man in chains, followed by a hundred angry Jews. 122 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 2: They all shouted and spat in Paul's direction. However, Paul 123 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 2: kept his head down. What has this man done, the 124 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: judge asked. However, he could not get a good answer, 125 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 2: for all of them were speaking at once. Some said 126 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: he was a sorcerer. Others said he corrupted their children. 127 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: He said he had violated the law of God and 128 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 2: the law of the land. None of these were true, 129 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: but the judge had no way of knowing. The soldiers 130 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 2: were guarding Paul to make sure he was not killed 131 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: by the mob behind them. The judge was growing flustered 132 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: and ordered for Paul to be taken to the barracks. 133 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: As Paul was being taken away, he whispered calmly to 134 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: the judge, may I say something to you. The judge 135 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: was perplexed. You can speak Greek. I thought you were 136 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: the Egyptian assassin everyone has been talking about. Who are 137 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 2: you I am a Jew from Tarsus, Paul replied, I 138 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: beg you please permit me to speak with the people. 139 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: The judge nodded and motioned him forward to the podium. 140 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: Paul leaned against the large piece of wood. Someone had 141 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: shattered his right knee. He was in excruciating pain, but 142 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: he must speak. There was a great hush among the crowd, 143 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 2: and Paul began to speak in the Hebrew language to 144 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: his brothers and sisters. He told them about his upbringing 145 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 2: and time as a pharisee. He told them about it 146 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: zeal for persecuting the church. He even told them about 147 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 2: the Lord meeting him on the road to Damascus. Paul 148 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 2: gave a heartfelt plea to the people before him, a 149 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: plea to understand the love God has for them, a 150 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: plea to consider the sacrifice of Jesus. I held the 151 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 2: robes while people stoned Stephen. Paul said, I know the 152 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 2: zeal you hold. It is why I left Jerusalem. Before 153 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 2: Paul could speak again, they raised their voices and called 154 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 2: for his death. They shouted and threw off their cloaks 155 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: to attack him. They flung rocks and dust in the air. 156 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: The judge did not understand Hebrew. Therefore, he did not 157 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 2: understand what Paul was speaking about. So the judge assumed 158 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 2: Paul must be guilty to rile up a crowd to 159 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 2: such rage. He ordered for Paul to be flogged. So 160 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 2: Paul was stripped, naked and tied to a post. Paul 161 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 2: could hear the whips being tested behind him. He tensed 162 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: his whole body and prepared himself for what was about 163 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 2: take place. Then Paul remembered something. Paul was born in Tarsus. 164 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: He was a Roman citizen by birth. Paul turned his 165 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 2: head to the centurion and asked, is it lawful to 166 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 2: flog a Roman citizen without a hearing? The soldier stopped 167 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: in his tracks and Paul was immediately released from his chains. 168 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,599 Speaker 2: Yet the trial was not over. Paul would have to 169 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 2: sit before a Roman court. Paul would with the Pharisees. 170 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 2: If that didn't go well, he may even have to 171 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 2: be before Caesar himself. 172 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: As we hear God's word today, we find Paul and 173 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: Luke back in Jerusalem. This place had been Paul's home 174 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 3: for years, and now, after a long journey, he was home. 175 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 3: But things were different now. He was no longer a 176 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: part of the religious elite. He was a man changed 177 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 3: by Christ by the power of the Gospel working in 178 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 3: his life. Paul was welcomed into the home of James, Jesus' 179 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 3: own brother, who, like Paul, had once rejected Jesus, but now, 180 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 3: because of the Resurrection, Jesus' brother, his half brother, actually 181 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: is leader of the church in Jerusalem. He told Paul 182 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: of the many Jews who had come to faith in Christ. 183 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 3: These Jewish Christians were certainly grateful to have Paul with them, 184 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 3: not least of all because he brought with him an 185 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 3: offering for the church in Jerusalem that he had gathered 186 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 3: from Gentile churches. At the same time, these Jewish Christians 187 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 3: were a bit suspicious of Paul. They still observed all 188 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 3: the Jewish laws, but word had come to them that 189 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 3: Paul was telling Gentiles, non Jews and Jews alike to 190 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 3: abandon Jewish traditions, including circumcision. This was only a half truth. 191 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 3: Paul did not call Gentiles to adhere to Jewish customs 192 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: because they had a new identity in Christ. They are 193 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 3: now a part of God's eternal family. But he certainly 194 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 3: wasn't calling on Jewish believers to abandon their Jewish customs. 195 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: This was surely a tactic of the enemy to sow 196 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 3: division and disunity in the Church, and now Paul had 197 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 3: an opportunity to eliminate these rumors and show his unity 198 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: with Jewish believers. With this in mind, James wisely counseled 199 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 3: Paul to join four Jewish men who were going to 200 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 3: fulfill a vow in a ceremony of purification. Paul would 201 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 3: not only take part in the ceremony, but he would 202 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 3: help cover their expenses for the process. Paul did just 203 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 3: exactly as James advised and participated in the rites of 204 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 3: Jewish purification. The ceremony actually pointed people to Christ and 205 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 3: what Christ had already accomplished. Religious rites and traditions do 206 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 3: not cleanse from sin. Only Christ can do that, and 207 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 3: Paul knew this. Paul understood that there was nothing inherently 208 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 3: wrong with the customs, but they certainly did not save 209 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 3: or even helped to save. Paul then joins with these 210 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 3: Jewish believers as an alignment of their faith and Christian fellowship. 211 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 3: He was practicing what he had always preached. Words He 212 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 3: wrote to the believers in Rome, reminding them not to 213 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 3: be a stumbling block to other believers, but to do 214 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: what leads to peace and mutual edification that is building up. 215 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 3: Paul's biggest problem was not with Jewish Christians, but with unbelievers, 216 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 3: both Jews and Gentiles, but in particular unbelieving Jews who 217 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: came from Asia and seeing Paul in the temple, began 218 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 3: to shout accusations at him and stir up the crowds 219 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 3: against him. We're told that the whole city turned against Paul, 220 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 3: and he was dragged out of the temple into the streets, 221 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 3: where the mob began to beat him. Paul certainly must 222 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 3: have thought this was the end of his life, but 223 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 3: the chief judge in Jerusalem sent soldiers and centurions to 224 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 3: break up the fight. To break up the mob, Paul 225 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: was rescued just in time. I imagined. He had never 226 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 3: been so glad to have been arrested. At least now 227 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 3: he would be in safe hands for a while and 228 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 3: he would get his day in court. Before he could 229 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 3: be taken away to a cel, Paul managed to speak 230 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 3: to the judge, who was surprised that Paul spoke Greek. 231 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 3: He asked for permission to speak to the crowd, and 232 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 3: the judge allowed it. Then in the Hebrew language, Paul 233 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 3: began to give his own testimony to the Jews. He 234 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: told them of how he once persecuted the followers of Jesus, 235 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 3: but how the Lord had appeared to him on the 236 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 3: road to Damascus and saved him. He knew how zealous 237 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 3: that these people were, and he knew that his witness 238 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 3: could lead to his own death. But that did not 239 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 3: stop the apostle Paul. Because of Christ, he was unstoppable. 240 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: He continued to bear witness to what God had done 241 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 3: in his life and how he called him to leave 242 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 3: Jerusalem and go to the Gentiles, to go to the 243 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 3: nations to share the good news. What is remarkable about 244 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 3: this is that Paul had been rescued from danger, but 245 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 3: for the sake of the Gospel, he stepped right back 246 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 3: into the fight, telling his story of salvation in Christ. 247 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 3: Some might call him a freak or a fool, but 248 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 3: he was a fool for Christ's sake. He would never 249 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: stop telling the wonderful things that Christ had done in 250 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 3: his life. The crowd grew angry once again upon hearing 251 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 3: his words, and we read in Acts twenty two twenty 252 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 3: two these words. Then they raised their voices and said, 253 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 3: away with such a fellow from the earth, for he 254 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 3: should not be allowed to live. Their shouts are reminiscent 255 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 3: of what the crowd said at the trial of Jesus 256 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 3: when they said crucify him, crucify him. Paul was certainly 257 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 3: identified with Christ, not only in life, but in suffering 258 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 3: and rejection by his own people. The judge, who could 259 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 3: not understand Paul's words and saw the crowd's reaction, ordered 260 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 3: that he'd be flogged. But Paul, knowing his rights as 261 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 3: a citizen of Rome since he was born in Tarsus, 262 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: appealed on the basis of his Roman citizenship for a just, 263 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 3: fair hearing. This wise action by Paul meant that he 264 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 3: would stand before a court, and we'll hear about his 265 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 3: trial before the counsel of Jewish leaders the next time hear. God, 266 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 3: we thank you for the example of Paul's courage and faithfulness. 267 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 3: May we also be courageous, bold and brave as we 268 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 3: share our faith. May we never allow the circumstances or 269 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 3: consequences of our actions for Christ to stop us from 270 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 3: being bold witnesses for him. God, fill us with your 271 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 3: spirit that we may speak of your love and your 272 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: grace in our lives and never stop until you come 273 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: for us in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening 274 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 3: once again to today's Bible in a Year podcast. It's 275 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 3: been such an incredible adventure walking through the Word of 276 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: God with you. I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 277 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 3: You can download the Prey dot com app and make 278 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 3: Bible study and prayer priority in your life. If you 279 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 3: have enjoyed this podcast appreciated it, tell someone else. We 280 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 3: now have over twenty seven million downloads of the Bible 281 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,640 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. We're grateful for each one who 282 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 3: is listening, So why don't you tell someone else and 283 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 3: let others know of what Christ is doing in your life. 284 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 3: You can help ensure that more people can hear these 285 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,439 Speaker 3: life changing readings from God's Word. With a gift today 286 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 3: to keep these gospel centered messages reaching people around the world. 287 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 3: Please give at Bibleindeyear dot com. And if you want 288 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 3: free resources as to how you can tap into God's 289 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 3: power for your life, then be sure to go to 290 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 3: my website which is Jack Graham dot org. Again, that's 291 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org and you will find plenty of 292 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 3: resources as to how you can know Christ, how you 293 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 3: can grow in your faith, and how you can share 294 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,959 Speaker 3: the love of Christ with others. God bless you and 295 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 3: have a wonderful day.