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Tag: justice

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Psalm 89:14 KJV

Justice deferred in a Political Theatre of Law
We suppose Law to be a tool of Justice

Justice

Citizens of Greek City-States claimed freedom and justice..

(although like everywhere else, Greek democracy did not apply to its slaves.)

Socrates drank the hemlock of justice weighed by his opponents of classic philosophy.

And, of course, Alexander the Great Macedonian claiming all Greece and the world had different ideas of law to make the world Greek again.

(“There’s nothing new under the sun,” stated Solomon, King over much of the same empire nearly a thousand years before Alexander.)

Roman Law

In today’s setting of Acts of the Apostles it’s important for us to remember that in Jerusalem – Judean LAW (it isn’t even fully JEWISH LAW applicable in other Roman Provicences (or States by contemporary comparison) – as administered by the Sanhedron separate of the Roman Governor, a minor appointed Proconsul accountable to the Emporor.

This jurisdictional oversight – similar to that when Pontius Pilate tried to pass the political hot potato of the King of the Jews back and forth to Herod or the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem – is little different when just a few years later Paul retuns to Jerusalem to face JUSTICE redefined in various venues.

Jews demanding JUSTICE

The Apostle of Jesus sent to the Gentiles (Greeks) has just returned home.

After his witness to the Jews (in Hebrew) of being sent by Jesus (who had been crucified) on the road to Damascus) AND being sent to the Gentiles — (this had been 20 years ago, back in A.D. 37) — once again, Paul proclaims Christ risen!

The adjitated jewish crowd was about to stone him, just as when he himself had witnessed the execution of Stephen.

“Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune..

Acts of the Apostles 22:25b-26a ESV
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There he's done it! 

Paul initiates a whole chain-of-events triggering the chain-of-command in Roman oversight and justice. 
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But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he [the Tribune in charge of the Centurians] unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 22:30 ESV
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This JEWISH council — about seventy leading men, SUMMONED to apprear before the ROMAN Tribune and his COURT of Roman justice in Jerusalem — are NOT in charge of the proceedings. 
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Acts 23:

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
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Remember: Although the courtroom is that of the Jews, Paul — the DEFENDENT — faces them as his PROSECUTOR (not his judge).
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And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!

Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

Some savvy oral arguments take place (as is common in court). Paul seeks to divide the jury of his accusers:

“.. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

It worked. One of his fellow Pharisees stands in his defense,

“We find nothing wrong in this man.

What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

The dissension (between the two parties of the Pharisees and Sadducees)became violent.

Now the Jews of this local lower court — to which the rules of the Pax Romana defer — sound more like a lynch mob than a place of justice AND (let’s not forget) Paulos is a ROMAN CITIZEN.

And as a great dissension was developing, because the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them, he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:10 LSB

Conspiracy against Christ and His Apostle

The world will often witness an unexplainable boldness in a certain saint of God is seemingly insurmountable circumstances. (This had happened with the Apostle time and time again during his ten-plus years of travel among the gentiles and Greeks.)

The night before his highly anticipated public trial in Jerusalem the Apostle of Christ Jesus again received supernatural instruction.

But on that very night, the Lord stood at his side and said,

“Take courage; for as you have solemnly borne witness to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness at Rome also.”

Acts 23:11 LSB

Imagine — the Lord Jesus Christ, who had been crucified twenty-seven years ago — the same risen Lord who had appeared in a vision of great glory twenty years ago — stands beside the Apostle and now sends him to Rome!

So of course, Paul is emboldened when he is brought to trial before the Roman court the next day.

Meanwhile, more than forty of the jews made a plot to murder Paul (outside of the jurisdiction of the Roman authorities).

They went to the chief priests and elders and said,

“We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

The Plot Thickens

Paul’s jewish nephew hears of the plot of these forty men, so the young man heads to the Roman fortress to try to warn Paul.

Paulos — the Roman citizen held in protective custody after the big hubbub of the jewish crowds — instructs his guards to go to the man in charge.

Paul called one of the centurions and said,

“Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”

Acts 23:17 ESV

The tribune [Claudius Lysias] took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
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Note the gentleness of this tribune, Claudius Lysias - a man in charge of the centurions of Antonia Fortress as he seeks to get to the truth of the matter. 
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The young son of Paul’s sister responds:

“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

Acs 23:21b-22 ESV

“Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

An Imposed Authority of Roman Justice

“Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.[9 pm]

Caesarea – (Caesar’s Palace in Judea

Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
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This military escort of a Roman citizen Paulos is most unlike the handling of Jesus the king of the Jews sent to the Pontius Pilate, governor of that time, (who happened to be in Jeruslem rather than Caesarea). 
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Official Orders sent with Paul

“Claudius Lysias,

to his Excellency the governor Felix,

greetings.

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

Acts 23:26-30 ESV
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You might call this 'the official COURT record.' 
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Of course — ALL follow orders and the next scene with, with Roman effeciency, take place in Caesarea.

Marcus Antonius Felix
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Antonius Felix, served as the Roman procurator of Judea from ~AD 52-58. He was appointed by the Emperor Claudius and was known for his harsh and often corrupt administration. Felix was a freedman of Claudius' mother, Antonia. - source: BibleHub 
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When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

The Governor inquires about jurisdiction – that is, in effect – Am I the appropriate judge of this case?

And when he learned that he [Paulos] was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he [Antonius Felix] commanded him [the Centurian in charge of Paul’s escort] to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium [there in Caesarea].

Acts of the Apostles 23:35 ESV [with names of prepositions]

Justice – a Case to be continued

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
June 30, 2025
Apocalypse 6 – the Face of Justice
If I sharpen My flashing sword,
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
Deuteronomy 32:41 NASB

What is already begun

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:4 KJV

A second horseman who wields a great sword is sent out to take peace from the earth. Men will kill one another and his horse is blood red.
- The first living creature was like a lion;
- the second living creature was like an ox;
- the third living creature had a face like a man..
- A creature like a lion sends out a rider with a bow
- a second living creature like an ox gives a powerful sword to his rider.
Now another living creature not a man, for like the others it has six wings and is full of eyes — a living creature with the face of a man — a terrible face like one never seen by any man created in God’s image — the third living creature hands the one who sat on a black horse a pair of scales.

He will weigh what is to be given to men of the earth.

The Terrible Face of Justice

A lion has roared! Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! Who can do anything but prophesy? – Amos 3:8 NASB

Amos – Not immune from judgment

We are NOT IMMUNE to the #pandemic of sin!

In March of A.D. 2020, I interrupted introduction to the Gospel of John with prophesy of Amos (linked above).

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” – quoting Amos 6:24

Now, just eleven months later, I maintain the appropriateness of these parallels to US.

Pictures of JUSTICE & JUDGMENT!

What YOU think about Justice or about God or even about Jesus may turn out to be just POLITICS.

The JUSTICE of the LORD GOD will weigh the events of these last days differently than the blind Judgment of mankind.

Contemplation of Justice and Authority of Law

Even the US Supreme Court entrance displays the imagery of contemplation of justice.

A book of laws supports
her left arm and a figure of blindfolded Justice is
in her right hand.

Once the victorious and worthy Lamb of God takes the Throne and opens the BOOK of the LAW, a heavenly HIGH COURT now shows imagery to the Apostle John. One with scales in hand will equally weigh what remains for the PEOPLE after the ravages of war. It is a dreadful sight!

The Third Seal

Scarcity on Earth

Revelation 6:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.”

Remember, the awesome creature with the face of a man?

So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:5b NKJV

Now remember that the four living creatures surround the Throne day and night worshiping the Lamb.

6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying,

“A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

Famine & Scarcity

The available food is being measured on the scales equally for ALL, because there is hardly enough for ANY.

The denarius was a penny — and yet it was one man’s wages for one day!

The poor will be starving for lack of the “necessities” while those in powerful control will be enjoying “luxuries.”
John Brown :: Revelation 6:3-6 – source: BlueLetter Bible

Additional Commentary of John Brown – Excerpts on the Third Seal

1. This time the horseman carries no weapons. This time it’s a pair of scales!

a) At the onset of war there is always the promise of a “better world” and a better economy but famine always follows war!!!

(1) It has been the case in China, North Korea, East Germany, Cuba, and Vietnam.

(2) The scales as well as the black horse speaks of a time great death upon the earth!

(a) Lamentations 5:10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. (KJV)

(b) Beating the plowshares into swords doesn’t leave much time for farming!

(c) There are already, in many countries, long lines for simple things like bread and butter and milk.

(d) Men, women and children are starving to death all over the world and it has become “common” and accepted!

What Next?

As if this were not fearful enough, we know that only three of the four living creatures have called John to come and see the apocalypse of this certain future.

Even if much is symbolic rather than literal, the remaining four seals of the book yet to be revealed bring all creatures in God’s image to contemplate the very justice of Almighty God.
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To be continued...
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February 12, 2021
CRUCIFY! CRUCIFY iēsous Crucify ben ‘elyown ‘elyown
Crowds incited against all righteousness
- “See, I am bringing Him out to you so that you will know that I find no grounds at all for charges in His case.”
- Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
- So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify, crucify!”
- Behold the Man
Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him; for I find no grounds for charges in His case!”
John 19:6b NASB

Justice of the Crowds

Though the politician in charge who happens to be Governor and Judge finds no case against Jesus Christ and mockingly charges those politicized religious officials to take justice into their own hands, the high profile trials of Jesus will continue before the watching eyes of the Jews ‘seeking justice.’

We’ve been following the false accusations against Jesus and cruel punishments placed on the innocent Son of Man for revealing the truth of who He IS.
No political correctness required here, only political expediency to please the crowds.

From indictment of Truth to the Scapegoat of Sacrifice

Where is mercy?

You will not find it anywhere in the worldly darkness of this sacrificial scene. (Just read brief description of what has already taken place.)
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His face already bruised, swollen, bloodied by the blows from Caiaphas, they continued the abuse by smiting Him, putting on the crown of thorns, mocking Him.
Chuck Smith commentary on John 19
They had a third degree that was totally unmerciful. They would tie a prisoner to a post so that the back was stretched out. And then with a cat of nine tails whip, a leather whip with little bits of glass and lead imbedded in it designed to rip the flesh, they would lay the whip across the back of the prisoner thirty-nine times.
.. Many times prisoners died as the result of these scourgings. Before the thirty-ninth stripe was laid upon them, they were already dead from the loss of blood and just from the extreme pain. But Jesus bore that suffering.
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The ruthless brutality (which pleases the crowds) charged to Rome by the captive Jews presumes death by suffering – a bloodied man – hung on crossbeams from a tree, by nails through outstretched hands and a hammer-driven nail through his taughtly-bound feet.

Our own fear of pain so etched into this fragile flesh that scarcely can we look upon this Blood of Sacrifice for our own sins.

Pilate governs a people ruled over by corrupt religious officials of Jerusalem and simmering in Rome’s unstable peace.

What better way to eliminate all who threaten the Roman political peace?

The murderous shouts of the crowds are no doubt incited by the powerful, seeking yet more power over an incited powerless people.
Roger Harned – talkofJesus.com on religious & political leaders seeking influence

The familiar Roman outcome of public trials is so matter-of-fact and suffering so severe that the other Gospels move through it quickly.

Matthew 27:

And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” .. Then he released Barabbas for them;

.. but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:

The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. ..They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

Luke 23:

.. but they kept on calling out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” .. But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

.. And following Him was a large crowd of the people…

How will we judge the Son of God?

They knew the truth of Jesus’ signs:

Lazarus raised to life.

The blind given sight.

And most threatening to their religious rule, Jesus riding to the gate of Jerusalem like a victorious King David.

..“What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
John 11:47b-48 NASB

John 19:

7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went again into the judgment hall..

Brief respite from the crowds

Now Pilate’s examination of Jesus becomes more honest and personal away from the hateful cries of the crowds to ‘CRUCIFY!’

(.. the Son of God!)
.. and [Pilate] said to Jesus, “Where are You from?”
John 19:8,9 NASB

But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 So Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me?

Do You not know that I have authority to release You,

.. and I have authority to crucify You?”
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To be continued...
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Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
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October 29, 2020