DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR SUNDAY DECEMBER 13:
DAILY BIBLE READING
Acts 24-26 New King James Version (NKJV)
Accused of Sedition
24 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and
a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor
against Paul.
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying:
"Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and [a]prosperity is being
brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all
places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be
tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your [b]courtesy, a few
words from us. 5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of
dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the
sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized
him, [c]and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander
Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8
commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may
ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also
[d]assented, maintaining that these things were so.
The Defense Before Felix
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered:
"Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this
nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, 11 because you may
ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem
to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone
nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can
they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to
you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God
of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the
Prophets. 15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that
there will be a resurrection [e]of the dead, both of the just and the
unjust. 16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience
without offense toward God and men.
17 "Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18
in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 They ought to have been here before
you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are
here themselves say [f]if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood
before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried
out, standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am
being judged by you this day.' "
Felix Procrastinates
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the
Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes
down, I will make a decision on your case." 23 So he commanded the centurion
to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of
his friends to provide for or visit him.
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was
Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to
come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a
convenient time I will call for you." 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money
would be given him by Paul, [g]that he might release him. Therefore he sent
for him more often and conversed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to
do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
Paul Appeals to Caesar
25 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up
from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the [h]high priest and the chief men of
the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3 asking a
favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem-while they lay in
ambush along the road to kill him. 4 But Festus answered that Paul should be
kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. 5
"Therefore," he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with
me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him."
6 And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to
Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul
to be brought. 7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem
stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could
not prove, 8 while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the
Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything
at all."
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are
you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning
these things?"
10 So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be
judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I
am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not
object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men
accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar."
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have
appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!"
Paul Before Agrippa
13 And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet
Festus. 14 When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case
before the king, saying: "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
15 about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when
I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. 16 To them I
answered, 'It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man [i]to
destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has
opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.' 17
Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat
on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. 18 When the
accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as
I [j]supposed, 19 but had some questions against him about their own
religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be
alive. 20 And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he
was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.
21 But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I
commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar."
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself."
"Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great [k]pomp,
and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of
the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said: "King
Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about
whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and
here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. 25 But when I found
that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had
appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing certain to
write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before
you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination
has taken place I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me
unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him."
Paul's Early Life
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself."
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 "I think myself
happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you
concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially
because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with
the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among
my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the
first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect
of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the
hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve
tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's
sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought
incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things [l]contrary to the name of
Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and
when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished
them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Recounts His Conversion
12 "While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I
saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those
who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard
a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 So
I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you
for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things
which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I
will [m]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to
whom I [n]now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified[o] by
faith in Me.'
Paul's Post-Conversion Life
19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout
all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent,
turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the
Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having
obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and
great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said
would come- 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to
rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the
Gentiles."
Agrippa Parries Paul's Challenge
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul,
you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!"
25 But he said, "I am not [p]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of
truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows
these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his
attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do
you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a
Christian."
29 And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear
me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for
these chains."
30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor
and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside,
they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving
of death or chains."
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had
not appealed to Caesar."
