Note for 2024/06/03

‭Acts 21:37-40 KJV‬

[37] And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? [38] Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? [39] But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. [40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

https://bible.com/bible/1/act.21.37-40.KJV

‭Acts 22:1-30 KJV‬

[1] Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. [2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) [3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. [4] And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. [5] As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. [6] And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. [7] And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [8] And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. [9] And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. [10] And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. [11] And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. [12] And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, [13] came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. [14] And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. [15] For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. [16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. [17] And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; [18] and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. [19] And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: [20] and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. [21] And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. [22] And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. [23] And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, [24] the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. [25] And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? [26] When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. [27] Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. [28] And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. [29] Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. [30] On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

https://bible.com/bible/1/act.22.1-30.KJV

From Acts 21:37-40, we see how the Romans thought Paul to have been another they called the Egyptian when they collected him from among the Jews that were assaulting him, as we read yesterday. There are many misconceptions, just like many today think that the Romans were Italian, because of Rome being in what we know as Italy today, but it is clear that they spoke Greek and indeed are mentioned in the Bible as Grecians. If the Romans did not confuse him to be another, who knows what we would have read today. Irrespective of how Paul was saved from this brutal mob of Jewish people, the account we have is that he was saved, and that by Gentiles and there is no doubt in me at all, that this rescue was directed by GOD who is above all. The Egyptian is not known to us from scripture, some saying he is from the daggermen group, and some say he was a false prophet that led men onto the mount of olives in revolt against Jerusalem, it may even be of the same group of people, but from the Bible we do not have any context for who the Romans were referring to here. All we know is that it was a misidentification. So too, where they were surprised that Paul could speak Greek. Being both Jewish and Greek born, even taught under Gamaliel in the ways of the Pharisees counted in favor of Paul, including sparing him from being interrogated here by the Romans. In common speech, let us then just say that GOD chose the right person for these duties he performed for our Lord Jesus Christ. He was not perfect, as we well know that he was party to the end of Stephen, even during Stephen's famous prayer. Paul stood witness, and according to himself stood in agreement with it. So, perfect, no; but perfectly positioned for what would be required of him by the Lord. We know that Paul did not have an easy life, especially from Damascus, but He was protected by our Lord Jesus Christ, escaping death many times.

Paul gives his testimony of Jesus Christ here to the group that came against him and he does so while under Roman guard. How wonderful is our GOD? Paul is protected even by the Roman Guard. But, those that came against him, they were quiet to hear as he spoke of who he was and what he had done in the persecution of the church, even how Stephen was killed. But, when Paul speaks of Jesus and how He appeared to him in a trance and sends him to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, then these Jews go into a revolt again. And by their reaction of tearing clothes and throwing dust upon their heads, those that have read the Word of GOD will know this to be the actions of repentance according to Jewish customs, even a display of having no part in the words spoken, which they by no doubt considered blasphemy. And here, we as Christians must be very careful not to judge, for it is the Lord that made the Jews blind to the truth so His Grace could go to the Gentiles. This too, we read in the Word of GOD, Paul being one who wrote on this very topic. When Paul speaks here to this group, he calls them brothers and fathers, he was speaking to his people, which afore time he has mentioned, in his writing, his longing that they would come to the faith in Jesus Christ. The fact is, friends, it is not Paul that these rejected, it was our Lord Jesus Christ, and when Christ himself was before them, they led him all the way to the cross, even guarded his grave.

Now, there is much more here, and sadly we cannot get to everything in just one sitting. We could return to prophecy to speak on how it was foretold that his own would reject him.

The matter that we must consider today, is how this is still true today and specifically still those from the Jewish faith. They still see Christianity as some form of idolatry, but Israel is GOD'S business not mine, except to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all I encounter. And indeed, I know some Jews who have come into the Faith in Jesus Christ. Their repentance shall be just as the Word of GOD foretells it. Yes! Even as the Prophets of GOD we read of in the Old Testament foretold it. We know that the Lord will keep a remnant of them for Himself, so all the prophecies may be fulfilled and GOD may be glorified for it.

What is still true for us at this time? Are those of the World not interested until we mention the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do they not blaspheme His Name even cursing by it? But the worldly things, the things of flesh and all manner of material things, that they receive gladly, even coveting it. They worship creation, but reject even the notion of The Creator. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD and the Word was GOD. And then, the Word became flesh and was sacrificed, hanging on the curse wood of the cross for our behalf. Instead of us, in payment for us of our sin. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the gladdest message that we can bring to mankind, that GOD forgave our sin and we are no longer damned to death. He paid the price, so we may live forever, and take on the form of the risen Christ when we too will be resurrected. When we believe in Christ, we believe also that which He spoke of, not? We believe in the Word of GOD, all the accounts, all the instructions and promises, but also of the curses, even the curse to an everlasting death for those that refuse Him. When we have to ignore the Word to permit something of this world, then we risk being removed from the Book of Life. So do we uphold the commandments of the LORD, we obey Him, not unto salvation, but because we have received salvation and the forgiveness of sin in Jesus Christ.

Of course, as always, there is much more to be said. But, friends, if you have read the Word of GOD, if the Word is in you, I do not have to repeat everything again. Then, the Word lives in you and you will be able to say Amen.

Now, before I end my writing here, it is important that I let it be known that many among us will have to go through a form of persecution again. Yes, some will come face to face with evil, and many already have and now sleep in Jesus Christ. This world is setting up itself for another major revolt against those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Check then for yourself into the matter of the Noahide laws, the Chabad organization and do not forget of those who stand in clear contradictions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look into the matter of the Nephilim and the descendants of Ismael, Esau, even those that came from Abraham by his second wife. Even those that came from Lot and his daughters, but especially those that came from fallen angels. (Read the books of Jude and James)

Do not disregard Ephesians 6 either, nor Genesis 3:15, Genesis 6, Ezra 9 or 2 Kings 17. The Spiritual war dates back to Eden, but greater is He that is in me, than he that is in this world. We struggle not against the person but against the spirits that move him. So, sadly, with the knowledge of evil spirits and what they perform, even how they stand in rebellion against the Lord our GOD; then, we can understand the spirit of offense and rebellion and who stands in them. Then we can understand the rebellion that is playing out before our eyes all over the world. It is the collection of all these things happening at once, where we can know that our redemption by Jesus Christ our Lord is drawing near.

So... Come out of her, this mother of adultery and idolatry, partake not of her iniquities. Do not agree with evil, but stand for what is good and righteous by that which the Word of GOD defines as good and righteous. Not in that which a judge of mankind ordained as good by human decision. That is to stand in the doctrines of man, not GOD. Let the Word of GOD set your standards, let it be the measuring rod of righteousness. Stand with GOD, not man in his fallen state.

Shalom.

Verse of the Day

(YouVersion)

‭Hebrews 4:11 KJV‬

[11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.4.11.KJV

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