1. Acts Chapter 25-26Acts Chapter 25-26, Similarities With Luke 23:1-41, Caesarea Maritime, I Appeal To Caesar,provocatio ad Caesarem, Agrippa and Bernice,Festus, Emperor or Augustus, sebastos, pomp,phantasia, hope of resurrection, a RedeemingMessiah, Who Raises The Dead, goad, open theireyes, Christian

2. ACTS 25 and 26Pauls Appeal To Caesar 3. BIBLE IN FIVEPastor Dave KooyersValley Bible FellowshipBox 433Boonville CA 95415http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyerswww.ValleyBibleFellowship.org(707) 895-2325These Microsoft PowerPointpresentations are provided "for theequipping of the saints for thework of service, to the building upof the body of Christ" (Ephesians4:12-15). To help Christians to "togrow up in all aspects into Himwho is the head, even Christ." Sothat "we are no longer...tossedhere and there...by every wind ofdoctrine." They may bedownloaded and modified free ofcharge.God bless you as you examine His Word,Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5,Dave Matthew 10:8 Freelyyou received, freely give. 4. Striking Similarities With Luke 23:1-41 Vs. 1; the whole assembly 2; found this man subvertingclaims Christ, aking." 4; no basis for a charge against this man." 5; He stirs up the people all over Judea 6; under Herod's jurisdiction..in Jerusalem at thattime. 8;he had been wanting to see him 12; That day Herod and Pilate became friends 13; was inciting the people to rebellionno basisfor your charges against him. 5. Striking Similarities With Luke 23:1-41 15nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I willpunish him and then release him." 20; Wanting to release Jesus 22; What crime has this man committed?...nogrounds for the death penalty 24; So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25;surrendered Jesus to their will. 35;the rulers even sneered at him. 40;"Don't you fear God," 41;this man has done nothing wrong." 6. Acts 25:3, Preparing An Ambush Acts 24:27-25:3 When two years had passed 25:2the chief priests and Jewish leaders werepreparing an ambush to kill him along the way. This time its the Jews themselves! Those other guys must have starved. NAU Acts 23:12 When it was day, the Jews formeda conspiracy and bound themselves under anoath, saying that they would neither eat nor drinkuntil they had killed Paul. 7. Acts 25:4, "Caesarea By The Sea or"Caesarea Maritime" NAU Acts 25:4 Festus then answered that Paul wasbeing kept in custody at Caesarea and that hehimself was about to leave shortly. This Caesarea was/is situated on the coast ofIsrael about twenty-seven miles S of Haifa. Caesarea was the Roman procurators' officialresidence, the military head quarters of theprovince, and the Gentiles outnumbered the Jewsthere. Vespasian made it a Roman colony, withfull Roman rights. 8. "CaesareaMaritime" Acts 25:4 Paulwas being keptin custody atCaesarea 9. Acts 25:6, Was He Impartial? Acts 25:6 After spending eight or ten dayswith them NAU Acts 25:14 While they were spendingmany days there, Festus laid Paul's case beforethe king How would you like to know that that the DAand the judge who would decide you capitalcase hung out together for 10 days beforeyour trial? 10. Acts 25:11, Deserving Death Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anythingdeserving death, I do not refuse to die Who wrote Romans? Rom 13:3-5 For rulers hold no terror for those who doright, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be freefrom fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right andhe will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do yougood. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bearthe sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent ofwrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore,it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not onlybecause of possible punishment but also because ofconscience. 11. Act 25:11, I Appeal To Caesar Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of doinganything deserving death, I do not refuse todie. But if the charges brought against me bythese Jews are not true, no one has the rightto hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar! provocatio ad Caesarem 12. Citizen, This coin was struck in 90 B.C. tocommemorate the passing of a law which gave Romancitizens, accused of crimes in the provinces, the right ofappealing for a trial in Rome.. On the reverse are thefigures of a citizen (left), a provincial magistrate, and alictor bearing the fasces - beneath is the word`provoco` (I appeal): The law enabled Paul nearly 150years later to insist on a trial in Caesar`s court. 13. Fasces (/fsiz/, a plurale tantum, fromthe Latin word fascis, meaning "bundle")[1] is a boundbundle of wooden rods, sometimes including an axe withits blade emerging. The fasces had its origin in the Etruscancivilization, and was passed on to ancient Rome, where itsymbolized amagistrate's power and jurisdiction. The imagehas survived as a representation of magisterial or collectivepower. Fasces frequently occurs as acharge in heraldry, aswell as on the US dime [wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces] 14. Acts 25:13, Agrippa and Bernice Acts 25:13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernicearrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Bernice was the oldest daughter of King Agrippa I. (Acts12:20). Widowed from her first husband, she marriedher uncle, Herod the king of Chalcis. She widowed fromhim in A.D. 40 A.D.. Then we now find her living [withKing]Agrippa II. IVP Bible Background Commentary says, WhenAgrippa I died (12:23), his son, Agrippa II (here), wasonly seventeen; his daughters were Berenice (sixteen),Mariamne (ten) and Drusilla (six). Agrippa II ruled asmall part of Palestine and worked with the Romanadministration. .. 15. ACTS25:14,FestusDiscussedPaul'sCase WithThe King. 16. Acts 25:18-19 Acts 25:18-19 When his accusers got up tospeak, they did not charge him with any of thecrimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they hadsome points of dispute with him about theirown religion and about a dead man namedJesus who Paul claimed was alive. Separation of church/state again. Resurrection again. 17. Acts 25:21, Emperor/Augustus Acts 25:21 When Paul made his appeal to beheld over for the Emperor's decision, I orderedhim held until I could send him NAU NIV CSB ESV NAS for the Emperor's (some aresingular, or un-capitalized) NKJ reserved for the decision of Augustus" KJV reserved unto the hearing of Augustus NET kept in custody for the decision of HisMajesty the Emperor 18. Which Is It?, Emperor/Augustus Neither! Its; 4575 sebastos {seb-as-tos'} Meaning: 1) reverend, venerable 2) the titleof the Roman emperors 2a) Augustan, i,e,taking its name from the emperor 2b) a title ofhonour which used to be given certain legions,or cohorts, or battalions, "for valour" Usage: AV - Augustus 3; 3 Augustus is the Latin translation of sebastos 19. Acts 25:23, Great Pomp, phantasia NAU Acts 25:23 So, on the next day when Agrippa cametogether with Bernice amid great pomp, and enteredthe auditorium accompanied by the commanders[chiliarchos] and the prominent men of the city, at thecommand of Festus, Paul was brought in. phantasia Meaning: imagination, show, display .Usage: pomp (1). Paul had met the risen LORD, do you think he wasimpressed by human pomp and fantasy? LXX, Habakkuk 2:18, 19,3:10 uses this word about goldplated images and idols. Zechariah 10:1 uses this wordabout the LORD creating flashing clouds andthunderstorms. (few uses). 20. ACTS 26Pauls Defense?No, Pauls Testimony 21. Acts 26:7, What Promise/Hope? Acts 26:7 This is the promise our twelve tribesare hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serveGod day and night. O king, it is because of thishope that the Jews are accusing me. What Promise/Hope? Acts 26:8 Why should any of you consider itincredible that God raises the dead? Some see this as the promise of a RedeemingMessiah. 22. Where Had God Given An OT Promiseof a Resurrection? Job 14:14 If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of myhard service I will wait for my renewal to come. Job 19:26-27 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet inmy flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with myown eyes I, and not another. How my heart yearns withinme! Isa 26:19 But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Youwho dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dewis like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to herdead. Dan 12:2.Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth willawake Dan 12:13you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance. Ps 16:10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, norwill you let your Holy One see decay. 23. Where Had God Given A Promise of aRedeeming Messiah? Gen 3:15he will crush your head Gen 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, northe ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes towhom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Ps 2:9 You will rule them with an iron scepter Ps 110:2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter fromZion Isa 9:6the government will be on his shoulders Isa 11:1-5He will strike the earth with the rod of hismouth Isa 52:13he will be raised and lifted up and highlyexalted15kings will shut their mouths because of him 24. Acts 26:8, Who Gives Life And RaisedThe Dead? Acts 26:8 Why should any of you consider itincredible that God raises the dead? 25. Acts 26:8, Who Raises The Dead? John 5:21For just as the Father raises the deadand gives them life, even so the Son gives life towhom he is pleased to give it 2 Cor 1:9this happened that we might not relyon ourselves but on God, who raises the dead John 12:1Lazarus, whom Jesus had raisedfrom the dead Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead 26. Acts 26:8, Who Gives Life And RaisesThe Dead? John 6:63 The Spirit gives life John 2:19"Destroy this temple, and I willraise it again in three days. John 6:39-44 I shall lose none of all that hehas given me, but raise them up at the lastday I will raise I will raise him up at the lastday. 27. Acts 26:14, Aramaic, Goad Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard avoice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do youpersecute me? It is hard for you to kick against thegoads.' NIV Notes says, a Or Hebrew NIV and NET Aramaic 28. Acts 26:18, To Open Their Eyes Acts 26:17-18 I am sending you to them 18 toopen their eyes and turn them from darkness tolight, and from the power of Satan to God, sothat they may receive forgiveness of sins and aplace among those who are sanctified by faith inme. 2 Cor 4:4 The god of this age has blinded theminds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see thelight of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who isthe image of God. 29. Repent And Believe NAS Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time isfulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel." NAS Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent,and let each of you be baptized in the nameof Jesus Christ What is the prerequisite to be baptized? Revelation 3:3 repent. If therefore you willnot wake up, I will come like a thief 30. Repent And Believe NAS Mark 1:15the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel." Repent and believe are not synonyms, they aretwo completely different Greek words. Yet theyare 2 sides of the same coin. You cant have onewithout the other. If you truly have a change ofthought/mind, you will believe. You also cannotbelieve if you have not truly had a change ofthought/mind. The order is always, #1. have a change ofthought/mind, #2. then believe. 31. The Order Of Repent And Believe The order is always, #1. have a change ofthought/mind, #2. then believe. "Acts 15:7the Gentiles should hear the word ofthe gospel and believe." " Acts 16:30"Sirs, what must I do to besaved?"31 And they said, "Believe in the LordJesus, and you shall be saved "Acts 28:24 And some were being persuaded bythe things spoken, but others would not believe." 32. Deeds Appropriate To Repentance NAS Acts 26:20 but kept declaring both tothose of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalemand then throughout all the region of Judea,and even to the Gentiles, that they shouldrepent [have a change of thought/mind] and turn to God,performing deeds appropriate to repentance[that change of thought/mind] . Deeds and turning must be different thanrepentance, which is the cause. 33. Acts 26:24, Mad, Insane NAU Acts 26:24 While Paul was saying this inhis defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul,you are out of your mind! Your great learningis driving you mad." 34. Acts 26:24, Mad, Insane 35. Acts 26:27, Do You Believe? Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe theprophets? I know you do. Romans vs. the Jews Dilemma requires a response. Paul is bold for Christ. 36. Acts 26:27, Be Bold For Christ Prov. 21:29 ". . . the righteous are bold as a lion." Ps. 138:3 ". . . Thou didst make me bold withstrength." Paul's example in Acts 26 is a great outline foranyone giving their testimony. He covers threemain areas: Before I was saved; how I was saved;and what God has done for me since I got saved. And the good news for those who are shy--it'sGod who does the work! So be bold for Christ! II Tim. 1:8 ". . . do not be ashamed of thetestimony of our Lord. GML 37. Acts 26:28, Agrippa Dodges The Dilemma NAU Acts 26:28 Agrippa replied to Paul, "In ashort time you will persuade me to become aChristian." He answers the question he didnt like withanother question. 38. Acts 26:28 Is Hard To Translate NIV Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think thatin such a short time you can persuade me to be aChristian? (John MacArthurs translation is like this) NAU, NAS "In a short time you will persuade me to become aChristian." CSB "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christianso easily?" ESV "In a short time would you persuade me to be aChristian?" NET "In such a short time are you persuading me tobecome a Christian?" NKJ, KJV "You almost persuade me to become a Christian. DLK translated this (but rhetorical ?s are tough, gestures,tone, inflection, sarcasm, etc.?) 39. Acts 26:28, Rhetorical Question? NET Notes (Act 26:28) 85 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13. 86 tn Or "In a short time you will make me aChristian." On the difficulty of the precise nuances ofAgrippa's reply in this passage, see BDAG 791 s.v. 1.b. The idiom is like 1 Kgs 21:7 LXX. The pointis that Paul was trying to persuade Agrippa to accepthis message. If Agrippa had let Paul persuade him, hewould have converted to Christianity NAU 1 Kings 21:7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do younow reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let yourheart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboththe Jezreelite." 40. A Rabbis Son Became A Christian A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a yearto absorb the culture. When the son returned, he said, "Papa, Ihad a great time in Israel. By the way, I converted toChristianity. "Oy vey," said the father. "What have I done?" Hetook his problem to his best friend, Ike. "Ike," he said, "I sent myson to Israel, and he came home a Christian. What can I do?"Funny you should ask," said Ike. "I too, sent my son to Israel,and he also came home a Christian. Perhaps we should go seethe rabbi. So they did, and they explained their problem to therabbi. "Funny you should ask," said the rabbi. "I, too, sent myson to Israel, and he also came home a Christian. What ishappening to our young people?" And so they all prayed, tellingthe Lord about their sons. As they finished their prayer, a voice came from the Heavens:"Funny you should ask," said the Voice. "I, too, sent my Son toIsrael . . . 41. Acts 26:28, Christian Acts 26:28persuade me to become a Christian. Acts 11:26 the disciples were first called Christians inAntioch. 1 Peter 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he isnot to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. Ignatius of Antioch once said, It is not that I wantmerely to be called a Christian, but actually to beone. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have thename. NAU Luke 14:28 calculate the cost 33 "So then, noneof you can be My disciple who does not give up all hisown possessions. 42. Acts 26:29, Pauls Hope/Prayer Acts 26:29 Paul replied, "Short time or long I pray God that not only you but all who arelistening to me today may become what I am,except for these chains. Paul doesnt let any concerns about whetherthey are elect or not impact his evangelism. Cast your seed you fishers of men toeveryone. 43. Acts 26:32, Could Have Been Set Free? Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This mancould have been set free if he had notappealed to Caesar." He could have been set free , killed in ambush,or kept in prison. But God had a plan. An all expense paid trip to Rome! 44. Dont Drop TheBall This WeekProclaim ChristBoldly! 45. Matthew 7:16 James 1:26 Luke 6:46,Christian Word And Deed, GML Today is December 26, 2012Verse of the Day -- Luke 6:46Why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?THOUGHT FOR THE DAY If you are claiming to be a Christian, your word and deed should follow.MINI BIBLE STUDY FOR THE DAY We are amazed at the number of people claiming to be Christians whounabashedly continue in blatant sin. No, we're not advocating a worksdoctrine, but if Jesus is truly in your heart, you will WANT to walk and talktruth, or be so brokenhearted about your sin that you can hardly function. When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted awayThrough my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3 (See also Psalm 38:18 and51:5)The Bible says the Holy Spirit living in us convicts us of our sin. This iswhy when someone continuously talks trashy, it is unlikely that Jesus isliving in their heart: If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tonguebut deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. James 46. 2 Chronicles 11:14, Ten Lost Tribes NAU 2 Chronicles 11:14 For the Levites left their pasturelands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem,for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from servingas priests to the LORD. NAU James 1:1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the LordJesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad:Greetings. NAU Acts 26:7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hopeto attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And forthis hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. NAU Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table inMy kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelvetribes of Israel. [Matthew 19:28, Ezekiel 47:13, Revelation 7:4 ]