Study Desk

So the soldiers were tying Paul, preparing to beat him. But he said to an army officer there, "Do you have the right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been proven guilty?"

The commander said, "I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen." But Paul said, "I was born a citizen."

Paul said to Ananias, "God will hit you too! You are like a dirty wall that has been painted white. You sit there and judge me, using the Law of Moses. But you are telling them to hit me, and that is against the law."

(The Sadducees believe that after people die, they will not live again as an angel or as a spirit. But the Pharisees believe in both.)

But Paul's nephew heard about this plan. He went to the army building and told Paul.

But don't believe them! More than 40 of them are hiding and waiting to kill him. They have all promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are waiting for you to say yes."

Some Jews had taken this man and planned to kill him. But I learned that he is a Roman citizen, so I went with my soldiers and saved him.

This is what I learned: The Jews said this man did some things that were wrong. But these charges were about their own Jewish laws, and there was nothing worthy of jail or death.

The next day the soldiers on horses went with Paul to Caesarea, but the other soldiers and the spearmen went back to the army building in Jerusalem.

But I don't want to take any more of your time. So I will say only a few words. Please be patient.

Also, he was trying to make the Temple unclean, but we stopped him. You can decide if all this is true. Ask him some questions yourself."

"But I will tell you this: I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which these Jews say is not the right way, and I believe everything that is taught in the Law of Moses and all that is written in the books of the prophets.

But some Jews from Asia were there. They should be here, standing before you. If I have really done anything wrong, they are the ones who should accuse me. They were there!

Felix told the army officer to keep Paul guarded but to give him some freedom and to let his friends bring whatever he needed.

But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about things like doing right, self-control, and the judgment that will come in the future. He said, "Go away now. When I have more time, I will call for you."

But Felix had another reason for talking with Paul. He hoped Paul would pay him a bribe, so he sent for Paul often and talked with him.

But after two years, Porcius Festus became governor. So Felix was no longer governor. But he left Paul in prison to please the Jews.

But Festus answered, "No, Paul will be kept in Caesarea. I will be going there soon myself,

Paul came into the room, and the Jews who had come from Jerusalem stood around him. They made many serious charges against him, but they could not prove anything.

But Festus wanted to please the Jews. So he asked Paul, "Do you want to go to Jerusalem for me to judge you there on these charges?"