O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected]
twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:31 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Monday November 16 > Day 320 > > Acts 25 > An Appeal to Caesar > 1-3Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take up his duties as > governor, he went up to > Jerusalem. The high priests and top leaders renewed their vendetta against > Paul. They asked Festus > if he wouldn't please do them a favor by sending Paul to Jerusalem to > respond to their charges. A > lie, of course-they had revived their old plot to set an ambush and kill > him along the way. > 4-5Festus answered that Caesarea was the proper jurisdiction for Paul, and > that he himself was > going back there in a few days. "You're perfectly welcome," he said, "to > go back with me then and > accuse him of whatever you think he's done wrong." > > 6-7About eight or ten days later, Festus returned to Caesarea. The next > morning he took his place > in the courtroom and had Paul brought in. The minute he walked in, the > Jews who had come down from > Jerusalem were all over him, hurling the most extreme accusations, none of > which they could prove. > > 8Then Paul took the stand and said simply, "I've done nothing wrong > against the Jewish religion, or > the Temple, or Caesar. Period." > > 9Festus, though, wanted to get on the good side of the Jews and so said, > "How would you like to go > up to Jerusalem, and let me conduct your trial there?" > > 10-11Paul answered, "I'm standing at this moment before Caesar's bar of > justice, where I have a > perfect right to stand. And I'm going to keep standing here. I've done > nothing wrong to the Jews, > and you know it as well as I do. If I've committed a crime and deserve > death, name the day. I can > face it. But if there's nothing to their accusations-and you know there > isn't-nobody can force me to > go along with their nonsense. We've fooled around here long enough. I > appeal to Caesar." > > 12Festus huddled with his advisors briefly and then gave his verdict: > "You've appealed to Caesar; > you'll go to Caesar!" > > 13-17A few days later King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice, visited Caesarea > to welcome Festus to his > new post. After several days, Festus brought up Paul's case to the king. > "I have a man on my hands > here, a prisoner left by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem, the high priests > and Jewish leaders brought > a bunch of accusations against him and wanted me to sentence him to death. > I told them that wasn't > the way we Romans did things. Just because a man is accused, we don't > throw him out to the dogs. We > make sure the accused has a chance to face his accusers and defend himself > of the charges. So when > they came down here I got right on the case. I took my place in the > courtroom and put the man on the > stand. > > 18-21"The accusers came at him from all sides, but their accusations > turned out to be nothing more > than arguments about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who the > prisoner claimed was alive. > Since I'm a newcomer here and don't understand everything involved in > cases like this, I asked if > he'd be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there. Paul refused and > demanded a hearing before > His Majesty in our highest court. So I ordered him returned to custody > until I could send him to > Caesar in Rome." > > 22Agrippa said, "I'd like to see this man and hear his story." > > "Good," said Festus. "We'll bring him in first thing in the morning and > you'll hear it for > yourself." > > 23The next day everybody who was anybody in Caesarea found his way to the > Great Hall, along with > the top military brass. Agrippa and Bernice made a flourishing grand > entrance and took their places. > Festus then ordered Paul brought in. > > 24-26Festus said, "King Agrippa and distinguished guests, take a good look > at this man. A bunch of > Jews petitioned me first in Jerusalem, and later here, to do away with > him. They have been most > vehement in demanding his execution. I looked into it and decided that he > had committed no crime. He > requested a trial before Caesar and I agreed to send him to Rome. But what > am I going to write to my > master, Caesar? All the charges made by the Jews were fabrications, and > I've uncovered nothing else. > > 26-27"That's why I've brought him before this company, and especially you, > King Agrippa: so we can > come up with something in the nature of a charge that will hold water. For > it seems to me silly to > send a prisoner all that way for a trial and not be able to document what > he did wrong." > > Acts 26 > "I Couldn't Just Walk Away" > 1-3Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead-tell us about yourself." Paul > took the stand and told > his story. "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather > be answering all these > Jewish accusations than you, knowing how well you are acquainted with > Jewish ways and all our family > quarrels. 4-8"From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my > own people in Jerusalem. > Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up-and if they were > willing to stick their necks > out they'd tell you in person-knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the > most demanding branch of > our religion. It's because I believed it and took it seriously, committed > myself heart and soul to > what God promised my ancestors-the identical hope, mind you, that the > twelve tribes have lived for > night and day all these centuries-it's because I have held on to this > tested and tried hope that I'm > being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing > trial here, not me! For the > life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God > raises the dead. > 9-11"I admit that I didn't always hold to this position. For a time I > thought it was my duty to > oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full > authority of the high priests, > I threw these believers-I had no idea they were God's people!-into the > Jerusalem jail right and > left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I > stormed through their meeting > places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with > obliterating these people. > And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem. > > 12-14"One day on my way to Damascus, armed as always with papers from the > high priests authorizing > my action, right in the middle of the day a blaze of light, light > outshining the sun, poured out of > the sky on me and my companions. Oh, King, it was so bright! We fell flat > on our faces. Then I heard > a voice in Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me? Why do you > insist on going against the > grain?' > > 15-16"I said, 'Who are you, Master?' > > "The voice answered, 'I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down like an > animal. But now, up on your > feet-I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness > to what's happened today, > and to what I am going to show you. > > 17-18"'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can > see the difference between > dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and > God, and choose God. I'm > sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the > family, inviting them into > the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.' > > 19-20"What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a > vision like that! I became an > obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change-this > radical turn to God and > everything it meant in everyday life-right there in Damascus, went on to > Jerusalem and the > surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world. > > 21-23"It's because of this 'whole world' dimension that the Jews grabbed > me in the Temple that day > and tried to kill me. They want to keep God for themselves. But God has > stood by me, just as he > promised, and I'm standing here saying what I've been saying to anyone, > whether king or child, who > will listen. And everything I'm saying is completely in line with what the > prophets and Moses said > would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he > would be the first rays of > God's daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and > God-fearing." > > 24That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: "Paul, you're > crazy! You've read too > many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on > yourself, get back in the real > world!" > > 25-27But Paul stood his ground. "With all respect, Festus, Your Honor, I'm > not crazy. I'm both > accurate and sane in what I'm saying. The king knows what I'm talking > about. I'm sure that nothing > of what I've said sounds crazy to him. He's known all about it for a long > time. You must realize > that this wasn't done behind the scenes. You believe the prophets, don't > you, King Agrippa? Don't > answer that-I know you believe." > > 28But Agrippa did answer: "Keep this up much longer and you'll make a > Christian out of me!" > > 29Paul, still in chains, said, "That's what I'm praying for, whether now > or later, and not only you > but everyone listening today, to become like me-except, of course, for > this prison jewelry!" > > 30-31The king and the governor, along with Bernice and their advisors, got > up and went into the > next room to talk over what they had heard. They quickly agreed on Paul's > innocence, saying, > "There's nothing in this man deserving prison, let alone death." > > 32Agrippa told Festus, "He could be set free right now if he hadn't > requested the hearing before > Caesar." > > Acts 27 > A Storm at Sea > 1-2As soon as arrangements were complete for our sailing to Italy, Paul > and a few other prisoners > were placed under the supervision of a centurion named Julius, a member of > an elite guard. We > boarded a ship from Adramyttium that was bound for Ephesus and ports west. > Aristarchus, a Macedonian > from Thessalonica, went with us. > 3The next day we put in at Sidon. Julius treated Paul most decently-let > him get off the ship and > enjoy the hospitality of his friends there. > > 4-8Out to sea again, we sailed north under the protection of the northeast > shore of Cyprus because > winds out of the west were against us, and then along the coast westward > to the port of Myra. There > the centurion found an Egyptian ship headed for Italy and transferred us > on board. We ran into bad > weather and found it impossible to stay on course. After much difficulty, > we finally made it to the > southern coast of the island of Crete and docked at Good Harbor > (appropriate name!). > > 9-10By this time we had lost a lot of time. We had passed the autumn > equinox, so it would be stormy > weather from now on through the winter, too dangerous for sailing. Paul > warned, "I see only disaster > ahead for cargo and ship-to say nothing of our lives!-if we put out to sea > now." > > 12-11But it was not the best harbor for staying the winter. Phoenix, a few > miles further on, was > more suitable. The centurion set Paul's warning aside and let the ship > captain and the shipowner > talk him into trying for the next harbor. > > 13-15When a gentle southerly breeze came up, they weighed anchor, thinking > it would be smooth > sailing. But they were no sooner out to sea than a gale-force wind, the > infamous nor'easter, struck. > They lost all control of the ship. It was a cork in the storm. > > 16-17We came under the lee of the small island named Clauda, and managed > to get a lifeboat ready > and reef the sails. But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We > only managed to avoid them > by throwing out drift anchors. > > 18-20Next day, out on the high seas again and badly damaged now by the > storm, we dumped the cargo > overboard. The third day the sailors lightened the ship further by > throwing off all the tackle and > provisions. It had been many days since we had seen either sun or stars. > Wind and waves were > battering us unmercifully, and we lost all hope of rescue. > > 21-22With our appetite for both food and life long gone, Paul took his > place in our midst and said, > "Friends, you really should have listened to me back in Crete. We could > have avoided all this > trouble and trial. But there's no need to dwell on that now. From now on, > things are looking up! I > can assure you that there'll not be a single drowning among us, although I > can't say as much for the > ship-the ship itself is doomed. > > 23-26"Last night God's angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I > serve, saying to me, 'Don't > give up, Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet-and everyone > sailing with you is also going > to make it.' So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly > what he told me. But we're > going to shipwreck on some island or other." > > 27-29On the fourteenth night, adrift somewhere on the Adriatic Sea, at > about midnight the sailors > sensed that we were approaching land. Sounding, they measured a depth of > 120 feet, and shortly after > that ninety feet. Afraid that we were about to run aground, they threw out > four anchors and prayed > for daylight. > > 30-32Some of the sailors tried to jump ship. They let down the lifeboat, > pretending they were going > to set out more anchors from the bow. Paul saw through their guise and > told the centurion and his > soldiers, "If these sailors don't stay with the ship, we're all going > down." So the soldiers cut the > lines to the lifeboat and let it drift off. > > 33-34With dawn about to break, Paul called everyone together and proposed > breakfast: "This is the > fourteenth day we've gone without food. None of us has felt like eating! > But I urge you to eat > something now. You'll need strength for the rescue ahead. You're going to > come out of this without > even a scratch!" > > 35-38He broke the bread, gave thanks to God, passed it around, and they > all ate heartily-276 of us, > all told! With the meal finished and everyone full, the ship was further > lightened by dumping the > grain overboard. > > 39-41At daybreak, no one recognized the land-but then they did notice a > bay with a nice beach. They > decided to try to run the ship up on the beach. They cut the anchors, > loosed the tiller, raised the > sail, and ran before the wind toward the beach. But we didn't make it. > Still far from shore, we hit > a reef and the ship began to break up. > > 42-44The soldiers decided to kill the prisoners so none could escape by > swimming, but the > centurion, determined to save Paul, stopped them. He gave orders for > anyone who could swim to dive > in and go for it, and for the rest to grab a plank. Everyone made it to > shore safely. > > Acts 28 > 1-2Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we > learned that we were on > the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to > us. The day was rainy and > cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire > and gathered us around > it. > 3-6Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but > when he put it on the > fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his > hand and held on. Seeing the > snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the > conclusion that he was a > murderer getting his just deserts. Paul shook the snake off into the fire, > none the worse for wear. > They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn't > going to, they jumped to the > conclusion that he was a god! > > 7-9The head man in that part of the island was Publius. He took us into > his home as his guests, > drying us out and putting us up in fine style for the next three days. > Publius's father was sick at > the time, down with a high fever and dysentery. Paul went to the old man's > room, and when he laid > hands on him and prayed, the man was healed. Word of the healing got > around fast, and soon everyone > on the island who was sick came and got healed. > > Rome > 10-11We spent a wonderful three months on Malta. They treated us royally, > took care of all our > needs and outfitted us for the rest of the journey. When an Egyptian ship > that had wintered there in > the harbor prepared to leave for Italy, we got on board. The ship had a > carved Gemini for its > figurehead: "the Heavenly Twins." > 12-14We put in at Syracuse for three days and then went up the coast to > Rhegium. Two days later, > with the wind out of the south, we sailed into the Bay of Naples. We found > Christian friends there > and stayed with them for a week. > > 14-16And then we came to Rome. Friends in Rome heard we were on the way > and came out to meet us. > One group got as far as Appian Court; another group met us at Three > Taverns-emotion-packed meetings, > as you can well imagine. Paul, brimming over with praise, led us in > prayers of thanksgiving. When we > actually entered Rome, they let Paul live in his own private quarters with > a soldier who had been > assigned to guard him. > > 17-20Three days later, Paul called the Jewish leaders together for a > meeting at his house. He said, > "The Jews in Jerusalem arrested me on trumped-up charges, and I was taken > into custody by the > Romans. I assure you that I did absolutely nothing against Jewish laws or > Jewish customs. After the > Romans investigated the charges and found there was nothing to them, they > wanted to set me free, but > the Jews objected so fiercely that I was forced to appeal to Caesar. I did > this not to accuse them > of any wrongdoing or to get our people in trouble with Rome. We've had > enough trouble through the > years that way. I did it for Israel. I asked you to come and listen to me > today to make it clear > that I'm on Israel's side, not against her. I'm a hostage here for hope, > not doom." > > 21-22They said, "Nobody wrote warning us about you. And no one has shown > up saying anything bad > about you. But we would like very much to hear more. The only thing we > know about this Christian > sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it." > > 23They agreed on a time. When the day arrived, they came back to his home > with a number of their > friends. Paul talked to them all day, from morning to evening, explaining > everything involved in the > kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them all about Jesus by pointing > out what Moses and the > prophets had written about him. > > 24-27Some of them were persuaded by what he said, but others refused to > believe a word of it. When > the unbelievers got cantankerous and started bickering with each other, > Paul interrupted: "I have > just one more thing to say to you. The Holy Spirit sure knew what he was > talking about when he > addressed our ancestors through Isaiah the prophet: > > Go to this people and tell them this: > "You're going to listen with your ears, > but you won't hear a word; > You're going to stare with your eyes, > but you won't see a thing. > These people are blockheads! > They stick their fingers in their ears > so they won't have to listen; > They screw their eyes shut > so they won't have to look, > so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face > and let me heal them." > > 28"You've had your chance. The non-Jewish outsiders are next on the list. > And believe me, they're > going to receive it with open arms!" > > 30-31Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone > who came to visit. He > urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained > everything about Jesus Christ. > His door was always open. > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=.
