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Category: Acts for a 21st c. Church

Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church

Acts of the Apostles 1-28

Acts of the Apostles:
+ The first century Church SHARED Christ while suffering severe persecution.
+ Luke records a historic account of the Church which gives 21c Christians a context to SHARE the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others.

Read more about the Early Church & add your COMMENT on Scripture.

ACT now.

+ SHARE the Gospel history witnessed in the CURRENT chronological SERIES from ACTS of the APOSTLES.

šā’ûl servant of the living Yeshua
Saul’s defense of himself and the Gospel

ἀπολογέομαι – apologeomai

To the Greeks the Apostle to the gentiles is Παῦλος – Paulos or Paul. And to Romans encountering this fellow Roman citizen from Tarsus certainly fluent in the Latin of their heritage, the Apostle would be called Paulus.

But to the Aramaic Jews of Jerusalem and Judea this illusive convert to Jesus of Nazareth is well-known as Sha’ul, the same name as Saul, Israel’s first king.

It is now about A.D. 59 or 60. Some thirty years ago JESUS had fore-warned the Twelve:

“Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say..

Gospel of Luke 12:11 LSB

Two years later the Jews had stoned Stephen to death for proclaiming the risen Christ Jesus. Saul had been a young witness to this unjust execution and a leading authority in bringing many followers of The Way to justice for five years – that is, until the Lord met him on a road to Damascus.

Saul disappears for a time and then makes his own defense to Peter and those in Jerusalem.

And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.

Acts 9:29 LSB
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All this prior to the Apostle being sent out to all the world of the gentiles on three missionary journeys for ten years. 
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So now back in Jerusalem by intention, the Apostle has already been detained by the Jews and held by the Romans.

Most Excellent Felix – Tertullus for the Prosecution

And when the governor [Felix] had nodded for him to speak, Paul answered:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make G626 [apologeomai] my defense G626

Acts of the Apostles 24

Two more years and another administration – Porcius Festus

“.. while Paul said G626 in G626 his own defense G626 [to Festus {who is also present here}], “I have committed no sin either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Acts of the Apostles 25

Saul’s third apologeomai before Herod Agrippa

Agrippa said to Sha’ul,
“You may speak for yourself.”

Then Sha’ul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
Acts of the Apostles 26:1 Hebrew Names Bible

Saul addressing King Herod Agrippa –

Jew to fellow Jew
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continuing in his complimentary introduction: 
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Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

Acts 26:3 KJV
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Remember, Paul is speaking of events beginning some twenty years ago. 
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My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 26:4-7 KJV
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Paul addresses the "Jewish" king caught in the middle of controversaries between the Saduccees, Pharasees and pagan Romans not part of the promise of the One God to Abraham. 
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Testimony of the Resurrection

The Apostle now confronts Herod Agrippa with the politically divisive question concerning the Messiah Jesus.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Acts of the Apostles 26:8 KJV

“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.

Acts 26:9-11 NKJV

What’s Paul doing here?

The Apostle is confessing that as a leading Pharisee he was one of them – agreed with them – as zealous to put to death these blasphemers of Yahweh as now they seek to have Paul killed for his witness of the risen Messiah Yeshua.

Herod Agrippa knows the Jesus controversy well. And Paul’s defense now presents evidence of why he has turned from his former disbelief (in the resurrection of the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth). So šā’ûl of Tarsus recounts his journey to Damascus and life-changing encounter with the risen Lord Jesus, the crucified Messiah.

Saul sent out as the Apostle Paul
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Luke has previously recorded Paul's account (Acts 9:1–19; 22:6–16).
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- I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
- At midday I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,
- We all fell to the ground
- I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew dialect:
‘Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Acts 26:14b Hebrew Names Version

Herod Agrippa would understand the significance of the Voice from heaven Who communicates with Paul in Hebrew. Sha’ul asks what any man might ask of an unknown person speaking:

Τίς εἶ κύριε

(tis ei Kyrios) Who are you, Lord?

And He said (in the Greek of Luke’s account of Acts of the Apostles)

egō eimi iēsous
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Or in the Hebrew šā'ûl likely heard from the Lord: 
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ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ

“He said,

‘I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 26:15 b Hebrew Names Version

Yeshua, the risen Son of God, commissions Paul
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As Paul knows, Herod Agrippa II, with his Roman and Jewish cultural upbringing, will full-well know and understand the implication of what he is about to say. (And note that this Voice from heaven commands Saul as a King (like Herod Agrippa) would command any subject. 
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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.

Acts 26:14-15 NKJV
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Remember, Paul has already been witnessing Christ crucified and risen on three missionary journeys since about AD 47 (more than ten years after Christ's crucifixion in Jerusaalem) until now (~AD 59) for some twelve years.
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‘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 26:17-18 NKJV – account to Agrippa of the commissioning of Paul by the risen Christ Jesus

It is significant that in sending Saul to the Gentiles that the Lord mentions their redemption – Gospel Good News!

The Lord Jesus also points to our deliverance from original sin and Satan.

And do not overlook His mention of holiness and how Jew and Gentile will now receive sanctification.

Sanctification
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Just a reminder of God's HOLINESS and that of CHRIST JESUS
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ἁγιάζω – hagiazō –
- to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
- to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
  - consecrate things to God
  - dedicate people to God
- to purify
From hagos G40 (an awful thing) – sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G37 – hagiazō – BlueLetterBible.org

21st century Common Era christians tend to overlook Jesus’ role in sanctification of the redeemed saints of Christ, therefore missing the mark of showing ourselves saved from the sin so common in all of us.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

OPEN YOUR EYES – SEE the implication of what the Lord says to Saul of Tarsus that changed him for all eternity:

to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,

that they may receive forgiveness of sins

and a place among

those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:18 RSV

Are YOU, like Saul, a SAINT — a most HOLY thing —

by FAITH in the LORD CHRIST JESUS?

Paul asks the Lord’s question of Agrippa and of Portus Festus.

The Apostle asks JESUS’ question of you who seek forgiveness of your sins somewhere else than by faith in the Person of Him – the risen Christ Jesus.

Next: Agrippa and Festus reject Christ

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
July 24, 2025
ACTS of the Herods 25
The not-so-great HEROD’s – client-kings of the Jews

“BUT WAIT,” you may be thinking; “we were following ACTS of the APOSTLES and Paul.”
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Note the timeline above with its anti-Christian timeline bias utilizing BCE (Before the Common Era) rather than B.C. (Before Christ). 
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What IF history had recorded the politics of the JEWS and ROMANS in place of the truth of Christ?

We would have read nothing of Herod’s killing of the innocents (trying to prevent the birth of the Messiah JESUS).
- OR of Jewish and Roman injustice of the Cross of Jesus – KING OF THE JEWS!
- OR any account of the leading Pharisee Saul of Tarsus proclaiming Christ risen to all the world as far as Rome.
NO — Luke’s detailed account of the Apostles would have been buried in the politics of A.D. 1st century Caesars and certain Kings preordained by the Lord God to fail in their temporal empires and kingdoms — Herod’s and Caesar’s opposed to JESUS, the very Son of God redeeming a chosen remnant of sinners — sinners from every nation of the world and sinners from every time since the beginning of mortals and the end of our timeline in eternity.

Acts from Herod the Great to Herod Agrippa II

In order to understand Roman administration of captive kingdoms or Roman states of the Herod’s, as well as something of the fall of Jerusalem which will soon take place, let’s take a look at the WHO’S-WHO of this client dynasty as we proceed in the Acts of the Apostles.

the politics of King Agrippa and Festus
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A PLEASING PUBLIC POLITICAL MEETING 
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Now several days later, Agrippa [II] the king and Bernice [his sister] arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus [the new governor].

Acts of the Apostles 25:13 AMP

While they were spending many days there [in the Roman capital of Caesarea] , Festus laid Paul’s case before the king…

Make no mistake about it — Rome is in control, but in order to rule effectively Roman governors use local political powerhouses to govern public opinion.

Political Protocol of the Pax Romana

Luke refers to our main player in Paul’s case as, “King Agrippa,” but to Rome, Julius Marcus (AKA Herod Agrippa II) is simply one of several useful foreign kings.

.

He brings with him his sister, oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I as they formally and publically meet Governor Porcius Festus in Caesarea.
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Luke continues with the political problem of Paul left to the new Prefect Festus:
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saying (to Agrippa) [NKJV],

“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.
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Note that this new Roman Prefect has already been in Jerusalem without meeting with King Agrippa. 
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To them I answered,

‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction [ἀπώλεια] before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’

Certainly this newly appointed Governor of Judea is familiar with the problem of the JUDGMENT of JESUS the King of the JEWS by a previous Governor Pontius Pilate.

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.
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The Roman Governor has already judged the Roman citizen Paulos (in Jerusalem) before this political appeal of King Herod Agrippa II. 
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The Governor continues his account of Paul’s recent trial over which he presided:

“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.
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Now full-well knowing the controversies centered on the Christ of the Jews, Governor Porcius Festus addresses Julius Marcus Agrippa II as a politically impartial third party with interest in the case of the Governor's prisoner. 
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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 [the title of the Roman emperors], I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.”

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, no friend of followers of The Way, had appointed Portus Festus as Governor of Judea.

Herod Agrippa’s play for power

Then Agrippa said to Festus,

“I also would like to hear the man myself.”

“Tomorrow, 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 [Caesarea], at Festus’ command Paul was brought in.
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REMEMBER: 
ROME's Governor is in charge. The Prefect of Judea repeats what he has already told King Herod Agrippa II. 
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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.
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The Governor is confirming Paul's legal disposition as well as his own fair hand in his decision of the Court.
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“I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him.
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Festus, wanting to present some facts to his lord Caesar in Rome, invites these Jewish leaders and accusers of Paul to give him the facts. 

The Governor would not have had to send any facts to Nero, but out of Festus' astute political savvy he has an audience of all who could object to his decision. 
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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.”

Brilliant! Let the local king provide their case to Caesar (who could only blame Felix or the Jews AND NOT him).

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

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:

Acts of the Apostles 26:1 NKJV

Once again, the Governor sets the tone of his meeting of all who had accused Paul.

Festus begins by allowing the defense of this Roman citizen already found innocent to proceed BEFORE hearing ANY Jewish charges.

Furthermore, Governor Festus invites Paul to speak directly to him and to Herod Agrippa II (client king of the Jews) FIRST.

“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Yehudim…

Acts of the Apostles 26:2 – Hebrew Names Version

The ACTS of the Apostle Paul (in court again) — To be continued…

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
July 18, 2025
Two more years and another administration – Porcius Festus
Politics of Leadership (Don’t cha luv it?)

Administration of a land conquered by the Caesars to whom you have sworn allegiance is not such an easy job (although it pays well).

Governor Antonius Felix, Roman procurator of Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, and Perea had essentially dodged a political bullet when he left Paul in prison for two years.

Luke tells us the Felix had been hoping for a bribe.

But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts of the Apostles 24:27 RSV

Did the Jewish leaders perhaps bribe their Roman procurator to keep Paul in prison?

Hard to tell, but we do know that after two years a change in administration brings a new Roman governor to act as judge in Paul’s long-continued case.

~A.D. 60 – Quick Justice at last
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Let's clear the old administrative docket.
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Acts 25:
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Jerusalem, first stop in administration of Judea.
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Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they urged him, asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem…
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Sound familiar from their previous deceitful acts before Felix tried to sort it all out? 
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Luke continues his narrative:

… planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

Giving a strong administrative response showing the Jews that he, the Roman governor is in charge:

Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.

Acts 25:4 RSV

Now the Roman administrator of Judea asserts his office as judge of all cases before the same corrupt officials of the Sanhedrin secretly seeking to assassinate Paul (the Roman citizen, by the way).

“So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”

Acts 25:5 RSV – orders of the Roman Proconsul Festus to the Jews

When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

And when he [Paul] had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove.

Paul pleads INNOCENT

“Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all.”
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Now obviously after just a week in Jerusalem; like Felix, Festus has learned the ropes of governing the Jews. 
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Festus offers a political compromise:

“Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges before me?”

Paul’s political savvy:

“I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried;
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The Apostle has already pled his innocence in his opening statement. 
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.. to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well.

Acts 25:10 – response of Paul the Roman citizen to Festus the Roman Governor
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The Apostle continues his brief defense in this administrative arraignment hearing before Festus: 
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If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death;

but if there is nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them.

I appeal to Caesar.”

Does Paul trust local Roman administrators such as Felix and Festus anymore than he trusts the leaders of the Jews who have been trying to assinate the Apostle out of the sight of Jerusalem’s Temple?

Besides, the Lord has revealed to Paul that He will send him to Rome!

The following night the Lord stood by him and said,

“Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome.”

Acts of the Apostles 23:11 RSV

Ex proprio motu

Commonly spoken as “by one’s own accord.”

Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered,

“You have appealed to Caesar;

to Caesar you shall go.”

Acts 25:12 RSV

So be it.

As far as Roman justice is concerned (here in Judea under the administration of Portus Festus) that’s it. The Governor must send Paul’s case to Caesar.

NEXT – Paul encounters the politics of King Agrippa and Festus
July 16, 2025