Trial Upon Trial Upon Trial (Acts 24ff)

Day 1—arrived in Jerusalem, 21:17; Day 2—visited James, 21:18; Day 3—visited the temple, 21:26; Days 4, 5, and 6—in the temple with the vow upon him; Day 7—arrested in the temple, 21:27; Day 8—before the Council, 22:30–23:10; Day 9—the Jews’ plot and Paul’s trip to Caesarea, 23:12–31; Day 10—presented to Felix, 23:32–35; Days 11 and 12—waiting at Caesarea; Day 13—the hearing before Felix.

The more brightly the light of doctrine shines, so as to press more closely on wicked men, they are driven to a greater pitch of madness. Calvin

Romans 15:32 …so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

We Ask Generally 1.How much can God be trusted to keep His word? 2.Who directs and guarantees the success of the church’s mission? 3.Is there hope in dark times?

We Ask Personally 1.Do I actively develop a childlike dependence on God? 2.Do I expect the unexpected in the way God will answer my prayer? 3.No matter how bleak things seem, am I trusting Him to fulfill His purposes?

Acts 23:29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Acts 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.

Why Does Luke Give Us All Three Trials? 1.To prove God’s word 2.To show Paul’s witness. 3.To show that the doctrine of the resurrection empowers our testimony 4.To explain the content of the charges against Paul. 5.To show we’ve been here before.

Acts 18:10 …for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.

Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Acts 26:29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 23:1 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified [witnessed] to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify [witness] also in Rome.”

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify [witness] to the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 24:21 …other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ Acts 26:7-8 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

Acts 26:23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 28:28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

1 Corinthians 15: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

What does the resurrection do? The resurrection validates everything that Jesus said. The resurrection is the Father’s “well done” on all that Jesus has accomplished. The resurrection says that Jesus is a man who is still alive, a man still to be reckoned with! That the empire may well have crucified this Nazarene from Galilee, but Paul is saying, ‘He’s still alive, I tell you! And not just in the memory, and not just as a picture that you might put on a shelf or on the wall, but He is physically risen from the dead!’ --Thomas

Charges against Paul  A trouble-maker, stirring up riots among Jews all over the world.  A ring-leader of the Nazarene sect.  A man who desecrated the holiness of the temple in Jerusalem.

Acts 25:2-3 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

Acts 25:11-12 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 to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Luke 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.”

Luke 23:14-15 …and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him.

Luke 23:25 Luke 23:25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Acts 4:28 …to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Acts 23:11 “…so you must testify also in Rome.”

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

No man is fit to preach the gospel, seeing the whole world is set against it, save only he which is armed to suffer. --Calvin

Romans 15:32 …so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

John 15:26-27 John 15:26-27 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.