Burunche’s Blog

War in Ukraine! War in the Middle East! Demonstrations around the world! Where can we find peace in the midst of all this turmoil? Psalm 46 gives us the answer:

God Is Our Refuge and Strength (2 Kings 18:13–16; 2 Chronicles 32:1–8)

For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. a Alamut song.

1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled

into the depths of the seas, 3 though their waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake in the surge.

Selah

4 There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.

6 Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice. 7 The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

8 Come, see the works of the LORD, who brings devastation upon the earth.

9 He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”

11 The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Selah

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”

• The dictionary defines refuge as a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble: “he was forced to take refuge in the French embassy”
• ▪something providing shelter

Face it, folks! Finding mental and emotional refuge is becoming harder and harder as social media relentlessly takes over much of our world. Now we can access scenes of rape, pillage, murder, bombings, and terrorism 24/7. Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The more we focus on evil, the more we will be disturbed by it.

Finding physical refuge can be equally challenging. Just ask all those folks who had lovely quiet mountain homes in western North Carolina and east Tennessee, only to narrowly escape as those same homes were devastated by flooding and landslides. No, there’s no physical refuge that cannot be destroyed in some fashion, no matter how careful we are.

We can create temporary emotional refuges for ourselves by using Spotify or other programs to create lists of music we can enjoy; however, if our devices fail us, we are back to our same frustrating dilemma.

The challenges of finding joy and peace are as old as the human race. Read the Book of Ecclesiastes and marvel as Solomon complains about the emptiness of riches. Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 “I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

When wisdom did not satisfy Solomon, he went further. “I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore, enjoy pleasure;” but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter— “Madness!;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)

How can we find refuge in God when we cannot see Him or touch Him? We can pray and ask our Heavenly Father to save us and to protect us. A famous preacher has said, “Omnipotence has servants everywhere.” When we don’t know which way to turn, God still has people to shelter us, to provide for us, and to comfort and strengthen us. No matter how hard Solomon tried, eventually, everything he did for himself yielded only disappointment. But God never disappoints. When we trust God, He will provide for our needs, provided we are following Him whole-heartedly. May we trust God and delight in His unexpected miracles!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we bless Your Name, for You ARE our refuge and strength. You are the only One on whom we can count. Please help us to trust where we cannot see. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 28:17-31 Paul’s Ministry at Rome

And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying,

‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.” ’

“Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Once Paul reaches Rome, he immediately calls the Jewish religious leaders together in hopes of leading them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. None of these leaders have heard of Paul, so they come to hear his message. But once more, Paul becomes a cause of controversy, convincing some of the Jews to believe in Jesus while others remain unconvinced. At this point, Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, informing the Jews that if they refuse the good news of Jesus Christ, he will preach to the Gentiles. For the next two years, Paul lives in his own rented house, preaching and teaching to all comers.

That controversial intellectual, Paul, has come to Rome, and people are flocking to listen to him. Despite Paul’s eloquence, his command of the Scriptures, and his ability to argue theology, some of the Jewish leaders remain obdurate, preferring to persist in their traditional beliefs and practices. But others are thrilled at this good news and become Christians, eagerly listening to everything Paul has to offer.

How sad! Here is one of the leading proponents of the Gospel, eager to share his experiences and learning. The saddest commentary is “And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.”

Once more, Paul speaks to an audience that remains almost persuaded. But there are many who are persuaded and who begin spreading the word so that others in Rome will come to Paul in Rome. As the center of government for the known world, news that begins in Rome will spread throughout the Empire in the shortest period of time. Once more, we realize that God has timed the coming of Jesus and Paul to take advantage of the Roman Empire, its roads, and its excellent communications.

God’s timing is always split second and always perfect. Even though we feel frustrated and wonder if God has abandoned us, God is still working and will accomplish His purposes. May we remain faithful, even when events are discouraging.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust Your purposes, even when we don’t see anything positive in our situation. We praise You for continuing to work, even when we cannot see what You are doing. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 28:1-10 Paul’s Ministry on Malta

“Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.”

Having survived a ship wreck, Paul might think that he is now safe on the island of Malta. But wait! Just as Paul is helping gather fire wood, he gets bitten by a viper. The local people gasp, certain that Paul must be a murderer and that God is taking revenge on him. But Jesus has already promised his followers, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

When Paul shakes off the viper and suffers no effects whatsoever, the local people are sure he must be a god, for only gods can possibly survive a viper bite without dying. Now Jesus’ promises continue to be fulfilled, for when the father of the leading citizen of Malta falls sick, Paul prays for him and he is healed. Soon there are long lines of people coming from all over the island to be healed. The people of Malta are thrilled and do everything they can to care for Paul and his companions and provide for them as they continue their journey.

Acts28:11-16 Arrival at Rome

“After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.”

After three months on Malta, Paul and his companions sail in a ship from Alexandria which has sensibly wintered at Malta. There is a wonderful natural harbor at Malta that protects ships from winter storms. The company makes stops at Syracuse, Rhegium, and Puteoli, where the group comes ashore and makes their way toward Rome. Christians meet Paul at a famous landmark called Appii Forum and Three Inns. These new friends accompany Paul to Rome, where Paul is delivered to the captain of the guard and given special privileges.

One of the striking aspects of Paul’s story is the incredible impression he makes wherever he goes. Despite Paul’s conflicts with Jewish leaders, Paul consistently impresses the Romans who interrogate him or escort him to Rome, not to mention the people of Malta. After a lifetime of travel, Paul undoubtedly has all kinds of fascinating stories; in addition, Paul is an accomplished linguist, speaking fluent Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as well as other local dialects. Having ministered to people from all walks of life, Paul is immediately fascinated with his companions, engaging them in conversation and sweetly but persistently telling them about Jesus.  

What can we learn from Paul’s conduct during all these problems? Paul never blames anyone or complains, but simply handles whatever comes, trusting that God is guiding him and caring for him. When we examine ourselves, how well do we measure up to Paul’s behavior? Do we accept problems as challenges that allow us to grow, or do we become whiners? We can choose to praise God no matter what or to complain. Choose wisely! ‘

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You, no matter the circumstances. Help us to continue to praise You, even when things are difficult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 27:27-44 The Shipwreck

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea. About midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was twenty fathoms deep (120 feet). Going a little farther, they took another set of soundings that read fifteen fathoms (90 feet). Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.

Meanwhile, the sailors attempted to escape from the ship. Pretending to lower anchors from the bow, they let the lifeboat down into the sea. But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift.

Right up to daybreak, Paul kept urging them all to eat: “Today is your fourteenth day in constant suspense, without taking any food. So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.”

After he had said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and took some food themselves. In all, there were 276 of us on board. After the men had eaten their fill, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they sighted a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. Cutting away the anchors, they left them in the sea as they loosened the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. But the vessel struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves.

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to follow on planks and various parts of the ship. In this way everyone was brought safely to land.”

WOW! If you’re addicted to adventure movies, then this passage is for you! Luke’s description of the shipwreck undoubtedly comes from Paul, who survives it. After a horrible night in which the sailors realize that they are approaching land, Paul encourages everyone to eat something, and then they throw the remaining grain off the ship. Although the sailors try to escape by themselves, Paul gets the military commander to stop them, stating that everyone must abandon ship together. The ship fetches up on a sand bar at the opening to the harbor and begins breaking up, forcing everyone to abandon it. Normally, the soldiers would kill the prisoners before leaving the ship; however, the centurion is so impressed with Paul that he orders his soldiers to spare the lives of all the prisoners. Somehow, everyone makes it safely to shore, fulfilling God’s word to Paul.

At first, this scene looks like a total disaster. The ship is lost, and it’s possible men will drown in their attempt to reach land. But God has promised Paul that everyone will be saved, and God keeps that promise.

Once more, God demonstrates that He is the Lord of the Universe and that He controls winds and waves. One wrong movement, and some of these men could easily be dashed on sharp rocks and die; yet, God keeps every one of them safe all the way to the beach. While the sailors might know how to swim, many of the others on the boat do not. It’s likely that as many as 200 or more men make it to shore by clinging to planks and various other parts of the ship. Given the horrible conditions, these men have been saved miraculously.

Dr. Luke writes the Book of Acts, getting his information from as many different sources as possible. When Paul tells Luke the story of the shipwreck, he does not emphasize his preaching to the crew and passengers but only mentions God’s messages to him. Clearly, Paul is giving all the glory to God for these men being spared.

Everyone loves miracle stories, and this account of Paul’s shipwreck is one of the best. But God is doing miracles 24/7 if we will only stop to look around us. At the moment, we have two miracle kids on our Children’s Ward. One eleven-year-old boy has been operated three times for typhoid perforation. After the third operation, he began leaking stool, only for the leak to close. This child may take a long time to recover, but his recovery is certain. Another nine-year-old boy has a very unusual intestinal infection that has caused scarring of the small bowel in twelve places. Although we wondered at first what would happen, this boy is recovering by the grace of God.

May God help each one of us, so that we appreciate the miracles He is doing in our lives every day!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to recognize Your Hand of mercy in our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Acts 27:1-12 Paul Sails for Rome

“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care. After putting out from there, we sailed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.

After sailing slowly for many days, we arrived off Cnidus. When the wind impeded us, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. After we had moved along the coast with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

By now much time had passed, and the voyage had already become dangerous because it was after the Fast.  So Paul advised them, “Men, I can see that our voyage will be filled with disaster and great loss, not only to ship and cargo, but to our own lives as well.”

But contrary to Paul’s advice, the centurion was persuaded by the pilot and by the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on, if somehow they could reach Phoenix to winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete facing both southwest and northwest.”

One of the striking things about this passage is how chancy travel is in Paul’s day. The map helps us realize the length of a voyage between Caesarea and Italy. With no weather forecasting available, sailors are at the mercy of storms and currents. Even today, huge freighters have sunk during typhoons and hurricanes.

The ship Paul is on has sheltered temporarily at Fair Havens on the south side of Crete; however, this harbor is not a good one to winter in. Perhaps the harbor is not well protected, leaving it to the mercy of winter storms; at any rate, the owner and most of the crew choose to sail on around Crete to Pheonix, a more protected harbor.

Acts 27:13-26 The Storm at Sea (Jonah 1:4–10)

“When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete. But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island. Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

Passing to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we barely managed to secure the lifeboat. After hoisting it up, the crew used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along.

We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the great storm continued to batter us, we abandoned all hope of being saved.

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. For just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me. However, we must run aground on some island.”

Get the full picture. The soldiers and crew of this boat are so desperate that they have passed ropes around the ship to keep it from breaking up on sand bars and have also thrown the cargo and ship’s equipment overboard. Nobody has eaten anything for days. Now Paul stands up and announces that God is going to spare all of them, although they must run aground on an island. At this point, these men are likely to seize on anything that will give them hope.

There are 276 people on this boat, and only one of them is serving the One True Living God. But God cares about each one of these men, and He has a plan for their lives. Many times, we feel that we have been thrown into situations to flounder; meanwhile, God is working things out precisely.

Perhaps you feel like Paul’s shipmates. A situation that promised to be good has turned into a nightmare and you wonder if there is any means of escape. You fear for your career, your reputation, and your livelihood. But God is still in the miracle business, and God does not play favorites. The same God who has delivered Paul can also deliver you. Trust Him!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hare after You all the days of our lives, knowing that You are the One who can deliver us from every form of danger and evil. We ask this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 26:1-11 Paul’s Early Life

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore, I beg you to hear me patiently.

“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”

Paul is testifying before King Agrippa, Porcius Festus, and a host of other lesser dignitaries. In an age when we are absorbed in social media, it’s difficult to remember that Paul’s age was one in which people discussed ideas and concepts freely. Well educated people were expected to be conversant with some of the most famous Greek philosophers, as well as popular Roman writers of the day. Both Agrippa and Festus undoubtedly frequented gatherings where all kinds of issues such as the resurrection of the dead were debated. Paul has caught the interest of his audience.

Acts 26:12-18 Paul Recounts His Conversion

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Acts 26:19-23 Paul’s Post-Conversion Life

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul knows that this part of his testimony will be difficult for his listeners to accept; however, throughout the Greco-Roman world, there are all kinds of myths about spirits speaking to humans. Now Paul is telling his story as plainly as possible in hopes that his hearers will become fascinated and choose to consider the claims of Christ for themselves.

Acts 26:24-32 Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Paul makes an enormous impression on all who listen to him that morning. But the saddest phrase in the entire piece is Agrippa’s statement. When Paul asks Agrippa if Agrippa believes the prophets, Agrippa counters, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” The operative word here is “almost.” Agrippa recognizes truth when he hears it, and he realizes that Paul’s testimony is true. The appeal of the Gospel is very real; however, Agrippa backs off at the last minute. Why doesn’t Agrippa commit himself? Agrippa is from a Greek background but is doing his best to maintain his Roman position in a challenging political climate. Committing to Christ would be career suicide for Agrippa, and he is too fond of the power and grandeur of his appointment to give it up, even when he hears truth preached. Surely, surely there will be another means for Agrippa to encounter God without having to make such sacrifices. So Agrippa continues without committing himself and eventually flees Jerusalem in 66 AD when he sides with the Romans. Paul’s defense at Caesarea takes place about 6 years earlier.

Paul knows that Agrippa knows the Scriptures and Paul bends every bit of his talent as a speaker to convince Agrippa to trust in Jesus Christ. But Agrippa is too consumed with earthly glory to choose heavenly glory instead.

Agrippa and Festus agree that Paul is innocent. But God wants Paul in Rome and God is using these circumstances to get him there. Were Agrippa to convert to Christianity, God would use other means to get Paul to Rome; however, this time, God is using the political ambitions of these two rulers. As we observed yesterday, God continues to work out His purposes if we will only trust Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, Your purposes are sure and Your will is perfect. Help us to trust even when events appear chaotic, for You are working in the midst of the chaos. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 25:13-27 Paul Before Agrippa

“And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ Therefore, when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore, I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

There were two King Herod Agrippas mentioned in Acts. Herod Agrippa I persecuted Christians, killing James and imprisoning Peter. Later Agrippa I traveled to Caesarea where he addressed a crowd from his throne. The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” (Acts 12:22). Agrippa, filled with pride, accepted the praise, and “immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (Acts 12:23)

The son of Agrippa I was King Herod Agrippa II, also known as Julius Marcus Agrippa; he was the brother of Bernice and Drusilla and heard Paul’s defense of the gospel in Acts 26. Agrippa II had quite a lot of power in Jewish religious affairs, for he had been given custodianship of the temple and the authority to appoint the high priest. Agrippa II was much more humble and open than his father had been. https://www.compellingtruth.org/Herod-Agrippa.html

Here, Porcius Festus, the new procurator, cleverly transfers some of the burden of Paul’s matters to Agrippa II by engaging him to examine Paul. And Festus truly is bewildered, for it’s no small matter to refer a case to Rome for judgement. If Festus is not careful, he will gain a reputation for incompetence with the judges in Rome complaining that he is referring problems he should handle back in his own territory. There are many hungry politicians out there who would love to displace Agrippa so they can take over his plum appointment. Involving Agrippa II allows Festus to claim that he has exhausted all measures prior to sending Paul to Rome.  

All the time Festus is trying to manipulate Agrippa, God is chuckling. This trial before Agrippa and Festus will give Paul a golden opportunity for a detailed re-telling of his encounter with the risen Jesus Christ. Who knows how many others sitting in that gathering might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus from hearing Paul’s testimony?

God never wastes any situation. While we assume God is working to accomplish one purpose, meanwhile, God has ten or twenty other purposes He’s working out at the same time. An old hymn by Arthur Campbell Ainger describes this well.

1 God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

2 From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”

3 Let us go forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world.
Let us all fight with sorrow and sin
to set the captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

4 All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust where we cannot see and to remember that when Your hand is upon our lives, You will always work things out for Your praise and Your glory. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 25:1-12 Paul Appeals to Caesar

“Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?”

So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”

Porcius Festus is the 5th procurator of Judea from about 59 to 62, succeeding Antonius Felix. Although Festus has just come into office, he is already aware that keeping Jewish religious authorities happy will be a major challenge. As a means of compromise, Festus insists that the Jewish leaders come to Caesarea. When the high priest and his associates come to Caesarea, they are unable to prove any of the charges they have made against Paul.  

When the high priest and his minions demand that Paul should be returned to Jerusalem, Festus asks Paul if he is willing to return to Jerusalem. Paul already knows that earlier, 40 zealots were prepared to seize him and slaughter him. The road between Caesarea and Jerusalem is long with lots of places where a convoy might be attacked, Paul seized, and murdered. And Jesus has already appeared to Paul, instructing him that as Paul has testified for Jesus in Jerusalem, so Paul will also testify for Jesus in Rome. Sensibly, Paul argues, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Festus is relieved; now he can pass this burden onto someone else. But what is the basis for Paul’s appeal to Caesar?

“About two decades before the birth of Christ, Rome passed a law, the lex de ui publica, which forbade any magistrate to kill, scourge, chain, torture, or even sentence a Roman citizen who had announced his intention to appeal, or prevent him from going to Rome to lodge his appeal there within a fixed time. Assuming (for a moment) that Paul’s case did come to trial, it is very unlikely that the case was heard by Caesar Nero. The Emperor, according to Tacitus, had been quite firm in the matter of rendering judgments: “‘He would not’ [Nero] said, ‘be judge in all cases…’.” Up until a.d. 62 or 63 he made no exceptions, and only a few after that time, up until the burning of Rome. Appeals cases were apparently assigned to various officials….Festus was reluctant to give a decision on the matter, and Paul seeing that a trial in Jerusalem held virtually no hope of justice, Paul therefore made his petition (I appeal to Caesar) that is to be judged by the highest court of the empire. In Rome Paul would be tried by an imperial representative and be subject to Roman law.” https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/49788/what-were-the-legal-consequences-of-i-appeal-to-caesar-in-acts-2511

Wikipedia tells us this about Porcius Festus: “Festus inherited the problems of his predecessor in regard to the Roman practice of creating civic privileges for Jews.^[4] Another issue that bedeviled his administration was the controversy between Herod Agrippa II and the priests in Jerusalem regarding the wall erected at the temple to break the view of the new wing of Agrippa’s palace.^[5] During his administration, Jewish hostility to Rome was greatly inflamed by the civic privileges issue. Feelings were aroused which played an important part in the closely following Jewish War of AD 66.

The Acts of the Apostles narrates that the Apostle Paul had his final hearing before Festus (Acts 24:27). In Acts 25:9-12, Festus sought to induce Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial; Paul appealed to the Emperor. The appeal resulted in Paul being sent to Rome for judgment by the Emperor himself although Festus had difficulty in detailing charges against him (Acts 25–26).“

Once more, we see God using unrighteous acts of men to accomplish His perfect Will. God wants Paul to go to Rome; very good. So, God is going to use the Roman government to transport Paul to its capital. In the process, God uses two different relatively weak Roman rulers to accomplish this.

God can use all kinds of circumstances to accomplish His perfect Will. We were already preparing to travel to the U.S. in August 2006 when I injured my left hip in a fall from my bicycle on a dark night. Because I needed to be on crutches for three months, we extended our stay in America. While I was still on crutches, we learned that my husband had prostate cancer, so he underwent operation, and we extended our stay further. While my husband was recovering, we traveled to his home area to celebrate several birthdays and anniversaries. Sadly, we found my husband’s twin brother dead in the house on their mutual 65^th birthday; however, as the two medically trained family members, it was far better for us to be the ones to find him rather than other relatives. My husband’s younger brother developed such anxiety attacks at the tragic news that he was hospitalized and could not attend the funeral. My husband and I helped facilitate funeral arrangements that included our early departure afterwards due to a blizzard.

Today, do you find yourself in confusing circumstances? Pastor David Yonggi Cho’s advice to one American evangelist still applies: “I pray and I obey.” Keep praying and obeying what God has already shown you to do. As you obey, God will open the way, even if it’s only one step at a time. But be prepared for God to use circumstances in a fashion you have never anticipated. God is a God of infinite variety!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust where we cannot see and to remember that You are always working, even when our circumstances appear confusing. Help us to pray and obey. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Acts 24:22-27 Felix Procrastinates

“But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.” When is a prisoner not a prisoner? When he has liberty and his friends can visit him and bring him anything he needs or wants. Obviously, Felix has not been impressed by Tertullus, the fancy orator hired by the high priest. One hopes for Tertullus’ sake that he has collected his speaking fee ahead of time; otherwise, he might find himself unpaid. (The high priest might not speak fluent Latin, but he’s undoubtedly a canny businessman who pays for results, not attempts.)

So Paul continues to stay in Caesarea, presumably in a well-ventilated room with guards who have come to enjoy his company. Given all Paul’s travels, he is probably a very engaging companion, one who can speak knowledgably about nearly any part of the Roman Empire at that point. And all the time Paul remains in Caesarea, he continues to quietly witness to his guards and to anybody else who visits him. Who knows how many converts Paul is making while he stays in Caesarea!

“And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore, he sent for him more often and conversed with him.” Hmm! Sounds as if Felix is coming under conviction. Drusilla, Felix’s wife, is Jewish and she might even become a Christian during the time Paul is in Caesarea. Since Drusilla is only a female, she doesn’t come in for much attention in this story. And Felix continues to keep Paul in hopes that someone will reward him (Felix) generously, at which point, he will find a convenient excuse for releasing Paul.

The tragedy of Felix’s life is that he has the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest evangelists of all time, and he stops his ears and his heart. Eventually, Felix will go on to Rome, where he will narrowly escape punishment for using a dispute between the Jews and the Syrians of Caesarea as a pretext to slay and plunder the inhabitants.

“But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.” For Felix, the decision is simple: Paul’s friends have refused to pay bribes, so let Porcius Festus deal with these troublesome Jews and their complicated theological wranglings. Paul remains technically in prison but at liberty and his friends continue to visit and provide for him.

Why is God allowing Paul to remain a prisoner at Caesarea? Paul has been traveling a great deal. Now that Paul is staying in one of the most healthful parts of the Roman Empire, he has leisure in which to visit with people, eat regular meals, and catch up on his sleep. Prior to the Day of Pentecost when Paul entered the temple in Jerusalem, he was bending every effort to make it to Jerusalem on time. Now, all Paul can do is to wait and rest and build up his strength.

One of the most helpful pieces of advice we have ever received from veteran missionaries is this: God wants us to be human BEINGS, not human DOINGS. So many times, we devise agendas and then beat ourselves bloody about the head and shoulders to stay on course, to fulfill our plans. But are those plans always God’s plans, or are they our idea of what we think we must do to please God? Psalm 46:10 tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Today, may God help all of us so that we will “be still and know” that He is God and that our times are in His hands!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to rest when You give us time to do so, realizing that You know our limitations better than we do. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Acts 24:1-9 Accused of Sedition

“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.”

Hmph! The first thing to note is the delay of five days between the time Paul is taken to Caesarea and the arrival of the high priest and his minions. Note that they have engaged the services of a lawyer or orator Tertullus to speak on their behalf. Tertullus may be a Hellenistic Jew who makes a good living from defending those lacking either Latin or Greek. The Jewish religious leaders are crafty enough to realize that they need help from someone accustomed to making formal speeches in Latin.

Doctor Luke has punctiliously recorded Tertullus’ speech, and it follows the approved form used in such occasions. First, Tertullus flatters Felix as an author of peace and prosperity; in fact, nobody knowing Felix would honestly describe him in this fashion! Felix was quite corrupt and had no scruples about arranging for the murder of anyone opposing him. Wikipedia tells us this about Felix:

“Felix was the younger brother of Greek freedman Marcus Antonius Pallas who served as a secretary of the treasury during the reign of Emperor Claudius. According to Tacitus, Pallas and Felix descended from the Greek Kings of Arcadia.^[

Felix became the procurator by the petition of his brother. Felix’s cruelty and his accessibility to bribes (see Book of Acts 24:26) led to a great increase of crime in Judaea. The period of his rule was marked by internal feuds and disturbances, which he put down with severity.^[4]

In 58, Felix hired assassins to murder Jonathan the High Priest, shortly after Jonathan took office.^[5] Jonathan had often criticized Felix about governing Jewish affairs, and he threatened to report to Caesar if Felix did not do well. Felix persuaded Doras, one of Jonathan’s most trusted friends and a citizen of Jerusalem, to hire robbers to kill Jonathan by promising to give him a large sum of money. Doras arranged for some hired men to mingle with the worshippers in the Temple in Jerusalem with daggers hidden under their garments. These assassins killed Jonathan during a Jewish festival and were never caught.^[5]

The Apostle Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and rescued from a plot against his life, and Claudius Lysias transferred him to Caesarea, where he stood trial before Felix. Felix and his wife Drusilla heard Paul’s discourse and sent for him to talk with him. However, Felix’s actual desire was to receive a bribe from Paul, which Paul refused to do (Acts 24:24–26). Felix was succeeded as procurator after detaining Paul for two years, but he left him imprisoned as a favor to the Jews (Acts 24:27).

Upon returning to Rome, Felix was accused of using a dispute between the Jews and the Syrians of Caesarea as a pretext to slay and plunder the inhabitants, but he escaped unpunished through the intercession of his brother Pallas, who had great influence with Emperor Nero.^[4] Porcius Festus succeeded him as procurator of Judea.

After flattering Felix, Tertullus pushes the claims of the high priest that the Jewish leaders “simply” wanted to judge Paul according to their laws but that the nasty Roman commander, Lysias, has interfered by “violently” removing Paul from the hands of the Jews and referring him to Felix for judgement. While Tertullus is likely expressing the true feelings of the Jewish leaders, he would be better off had he not criticized the Roman commander. Protection of Roman citizens is a priority throughout the Empire, and Felix is well aware of the actual circumstances surrounding Paul’s imprisonment and transfer to Caesarea. There remains the fact that previously, the Jewish leaders have behaved in a very high-handed manner to the Romans. Felix is from an ancient Greek royal family and knows this gives him high status.

Acts 24:10-21 The Defense Before Felix

“Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”

“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’”

As a highly educated man, Paul is conversant with many of the Greek and Roman myths regarding death and resurrection. Even in ancient times, some people believed that there was no such thing as an afterlife; dying ended everything. Others believed that there was an afterlife while still others believed that virtuous people would live on after death while others would go to some netherworld.

Paul makes swift work of the ridiculous accusations against him, knowing full well that these men cannot possibly prove anything. Even the Jews from Asia who raised the first complaint jumped to a wrong conclusion by assuming that Paul had brought an uncircumcised man into the temple. Paul focuses on the actual problem: the reality of resurrection from the dead.

Many times, we might find ourselves falsely accused and forced to testify before leaders whom we know to be untrustworthy or corrupt. But Jesus has promised his followers, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matthew 10:16-20)

Today, you might be facing false accusations from those wishing to destroy your reputation. Do not fear or worry. God is the One who promotes and God is the One who can give you the right words. Trust in the One who inspired Paul to inspire you also.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You when we are faced with interrogation, so that we will say only what You want us to, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.