Study Desk

Take care of yourselves and watch over the herd God put you in charge of. Be good cowboys who watch over God's herd day and night. Take your jobs seriously because he bought that herd with his own blood.

He walked right up to Paul, took Paul's belt, and made a noose out of it while placing it over his head. With the leather noose around his neck, he said, "Listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say. 'This is the fate of the owner of this belt when he gets to Jerusalem. They are going to sort him out and hand him over to the mavericks.'"

Paul smiled and shook his head saying, "Why are y'all making this worse for me? I'm ready for whatever they dish out, even if it's death. It's not about what they can do to me. It's about what God will do through me that matters."

When it was clear Paul wouldn't change his mind, we gave in and said, "The Lord do with you as he will."

After handshakes and pats on the shoulder, Paul told them his tale of the things that had happened among the mavericks.

After listening to his story, they said, "It's been the same here, too. Thousands of Jews now believe in Jesus, but they still hold tight to the code of Moses.

The commander shrugged his shoulders and motioned for him to speak. Paul stood up and got everyone's attention. You could have heard a pin drop when Paul started speaking to them in their own language of Aramaic.

Everyone was listening intently up until Paul said he was to go gather mavericks. All hell broke loose, and everyone started yelling for his death.

The commander grabbed Paul and took him inside where the soldiers were commanded to lash Paul until he confessed his crimes. The commander figured Paul must be guilty of something for all those folks to act like that.

Paul stood with his shoulders back and his head high as he said, "Brothers, I stand before God and y'all with a clear conscience."

When these words had come out of Paul's mouth, Ananias (the high priest) nodded his head at a man close to Paul. Immediately, Paul was rocked by an open-handed slap across the face.

Paul saw that some of the high council were of the Sadducee clan and other were Pharisees. He used this to his advantage and said, "Y'all know me. I am a Pharisee just like all my granddaddies were. I'm not standing here today for any other reason than I believe we will be raised from the dead."

But Paul's nephew on his sister's side heard the plot and went to the garrison to tell Paul about the plan to ambush and kill him.

Give Paul his own horse and get him to Governor Felix."

Then I found out they were planning on asking me for another meeting with him and then they were going to ambush him and kill him on the streets. That's when I decided to send him to you. I told his accusers they would have to talk to you about the man now."

Felix finally held a hand up. He was quite familiar with the cowboys who rode for the Way. Felix then said, "I've sent for Lysias, the garrison commander. I will hear his testimony and then make a decision."

He adjourned the court and ordered Paul to be kept in custody, but he was free to come and go as he pleased. Felix also allowed Paul's friends to come and see him and care for his needs.

A few days later, Felix, along with his Jewish wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul. They asked him in private about his faith in Jesus.

About a week and a half later, Festus arrived in Caesarea. The next day, he took his seat in the courtroom and ordered for Paul to be brought in.

Paul shook his head and said, "Absolutely not! This is the Roman court right here. You know good and well they have no evidence against me. I didn't hurt anyone.