Today’s Bible Translation
Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 23 NIV; Ch. 24 NLT
Executive Producer
Jason Paschall, Anonymous
Associate Producer
Michael Haner
Podcast Introduction
It’s Gospels Saturday. We’ll read Acts 23-24. I’m calling this episode “The Conspiracy to Kill Paul.“
Summary
In Acts 23 there’s a plot to kill the Apostle Paul orchestrated by a group of Jews who were vehemently opposed to his teachings. These people went to extreme lengths, even taking an oath to abstain from eating and drinking until they had successfully ended Paul’s life. This raises a troubling question: How could people who were part of a religious tradition, one that explicitly forbids murder, justify such a violent act?
The text highlights a broader issue that transcends this specific incident – the danger of extreme and rigid adherence to a particular ideology or agenda. In this case, these Jews were so dogmatic in their interpretation of the Mosaic Law that they couldn’t see beyond its literal words. They were unable to grasp the deeper intentions of the Law, which Jesus sought to fulfill with his teachings.
This situation draws parallels to contemporary events where individuals or groups become so fixated on their beliefs that they resort to insults, violence, or even harm towards those who hold opposing views. It’s a reminder that when people cannot engage in respectful dialogue and accept differing perspectives, there’s a problem in society.
Disagreement does not equate to hatred, and it certainly doesn’t justify name-calling, physical violence, or property destruction. This principle applies not only to matters of religion but also to culture and politics. A civilized society should foster open, respectful discussion and peaceful coexistence. Sadly, it appears that civility is in short supply in some quarters today.
Listen to the episode for more!
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The Team
Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise: Transcript Correction
Michael Haner: Podcasting 2.0 Chapters
Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider: Show Art
Jason Paschall: Show Art
Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney: Newsletter Publisher
Transcript
Transcript not yet corrected.
Steve Webb 0:00
These people felt that they had the moral authority to commit murder.
Steve Webb 0:05
This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I’m you’re hopefully on the mend OG Godcaster Steve Webb, it’s gospel Saturday, and we’ll read Acts 23 and 24. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and I’ll have contact information at the end of the show. Before we read, let’s pray. Our gracious heavenly Father, how we love you, and thank you so much for your work. Thank you for revealing yourself to us through it. I pray that as we read today, you would teach us I pray that you would touch our hearts by pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, are you ready? Let’s get started.
Steve Webb 0:46
Acts chapter 23. Paul looks straight at the Sanhedrin and said, my brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day. At this, the high priest and a NYAS ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God will strike you you whitewashed wall. You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck. Those who are standing near Paul said, How dare you insult God’s High Priest? Paul replied, brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest for it is written do not speak evil about the ruler of your people. and then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees called out in the Sanhedrin. My brothers I am a Pharisee descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead. When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. and the assembly was divided. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits. But the Pharisees believe all these things. There was a great uproar and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. We find nothing wrong with this man. They said, What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, the dispute became so violent that 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. The following night, the Lord’s stood near Paul and said, Take courage, as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome. The next morning, some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than 40 men were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, we have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then you in the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case, were ready to kill him before he gets here. But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul, then Paul called one of the centurions and said, Take this young man to the commander, he has something to tell him. So he took him to the commander, the sentry and said, Paul, the prisoners sent from me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you. The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, What is it you want to tell me? He said, Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. Don’t give it to them because more than 40 of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now waiting for your consent to their request. The commander dismissed the young man with this warning. Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me. Then he called to have his Centurions and ordered them get ready a detachment of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen to go to Surya at nine tonight to provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to governor Felix. He wrote a letter as follows Claudius Lissajous to His Excellency, governor Felix greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the execution had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. So the soldiers carrying out their orders took Paul with him during the night and brought him as far as Antipa truss. The next day they let the Calvary go on with him while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in c’est Surya, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from learning that he was from solicita. He said, I will hear your case when your accusers get here. Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
Steve Webb 5:20
Acts chapter 24. Five days later, and n is the high priest arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer told us to present their case against Paul to the governor, when Paul was called in to tell us presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. But I don’t want to bore you. So please give me your attention for only a moment. We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarene. Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the temple when we arrested him, you can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself. Then the other Jews chimed in declaring that everything Tala said was true. and the governor then motioned for Paul to speak, Paul said, I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you, you can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than 12 days ago to worship at the temple. My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. These men cannot prove the things they accused me of doing. But I admit that I follow the way which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors. and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. I have the same hope in God that these men have that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and to all people. After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. My accuser saw me in the temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there, and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me. Ask these men here what crime the Jewish High Council found me guilty of except for the one time I shouted out, I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead. At that point, Felix, who was quite familiar with a way, adjourn the hearing and said, wait until LISI as the garrison commander arrives, then I will decide the case. He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. A few days later, Felix came back with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, ascending for Paul, they listened to as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus, as he reasoned with them about righteousness and self control. In the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. Go away for now, he replied, when it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again. He also hoped that Paul would bribe him so he said for him quite often and talked with him. After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porsches, Festus and because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
Steve Webb 8:38
Let’s think for a moment about the conspiracy to kill Paul that we read about in Chapter 23, verses 12 through 22. We read that it was a group of Jews and they bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. So here, these people felt that they have the moral authority to commit murder. What How can this be? The Mosaic law clearly states that murder is forbidden. It’s even in the 10 commandments, right? Thou shalt not murder. Sidenote, the 10 commandments does not say Thou shalt not kill. Killing and murder are two completely different things. So what’s going on here is an excellent example of what can happen when a group of people have such an extreme and rigid view of an agenda or ideology, that they’re willing to do anything to defend that ideology. My goodness, that sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it? The more things change, the more they remain the same. These Jews thought that Paul’s message contradicted the law, and they were so extremely incensed that he would dare to preach a different message that they would not and could not accept his reasoned response to them. They were so rigidly adhering to the letter of the law that they could no longer hear God’s voice in the intent of the law, which Jesus came to fulfill. and so They conjured up this scheme to silence Paul, you might call it a permanent cancellation. When a group is so passionately fixed on an ideology that any opposing idea results in invectives and violence. There’s a problem, folks. If we can agree to disagree and discuss our differences and a common reason fashion, we know that something’s wrong. Listen, just because I disagree with you does not mean that I hate you, nor does it give you the right to call me names or strike me or destroy my property, or do some other kinds of violence against me. This is true in matters of religion, in matters of culture, in matters of politics, civilized people don’t behave this way. But then there does seem to be a shortage of civilized people today doesn’t there. I’d love to hear from you. If you have thoughts or questions, send a Boostagram or call the Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an email tell you how to do all that stuff at the end of the show. Tomorrow we’ll be epistle Sunday and our reading will be third John.
Steve Webb 11:10
We have a couple of executive producers to thank today. There’s Jason Paschall who came in with his monthly $50 donation. Thank you, Jason. God bless you. and anonymous came in with their weekly $33.33 cent donation. Thank you. and God bless you as well anonymous. and we have an associate producer today. Michael Haner came in with his weekly $7.77 striper donation. Thank you, Michael. God bless you. Beloved, this is episode 350 of the 364 episode 13th and last season of the Lifespring! One Year Bible, that means there’s just 14 episodes left two weeks. Can I ask you a question? Has this show brought something good to your life? I certainly hope and pray that it has. Could I ask you to please prayerfully, consider sending a gift to show your appreciation. Once the show’s over. My plan is to keep every episode I’ve ever produced online at Lifespringmedia.com. and that’s well over 3000 episodes that will be there for you as far into the future as I’m able to do that. But once I stopped producing episodes, expenses will still need to be paid for the website for the bandwidth needed for episode downloads for software licenses and a myriad of other things. So I’d like to humbly ask your help with those bills. If you’ve benefited from the show. Please pray about it. Would you partner with me to keep all those episodes available into the future for others who want to hear the reading of God’s Word? If you would, here’s where you can do that.
Jingle 12:41
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Steve Webb 12:44
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Steve Webb 12:53
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Steve Webb 13:09
As always, I invite your comments and your questions. There are several ways to get in touch with me. Send to Boostagram using a modern podcast app from podcastapps.com, or call the Lifespring family Hotline at plus 1951732 at 511. Or if you have a prayer request or a praise report, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com you’ll find an easy to fill out form there. and if you want to remain anonymous, there’s a place you can tell me that on the form as well. If you have a question or a comment, go to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com Or you can send an email to me at Steve at Lifespring media.com.
Steve Webb 13:53
Thanks to the team Sister Denise Michael Haner Scott Steiner, Jason Paschall and sister Brittaney for their generous donations of time and talent. Scott Snider did today show art and thanks to Jason Paschall anonymous and Michael Haner for helping to make this episode possible. Beloved, thank you for inviting me into your day. If you missed yesterday’s show on Revelation seven through 11 Because it was published late be sure to go back and listen to it until tomorrow. May God bless you richly My name is Steve Webb. Bye.
James Cooper 14:24
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Transcribed by https://otter.ai
