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A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. Acts 26:3
The Greek word for beseech is Deomai which means to entreat. or beg i.e. Petition and make a request. So Paul is making a request of king Agrippa because he is an expert in the law and all the customs concerning the Jews. Thus he will hear Paul patiently make his speech. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. Paul is seeking to educate the king of his pedigree as a Jewish Pharisee from his youth, which all the Jews could testify to. Now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Thus king Agrippa is listening attentively to Paul and happy to hear him as he had heard so many things about him. What a blessing this is that God is giving Paul the gift of speech and he is using it for the glory of God. For we know all the promises of God are yes and we say Amen to His glory. So when you are given the chance to give your testimony just know that the Holy Spirit will give you just the words that are needed at the appointed time just as Jesus had told them.
#And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. Acts 26:3
The Greek word for favor is Charis which means kindness, literal or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in life. However in this context, the Jews were not trying to show favor but it is used as the kindness of a master toward his inferiors or servants and so, especially of God toward men. Philemon 1:3 they considered Paul a runaway slave and were laying wait in the way to kill him. Yet Paul is bold as a lion and knows that the Lord God will deliver him from the mouth of the lion, for if God be for us then who can be against us? But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself would depart shortly thither. May God grant favor to King Charles III as he assumes the reign over the United Kingdom in such a time as this, as the Queen did a remarkable job in her 70yr. reign. God save the king and keep Europe from being thrown into the abyss. As they were the recipients of Paul's ministry and he said God would indeed save Israel and king Charles III will be needed to advance the cause of peace and security for Jerusalem the city of the great King, of kings and Lord of Lords.
#I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Acts 26:2
The Greek word for happy is Makarios which means blessed. a prolonged form of the poetical makar ( meaning the same) supremely blest; by extension, fortunate. Paul knows that the Lord God has blessed him to be able to stand before king Agrippa to give his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead to the right hand of the Father in heaven, for which the Jews are persecuting him. It is indeed as the scripture says let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Thus Paul is demonstrating that he has been redeemed from his former way of life as the persecutor is now praying. Paul knows that he was once a blasphemer, but he did it out of ignorance and now has obtained mercy. It is why he called himself the chief of sinners so that others could see the mercy extended to him by Almighty God. So no matter what you are accused of God has cast our sins as far as the east is from the west. They are cast into the depths of the ocean never to be remembered anymore. The Greek word for accuse is Enkaleo which is to call in or bring to account. So because of the blood of Jesus, we are not called into account because His blood covers all of our sins. For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Thank God that Jesus Christ atoned for all of our sins on the cross and when we by child-like faith believe He imputes His righteousness to our accounts never to be accused again.
#Then Agrippa said unto Paul, thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself: Acts 26:1
The Greek word for stretched is Ekteino, which means to extend or cast forth either to point out something. So Paul is indeed happy that Agrippa has agreed to hear his case. Thus he stretches forth with his legal limbo to tell his case to King Agrippa. Jesus had told the disciples that they would be brought before kings to be a witness before them. This is indeed the absolute will of God for Paul to stand before Agrippa to give his testimony and the Holy Spirit gives Paul the right words to speak to the king. Just as Jesus had said and I thank God for allowing us to come before kings, and magistrates to preach the gospel of the coming kingdom. For the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and He will rule them with a rod of iron. So never be afraid to say thus sayeth the Lord, for He is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. We are here to represent him as ambassadors. It is my prayer that as we are witnessing the United Kingdom mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, let us pray for King Charles III that the Lord will give him the wisdom to rule the kingdom with wisdom as his mother did and keep the Monarch alive in the twenty-first century.
#And Festus said, King Agrippa and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem and also here crying that he ought not to live any longer. Acts 25:24
The Greek word for a multitude is Plethos which means a great number, the assemblage. And so it is that a Plethos of Jews want to see Paul ought not to live any longer, so Festus is appealing to Agrippa to hear his case. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto him to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. So we see how the Lord God is using Festus to set Paul free before Agrippa. Since the Jews cannot prove the guilt of Paul, the Roman law commands that he be set free. Truly the Lord makes all things beautiful in his time. Just as the scriptures tell us, so we too must appeal to the Lord who is the judge of all men who says whom the Son has set free is free indeed.
#And on the morrow, when Agrippa came, and Bernice, with great pomp and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. Act 25:23
The Greek name for Agrippa was Agrippas meaning Agrippa the name of two descendants of Herod the Great. Bernice was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I. She married first her uncle Herod, king of Chalcis, and after his death Polemon, king of Cilicia. Deserting him soon afterward, she returned to her brother Agrippa, with whom previously when a widow she was said to have lived incestuously. So we see how Paul is about to be judged by these officials whose lives were in need of saving. As we remember September 11, 2001, we remember the lives of those who lost their lives from the tragic events of the airplanes flying into the twin towers. Thank God that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. Paul is on trial because of his belief in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has placed Paul in just the right place to be a witness for him. We too are at the right place to witness someone who lost a loved one and needs to know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in Him will not die. Many people just like Bernice need to know Jesus Christ in the pardon of their sins. Tell them there is no secret what God can do, as the great hymn of the church goes. God is able. This is the good news that Jesus Christ gives us when we repent of our sins and turn to faith in Him.
#Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25 18, 19
The Greek word for superstition is Deisidaimonia meaning religion in a good sense, reverence for the gods, and piety according to Polybius. So we see the Jews were religious but they were divided over Paul's belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, Paul affirmed to them that Jesus was indeed alive and had saved him on the Damascus road. All the graves of the religious leaders who have died still have the bones of them there, but no one can find the bones of Jesus. He is alive forevermore and has the power over death and the grave. He has risen just as he said and Paul is a witness to this fact. And because I doubted such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. What a blessing as we are the aroma of Christ everywhere we go, to those who believe we are the aroma of life, but to those who believe not the aroma of death.
#Therefore, when they have come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Acts 25:17
The Greek word for judgment seat is Bema which is by implication a tribunal. Used of the official seat of a judge. This will be the Bema seat where we Christians will stand before the Lord Jesus in heaven to answer for our works after salvation. II Cor. 5:10 So Paul is to be arraigned on the Bema seat on the morrow because of his faith in the resurrection. Jesus told us that if we would be ashamed of Him before men, then the Lord would be ashamed of us before the Father and His angels in heaven. So Paul is bold as a lion and will speak of his faith. We can learn a lot from this lesson as we prepare for our day to be a witness for our Lord. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition and one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Yes, He is risen indeed as since the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ these apostles have been turning the world upside down for Him. For He was resurrected by many infallible proofs and we too stand in awe at the fact that He has risen and my life is transformed. Just like Paul was transformed on the Damascus road when he met the risen Savior, the former persecutor is now praying. If any man is in Christ Jesus he is a new creature, for old things are passed away and all things have become new.
Our prayers go out for the United Kingdom in the passing of Queen Elizabeth II she will be greatly missed and we thank the Lord for her 70 yr. reign and she truly gave peace and security to the world. Truly she is at peace in heaven now once again united with Prince Phillip her husband. God save the new King Charles III may he be inspired to continue the reign in peace.
#To whom I answered, it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have the license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Acts 25:16
The Greek word for face-to-face is Kata. which we would call today a sworn statement of facts by the accuser under penalty of perjury. Paul as a Roman citizen is innocent until proven guilty by a jury of his peers. Today bail is given to the defendant accused of a crime to hire counsel to defend themselves. If the defendant is too poor to afford counsel, then the court will appoint a public defender to adjudicate the case. I was once falsely accused of a crime, and the accuser was not willing to give a sworn statement of facts, so the case against me was moot, and thrown out. What a blessing to be an American citizen and also a citizen of heaven as we have the best defense attorney in the Lord Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven interceding for us. Who shall lay any cause to God's elect, for Christ Jesus died, and rose again for our justification. There is therefore no condemnation of those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
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