WEBVTT 00:00:00.919 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:09.019 in a year. Today's reading is from the book of 00:00:09.019 --> 00:00:14.660 Acts, chapters 22 -24. Chapter 22 Brethren and 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:18.000 fathers, hear my defense before you now. And 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.019 when they heard that he spoke to them in the 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:22.339 Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. 00:00:22.699 --> 00:00:26.379 Then he said, I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus 00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:29.649 of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. at the 00:00:29.649 --> 00:00:32.490 feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness 00:00:32.490 --> 00:00:35.149 of our father's law, and was zealous toward God, 00:00:35.270 --> 00:00:39.049 as you all are today. I persecuted this way to 00:00:39.049 --> 00:00:41.649 the death, binding and delivering into prisons 00:00:41.649 --> 00:00:44.990 both men and women, as also the high priest bears 00:00:44.990 --> 00:00:47.149 me witness, and all the council of the elders, 00:00:47.329 --> 00:00:49.890 from whom I also received letters to the brethren, 00:00:50.049 --> 00:00:52.810 and went to Damascus to bring in chains, even 00:00:52.810 --> 00:00:55.310 those who were there, to Jerusalem to be punished. 00:00:55.659 --> 00:00:58.320 Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:01.420 Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:04.120 from heaven shone around me, and I fell to the 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:06.379 ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:09.599 Saul, why are you persecuting me? So I answered, 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:12.939 Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:16.159 of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. And those 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:18.500 who were with me indeed saw the light and were 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:21.400 afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.920 who spoke to me. So I said, What shall I do, 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.099 Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise and go into 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:29.640 Damascus, and there you will be told all things 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:32.620 which are appointed for you to do. And since 00:01:32.620 --> 00:01:35.379 I could not see for the glory of that light being 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:38.079 led by the hand of those who were with me, I 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:41.560 came into Damascus. Then a certain Ananias, a 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:44.280 devout man according to the law, having a good 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.459 testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.519 came to me. And he stood and said to me, Brother 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:53.040 Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour, 00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:56.049 I looked up at him. Then he said, The God of 00:01:56.049 --> 00:01:58.670 our fathers has chosen you that you should know 00:01:58.670 --> 00:02:01.849 his will and see the just one and hear the voice 00:02:01.849 --> 00:02:04.709 of his mouth. For you will be his witness to 00:02:04.709 --> 00:02:07.730 all men of what you have seen and heard. And 00:02:07.730 --> 00:02:10.469 now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized 00:02:10.469 --> 00:02:13.469 and wash away your sins, calling on the name 00:02:13.469 --> 00:02:16.150 of the Lord. Now it happened when I returned 00:02:16.150 --> 00:02:19.030 to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple. that 00:02:19.030 --> 00:02:21.449 I was in a trance, and saw him saying to me, 00:02:21.610 --> 00:02:23.729 Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, 00:02:24.009 --> 00:02:26.270 for they will not receive your testimony concerning 00:02:26.270 --> 00:02:29.689 me. So I said, Lord, they know that in every 00:02:29.689 --> 00:02:32.250 synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe 00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:34.650 on you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen 00:02:34.650 --> 00:02:37.569 was shed, I also was standing by consenting to 00:02:37.569 --> 00:02:40.330 his death, and guarding the cloth of those who 00:02:40.330 --> 00:02:42.610 were killing him. Then he said to me, Depart, 00:02:42.650 --> 00:02:45.770 for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles. 00:02:46.009 --> 00:02:48.789 And I listened to him until this word. And then 00:02:48.789 --> 00:02:51.090 they raised their voices and said, Away with 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:53.650 such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit 00:02:53.650 --> 00:02:56.610 to live. Then as they cried out and tore off 00:02:56.610 --> 00:02:58.930 their clothes and threw dust into the air, the 00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:00.990 commander ordered him to be brought into the 00:03:00.990 --> 00:03:03.189 barracks, and said that he should be examined 00:03:03.189 --> 00:03:06.310 under scourging, so that he might know why they 00:03:06.310 --> 00:03:09.129 shouted so against him. And as they bound him 00:03:09.129 --> 00:03:12.349 with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood 00:03:12.349 --> 00:03:15.289 by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who 00:03:15.289 --> 00:03:18.360 is a Roman and uncondemned? When a centurion 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:20.479 heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:23.419 Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:26.520 Then a commander came and said to him, Tell me, 00:03:26.599 --> 00:03:29.219 are you a Roman? He said, Yes. The commander 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:32.159 answered, With a large sum I obtained this citizenship. 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:35.979 And Paul said, But I was born a citizen. Then 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:38.139 immediately those who were about to examine him 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:40.659 withdrew from him. And the commander was also 00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:43.180 afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.210 and because he had bound him. The next day, because 00:03:46.210 --> 00:03:48.650 he wanted to know for certain why he was accused 00:03:48.650 --> 00:03:51.610 by the Jews, he released him from his bonds and 00:03:51.610 --> 00:03:53.870 commanded the chief priests and all their council 00:03:53.870 --> 00:03:56.669 to appear, and brought Paul down and set him 00:03:56.669 --> 00:04:03.150 before them. Chapter 23 Then Paul, looking earnestly 00:04:03.150 --> 00:04:06.229 at the council, said, Men and brethren, I have 00:04:06.229 --> 00:04:08.650 lived in all good conscience before God until 00:04:08.650 --> 00:04:11.669 this day, and the high priest Ananias commanded 00:04:11.669 --> 00:04:14.370 those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:17.620 Then Paul said to him, God will strike you, you 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:20.519 whitewashed wall, for you sit to judge me according 00:04:20.519 --> 00:04:23.620 to the law, and you command me to be struck contrary 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:27.160 to the law? And those who stood by said, Do you 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.259 revile God's high priest? Then Paul said, I did 00:04:30.259 --> 00:04:32.439 not know, brethren, that he was the high priest, 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:35.300 for it is written, You shall not speak evil of 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:38.120 a ruler of your people. But when Paul perceived 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:41.259 that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:43.980 he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:47.319 I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. Concerning 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.879 the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am being 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.879 judged. And when he had said this, a dissension 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:55.220 arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:58.459 and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:01.040 that there is no resurrection, and no angel or 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:04.120 spirit, but the Pharisees confess both. Then 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:06.939 there arose a loud outcry, and the scribes of 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:09.639 the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.839 We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:15.759 or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.180 against God. Now when there arose a great dissension, 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:22.420 the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:24.779 to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:27.379 go down and take him by force from among them 00:05:27.379 --> 00:05:29.819 and bring him to the barracks. But the following 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:32.920 night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.860 cheer, Paul, for as you have testified for me 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:38.959 in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at 00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.180 Rome. And when it was day, some of the Jews banded 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:44.480 together and bound themselves under an oath, 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:47.240 saying that they would neither eat nor drink 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.319 till they had killed Paul. Now there were more 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.279 than forty who had formed this conspiracy. They 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:55.560 came to the chief priests and elders and said, 00:05:55.699 --> 00:05:58.660 We have bound ourselves under a great oath that 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:00.939 we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.399 now you therefore together with the council suggest 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:06.959 to the commander that he be brought down to you 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:09.500 to -morrow as though you were going to make further 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:11.939 inquiries concerning him but we are ready to 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:15.100 kill him before he comes near so when paul's 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:18.339 sister's son heard of their ambush he went and 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:20.779 entered the barracks and told paul then paul 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:22.800 called one of the centurions to him and said 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.680 take this young man to the commander for he has 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:28.060 something to tell him so he took him and brought 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:30.500 him to the commander and said Paul the prisoner 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:32.980 called me to him and asked me to bring this young 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:35.759 man to you. He has something to say to you. Then 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:37.899 the commander took him by the hand, went aside 00:06:37.899 --> 00:06:40.160 and asked privately, What is it that you have 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:42.759 to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:45.220 to ask that you bring Paul down to the council 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:47.759 tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.620 more fully about him. But do not yield to them, 00:06:50.660 --> 00:06:53.360 for more than forty men lie in wait for him, 00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:56.399 men who have bound themselves by an oath that 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:58.779 they will neither eat nor drink till they have 00:06:58.779 --> 00:07:01.519 killed him. and now they are ready, waiting for 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.300 the promise from you. So the commander led the 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:07.019 young man depart and commanded him, Tell no one 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:09.920 that you have revealed these things to me. And 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.740 he called for two centurions, saying, Prepare 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:15.660 two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:18.560 hundred spearmen, to go to Caesarea at the third 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.300 hour of the night, and provide mounts to set 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:24.500 Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:27.860 He wrote a letter in the following manner. Claudius 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:31.199 Lysias To the most excellent governor, Felix. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:34.839 Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:37.160 was about to be killed by them. Coming with the 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:39.439 troops, I rescued him, having learned that he 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:42.139 was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason 00:07:42.139 --> 00:07:44.279 they accused him, I brought him before their 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:46.939 council. I found out that he was accused concerning 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:49.939 questions of their law, but had nothing charged 00:07:49.939 --> 00:07:53.399 against him deserving of death or chains. And 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:56.160 when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.410 for the man, I sent him immediately to you. and 00:07:59.410 --> 00:08:02.050 also commanded his accusers to state before you 00:08:02.050 --> 00:08:05.750 the charges against him farewell then the soldiers 00:08:05.750 --> 00:08:08.350 as they were commanded took paul and brought 00:08:08.350 --> 00:08:11.750 him by night to antipatris the next day they 00:08:11.750 --> 00:08:14.310 left the horsemen to go on with him and returned 00:08:14.310 --> 00:08:17.129 to the barracks when they came to caesarea and 00:08:17.129 --> 00:08:19.089 had delivered the letter to the governor they 00:08:19.089 --> 00:08:21.629 also presented paul to him and when the governor 00:08:21.629 --> 00:08:24.089 had read it he asked what province he was from 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:26.800 And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:29.959 he said, I will hear you when your accusers also 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:32.740 have come. And he commanded him to be kept in 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:39.440 Herod's praetorium. Chapter 24 Now after five 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.100 days, Ananias the high priest came down with 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:45.139 the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:48.259 These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.179 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:54.129 his accusation, saying, Seeing that through you 00:08:54.129 --> 00:08:57.389 we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being 00:08:57.389 --> 00:09:00.129 brought to this nation by your foresight, we 00:09:00.129 --> 00:09:02.570 accept it always and in all places most noble 00:09:02.570 --> 00:09:05.909 Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not 00:09:05.909 --> 00:09:08.610 to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to 00:09:08.610 --> 00:09:11.230 hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 00:09:11.330 --> 00:09:14.289 For we have found this man a plague, a creator 00:09:14.289 --> 00:09:17.269 of dissension among all the Jews throughout the 00:09:17.269 --> 00:09:20.350 world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 00:09:20.730 --> 00:09:23.309 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized 00:09:23.309 --> 00:09:25.529 him, and wanted to judge him according to our 00:09:25.529 --> 00:09:28.210 law. But the commander Lysias came by, and with 00:09:28.210 --> 00:09:31.269 great violence took him out of our hands, commanding 00:09:31.269 --> 00:09:33.809 his accusers to come to you. By examining him 00:09:33.809 --> 00:09:36.169 yourself, you may ascertain all these things 00:09:36.169 --> 00:09:38.909 of which we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, 00:09:39.169 --> 00:09:42.490 maintaining that these things were so. Then Paul, 00:09:42.649 --> 00:09:44.629 after the governor had nodded to him to speak, 00:09:44.789 --> 00:09:47.750 answered, Inasmuch as I know that you have been 00:09:47.750 --> 00:09:50.929 for many years a judge of this nation, I do the 00:09:50.929 --> 00:09:53.649 more cheerfully answer for myself, because you 00:09:53.649 --> 00:09:56.450 may ascertain that it is no more than twelve 00:09:56.450 --> 00:09:59.350 days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship, 00:09:59.570 --> 00:10:02.370 and they neither found me in the temple disputing 00:10:02.370 --> 00:10:05.250 with anyone, nor inciting the crowd, either in 00:10:05.250 --> 00:10:07.929 the synagogues or in the city, nor can they prove 00:10:07.929 --> 00:10:10.690 the things of which they now accuse me. But this 00:10:10.690 --> 00:10:13.639 I confess to you, that according to the way which 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:16.960 they call a sect. So I worship the God of my 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.559 fathers, believing all things which are written 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.519 in the law and in the prophets. I have hope in 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.580 God, which they themselves also accept, that 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:28.220 there will be a resurrection of the dead, both 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:31.620 of the just and the unjust. This being so, I 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:34.600 myself always strive to have a conscience without 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:38.159 offense toward God and men. Now after many years 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:40.840 I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:44.039 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:46.879 me purified in the temple, neither with a mob 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.759 nor with tumult. They ought to have been here 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.559 before you to object, if they had anything against 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.879 me. Or else let those who are here themselves 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:58.240 say if they found any wrongdoing in me while 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.039 I stood before the council, unless it is for 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:03.340 this one statement which I cried out standing 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:05.860 among them. concerning the resurrection of the 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:09.360 dead, I am being judged by you this day. But 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.879 when Felix heard these things, having more accurate 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.600 knowledge of the way, he adjourned the proceedings 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:17.399 and said, When Lysias the commander comes down, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:20.740 I will make a decision on your case. So he commanded 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.100 the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:25.779 liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:28.899 friends to provide for or visit him. And after 00:11:28.899 --> 00:11:31.740 some days when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, 00:11:31.899 --> 00:11:34.779 who was Jewish, He sent for Paul and heard him 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:37.700 concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:40.299 about righteousness, self -control, and the judgment 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:43.559 to come, Felix was afraid and answered, Go away 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:46.340 for now. When I have a convenient time, I will 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:49.620 call for you. Meanwhile, he also hoped that money 00:11:49.620 --> 00:11:52.340 would be given him by Paul, that he might release 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:55.159 him. Therefore he sent for him more often and 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:58.100 conversed with him. But after two years, Portius 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:01.379 Festus succeeded Felix, and Felix, wanting to 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:09.620 do the Jews a favor, Left ball bound. I hope 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:11.460 you enjoyed today's reading as much as I did. 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:13.559 And I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow 00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:16.059 to continue on our journey. God bless you and 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:16.740 have a great day.