OPENING PRAYER
"Man Shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"- Matthew 4:4- "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it" - Mark 8:21
Having received this day as a gift, I (We) thank You Holy Trinity, for through Your goodness and patience You were not wrathful with me (Us), and idler (s) and sinner (s), neither have You cast me (Us) down in my (Our)sins...But You have shown Your love towards me (us) and have guided me (us) to keep my (our) daily watch to glorify Your power...Enlighten my (our) mind (minds) to study Your teachings in Scripture...Help me (us) to apply what I (we) learn and to praise You with all my (our) heart and glorify Your Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
Shine within my (our) hearts, loving Master, the pure Light of Your Divine Knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may understand Your teachings...Instill in me (us) also reverence for Your Blessed commandments, so having conquered sinful desires I (we) may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You...For You, Christ my God, are my light, and to You I (we) give, glory, together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
CHANT PSALM 23
INTO YOUR HANDS LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST) WE COMMIT OUR SOULS AND BODIES, BLESS US AND HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE!!!
ACTS 24 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
THE TRIAL BEFORE FELIX
ACTS 24:1-9
24:1: THE PRESENCE OF THE HIGH PRIEST: indicates the vigor with which the Jewish leaders sought Paul's destruction!!!
24:5: SINCE PAUL: broke no Roman Law, Tertullus the prosecutor tries to present Paul as a social agitator who could stir up trouble at anytime: Roman authorities were very particular about keeping peace and order!!!
PAUL'S DEFENSE
ACTS 24:10-21
24:11: TWELVE DAYS: Part of Paul's defense is that he had not been in Jerusalem long enough to gather people and start a riot!!!
24:14: PAUL AGAIN AFFIRMS: the unity between Christianity- (THE WAY) and God's promises in the OT- (see- Acts 8:35; and Acts 13:17-41-notes...)
24:17: THIS IS THE ONLY TIME: Paul reveals that bringing ALMS was the main reason he came to Jerusalem, showing that charity is to be performed without drawing attention to oneself- (Matthew 6:1-4; see also Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Galatians 2:10):
THE DECISION
ACTS 24:22-27
24:25: REASONED: SEE NOTES-ACTS 17:2-3-FELIX WAS AFRAID: According to the historian Josephus, Felix had an adulterous marriage and was prone to accepting bribes-(v. 26), and so he responds negatively to Paul's teachings about RIGHTEOUSNESS, SELF-CONTROL, AND THE JUDGEMENT TO COME: Paul does not back off from proclaiming the truth, even though it means remaining in prison!!!
ACTS 25 STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
THE TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS
ACTS 25:1-12
25:3-4: THOUGH PAUL: has now been in prison for two years- (ACTS 24:27), his Jewish opponents are still determined TO KILL HIM: FESTUS- denies their request for a trial in Jerusalem, not so much to protect Paul as to underscore his own authority by having the trial at his headquarters in CAESAREA...
25:7: COMPARE MARK 14:56, 59 WITH THIS VERSE...
25:11: PERCEIVING: that Festus might be yield to the Jewish authorities, Paul appeals TO CEASAR...It was the right of Roman citizens to be tried before the imperial tribunal in Rome: This course of events allows the Lord's prophecy that Paul would preach in Rome to be fulfilled -(ACTS 23:11):
FESTUS'S PLAN
ACTS 25:13-27
25:13: KING AGRIPPA: is Herod Agrippa II, ruler of Galilee: He is the son of Herod Agrippa I (ACTS 12:1-23): Who beheaded James and imprisoned Peter, and a grandson of Herod the Great- (MATTHEW 2:1), who slaughtered the infants in Bethlehem: BERNICE is Agrippa's sister...
25:18: AS I SUPPOSED: because of the turmoil and the pressure being placed on him by the whole Jewish council, Festus assumed that Paul must have committed some staggering crimes...
25:23: AGAIN,- the course of events allows for a large group of influential people to be exposed to the gospel message...
25:26-27: PAUL'S TRIAL: here is usual in that there is absolutely no actual charges against him, yet there is already an appeal: As Festus would look incompetent sending a man to Caesar on appeal without any charges, this hearing has to be held in order to come up with a legal accusation-(compare- John 18:29-35):
PSALM 3 STUDY GUIDE
PSALM 3
PSALM-3 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. 2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But You, O Lord, are a shield [a]for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. 4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
PSALM 3: THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT IN PSALM 3: is that King David fleeing from his son, Absalom-(2Kg 15-18): But prophetically , PSALM 3 is speaking of Yeshua (Jesus) as the Son of David according to the flesh-(MATTHEW 1:1; ROMANS 1:3): So, Jesus is praying to the LORD, who is God the Father-(vv. 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9): AND THE MANY...WHO RISE UP AGAINST ME- (v. 2) are the fallen angels, of who Absalom and his army were a type: These angels, which number TEN THOUSAND- (v. 7), always lie in their denial of man's salvation through Christ-(v. 3): but just as Christ (Jesus) always reject their lies-(vv. 4-9), so He is teaching His Church to do the same- Psalm 3 is the first of the six psalms in the Orthros-(or Matins) service: The other five are- PSALM- 37, 62, 87, 102, AND 142...
COLOSSIANS 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
BE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST LIVE IN PEACE AND BE THANKFUL-ALWAYS GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL WE HAVE!!!
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER- LET'S DEPART IN PEACE!!!
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!