Tag: Caesarea

Morning Reading: Acts 25:1-12 – right of appeal

Reading: Acts 25:1-12 NLT

Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.

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They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.

When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”

Heavenly Father: Give your children who are involved in faith-related court cases – here and abroad- wisdom, perseverance, and patience. May they not lose heart knowing that you are with them – and, win or lose, that they have done what’s right.

Where citizen rights conflict between heaven and earth… may they chose to obey heaven. Protect them from false witnesses and self-serving judges. Rebuke and defeat the schemes of the Evil One who roams this earth seeking to devour and destroy your people.

Ultimately, Father, our appeal is to you… to sort it all out in the day of judgment. Until that time, our hope is in you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Desert Song” – Hillsong

Morning Reading: Acts 24:1-27 NLT – justice delayed…

Reading: Acts 24:1-27 NLT

Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:

Paul before Felix William Hogarth (1752-62)
Paul before Felix
William Hogarth (1752-62)

“You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there — and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

Prayer: And so it goes with unprincipled rulers. Heavenly Father – Protect your people from the Evil One… delaying and deny justice for political gain. Comfort those who languish in prisons around the world simply because of their profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus – Intercede with the Father for your followers whereever they are persecuted or oppressed because they dare to speak your name. Shepherd them… guide them… live in them and through them. Holy Spirit – Reveal yourself with signs and wonders to those in prison. Speak to them through dreams and visions. Overcome their restrictions and limitations by the power of your love… that they might know you are with them… and will never leave them or forsake them. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Hymn: “You Crown The Year (Psalm 65:11)” – Hillsong Live (Glorious Ruins, 2013)

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11 NLT

Morning Reading: Acts 23:23-35 NLT – armed escort

Reading: Acts 23:23-35 NLT

Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

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Then he wrote this letter to the governor: “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!

“This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered. “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him.

Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – I pray for those who are trying to keep the peace amidst the tumult of this world. I pray especially for my Christian brothers and sisters who are caught in the crossfire of opposing factions… those who are refugees fleeing danger zones… those who are being targeted for harm by Islamist thugs. Raise up an army of honest law enforcement officers… raise up an army of angels… to defend and protect them from the onslaughts of the Evil One. Holy Spirit – Strengthen them… encourage them… give them wisdom and guidance as to when they should stand up for what’s right and when they should keep their heads down. Infuse them with a spirit of kindness and love even toward those who would torment them. Lord Jesus –  Be their Good Shepherd… speak to them clearly, unmistakably… so that they might know that you are always with them and for them… so that they will obey and follow you. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song:  “Psalm 23” – Marty Goetz

Morning Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT – respecting differences / preserving unity

Reading: Acts 21:15-25 NLT

After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.

The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

unity“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.

“As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – you love variety… you infused variety into every aspect of creation. You made us all wonderfully different from one another… different languages, cultures, races, statures, and religious traditions. Lord Jesus – you have broken down the walls that separate us from one another through your death on the cross. Bring us together in a unity of faith… believers who repent of their sins, receive your forgiveness and mercy, and live life to the full according to your grace. Holy Spirit – fill us anew with your presence and power. Produce your good fruit in us and manifest your gifts among us that we might experience the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… and so respect and rejoice the wonderful variety among us. To God be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “We Are United in Jesus Christ” – Carol Cymbala

Morning Reading: Acts 21:1-13 NLT – heart-breaking prophecies

Reading: Acts 21:1-13 NLT

After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem. When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home.

The Prophecy of Agabus by Louis Cheron (1660-1713)
The Prophecy of Agabus
by Louis Cheron (1660-1713)

The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day. The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Prayer: No turning back, Lord, whatever the cost. No turning back. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I have decided to follow Jesus”