WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.860 Henry: Welcome to immerse, the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.628 Day 18. 00:00:04.231 --> 00:00:09.091 five days later, Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish 00:00:09.096 --> 00:00:13.801 elders and the lawyer Tulis to present their case against Paul to the governor. 00:00:14.581 --> 00:00:18.451 When Paul was called in Tulis presented the charges against Paul 00:00:18.451 --> 00:00:22.951 in the following address To the governor, you have provided a long 00:00:22.951 --> 00:00:27.901 period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 00:00:28.441 --> 00:00:30.361 For all of this, your Excellency. 00:00:30.391 --> 00:00:35.011 We are very grateful to you, but I don't want to bore you, so please give 00:00:35.011 --> 00:00:36.751 me your attention for only a moment. 00:00:37.771 --> 00:00:41.881 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up 00:00:41.881 --> 00:00:44.251 riots among the Jews all over the world. 00:00:44.791 --> 00:00:48.151 He is a ringleader of the cults known as the Nazarenes. 00:00:48.691 --> 00:00:52.561 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the temple when we arrested him. 00:00:53.011 --> 00:00:56.971 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself. 00:00:57.961 --> 00:01:02.371 Then the other Jews chimed in declaring that everything Tartus said was true. 00:01:03.541 --> 00:01:06.001 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. 00:01:06.571 --> 00:01:11.791 Paul said, I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, 00:01:12.121 --> 00:01:14.731 so I gladly present my defense before you. 00:01:15.421 --> 00:01:19.171 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than 12 00:01:19.171 --> 00:01:21.001 days ago to worship at the temple. 00:01:21.616 --> 00:01:25.666 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the temple nor 00:01:25.666 --> 00:01:29.566 stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 00:01:30.076 --> 00:01:35.026 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing, but I admit that I 00:01:35.026 --> 00:01:37.636 follow the way which they call a cult. 00:01:38.236 --> 00:01:42.826 I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law 00:01:42.826 --> 00:01:44.626 and everything written in the prophets. 00:01:45.526 --> 00:01:49.906 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both 00:01:49.906 --> 00:01:51.766 the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:01:52.426 --> 00:01:56.236 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience 00:01:56.236 --> 00:01:58.006 before God and all people. 00:01:59.206 --> 00:02:03.436 After several years away, I return to Jerusalem with money to aid my 00:02:03.466 --> 00:02:05.836 people and to offer sacrifices to God. 00:02:06.466 --> 00:02:11.386 My accusers saw me in the temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. 00:02:11.926 --> 00:02:14.326 There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 00:02:15.106 --> 00:02:18.616 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there and they ought 00:02:18.616 --> 00:02:21.526 to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me. 00:02:22.186 --> 00:02:27.316 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high counsel found me guilty of except 00:02:27.316 --> 00:02:32.236 for the one time I shouted out I am on trial before you today because I 00:02:32.236 --> 00:02:34.036 believe in the resurrection of the dead. 00:02:35.296 --> 00:02:39.616 At that point, Felix, who was quite familiar with the way adjourned the 00:02:39.616 --> 00:02:44.266 hearing and said, wait until Lius, the Garrison Commander arrives. 00:02:44.611 --> 00:02:46.051 Then I will decide the case. 00:02:46.891 --> 00:02:50.911 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody, but to give him some 00:02:50.911 --> 00:02:54.451 freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. 00:02:56.131 --> 00:02:59.701 A few days later, Felix came back with his wife, d Drusilla, 00:02:59.791 --> 00:03:02.281 who was Jewish sending for Paul. 00:03:02.491 --> 00:03:07.351 They listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus as he reasoned with them 00:03:07.351 --> 00:03:11.011 about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment. 00:03:11.371 --> 00:03:13.231 Felix became frightened. 00:03:13.861 --> 00:03:14.941 Go away for now. 00:03:15.241 --> 00:03:18.991 He replied When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again. 00:03:19.771 --> 00:03:24.271 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and 00:03:24.271 --> 00:03:29.581 talked with him after two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded 00:03:29.586 --> 00:03:33.781 by Porsche's Festus and because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish 00:03:33.781 --> 00:03:36.241 people, he left Paul in prison. 00:03:37.801 --> 00:03:42.571 Three days after Festus arrived in Cesarea to take over his new responsibilities. 00:03:42.781 --> 00:03:46.531 He left for Jerusalem where the leading priests and other Jewish 00:03:46.531 --> 00:03:49.951 leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 00:03:50.551 --> 00:03:55.291 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem, planning 00:03:55.291 --> 00:03:57.061 to ambush and kill him on the way. 00:03:57.541 --> 00:04:01.231 But Festus replied that Paul was at Cesarea and he himself 00:04:01.231 --> 00:04:02.521 would be returning there soon. 00:04:03.076 --> 00:04:06.376 So he said, those of you in authority can return with me. 00:04:06.856 --> 00:04:10.606 If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations. 00:04:11.506 --> 00:04:15.976 About eight or 10 days later, Festus returned to Cesarea, and on the 00:04:15.976 --> 00:04:20.146 following day, he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 00:04:20.836 --> 00:04:25.276 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many 00:04:25.276 --> 00:04:27.436 serious accusations they couldn't prove. 00:04:28.606 --> 00:04:30.046 Paul denied the charges. 00:04:30.526 --> 00:04:34.006 I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the 00:04:34.006 --> 00:04:35.836 temple or the Roman government. 00:04:35.986 --> 00:04:42.226 He said, then Festus wanting to please the Jews asked him, are you willing to go to 00:04:42.231 --> 00:04:44.776 Jerusalem and stand trial before me there? 00:04:45.556 --> 00:04:47.506 But Paul replied, no. 00:04:48.016 --> 00:04:52.096 This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. 00:04:52.576 --> 00:04:53.566 You know very well. 00:04:53.566 --> 00:04:55.426 I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 00:04:56.071 --> 00:04:59.581 If I have done something worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. 00:05:00.061 --> 00:05:04.771 But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. 00:05:05.431 --> 00:05:12.211 I appeal to Caesar Festus, conferred with his advisors, and then replied very well. 00:05:12.691 --> 00:05:15.241 You have appealed to Caesar and to Caesar. 00:05:15.451 --> 00:05:19.021 You will go a few days later. 00:05:19.081 --> 00:05:23.851 King Agrippa arrived with his sister Bernice to pay their respects to Festus. 00:05:24.406 --> 00:05:29.026 During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. 00:05:29.866 --> 00:05:31.006 There is a prisoner here. 00:05:31.126 --> 00:05:36.376 He told him whose case was left for me by Felix when I was in Jerusalem. 00:05:36.586 --> 00:05:39.916 The leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against 00:05:39.921 --> 00:05:41.986 him and asked me to condemn him. 00:05:42.586 --> 00:05:46.546 I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. 00:05:46.966 --> 00:05:49.366 They must be given an opportunity to confront their 00:05:49.366 --> 00:05:51.016 accusers and defend themselves. 00:05:51.946 --> 00:05:55.036 When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn't delay. 00:05:55.456 --> 00:06:00.016 I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in, but 00:06:00.016 --> 00:06:04.186 the accusations made against him weren't any of the crimes I expected. 00:06:04.726 --> 00:06:08.686 Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named 00:06:08.691 --> 00:06:11.206 Jesus, who Paul Insists is alive. 00:06:11.926 --> 00:06:15.676 I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked 00:06:15.676 --> 00:06:19.156 him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 00:06:19.786 --> 00:06:22.756 But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. 00:06:23.386 --> 00:06:26.026 So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could 00:06:26.026 --> 00:06:27.586 arrange to send him to Caesar. 00:06:28.636 --> 00:06:32.446 I'd like to hear the man myself, Agrippa said, and Festus 00:06:32.446 --> 00:06:34.786 replied, you will tomorrow. 00:06:36.016 --> 00:06:40.036 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great 00:06:40.036 --> 00:06:44.416 pomp accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. 00:06:45.226 --> 00:06:47.326 Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 00:06:47.956 --> 00:06:51.406 Then Festus said, king Agrippa and all who are here. 00:06:51.856 --> 00:06:57.016 This is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 00:06:57.676 --> 00:07:00.976 But in my opinion, he has done nothing deserving death. 00:07:01.546 --> 00:07:05.146 However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have 00:07:05.146 --> 00:07:06.646 decided to send him to Rome. 00:07:07.516 --> 00:07:09.556 But what shall I write the emperor? 00:07:09.916 --> 00:07:13.786 For there is no clear charge against him, so I have brought him before 00:07:13.786 --> 00:07:18.946 all of you, and especially you, king Agrippa, so that after we examine him 00:07:19.066 --> 00:07:21.226 I might have something to write for. 00:07:21.226 --> 00:07:24.406 It makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without 00:07:24.406 --> 00:07:26.356 specifying the charges against him. 00:07:27.316 --> 00:07:31.186 Then Agrippa said to Paul, you may speak in your defense. 00:07:32.116 --> 00:07:35.626 So Paul gesturing with his hand, started his defense. 00:07:36.406 --> 00:07:40.456 I am fortunate, king Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense 00:07:40.456 --> 00:07:44.266 today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders. 00:07:44.746 --> 00:07:48.886 For I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies 00:07:49.456 --> 00:07:55.036 now, please listen to me patiently as the Jewish leaders are well aware. 00:07:55.366 --> 00:07:58.966 I was given a thorough Jewish training for my earliest childhood 00:07:58.966 --> 00:08:01.126 among my own people and in Jerusalem. 00:08:01.711 --> 00:08:05.761 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, 00:08:06.031 --> 00:08:08.491 the strictest sect of our religion. 00:08:09.001 --> 00:08:13.291 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God's 00:08:13.291 --> 00:08:15.121 promise made to our ancestors. 00:08:15.601 --> 00:08:21.331 In fact, that is why the 12 Tribes of Israel zealously worshiped God night and 00:08:21.331 --> 00:08:24.331 day, and they share the same hope I have. 00:08:24.841 --> 00:08:26.131 Yet your majesty. 00:08:26.191 --> 00:08:28.681 They accuse me for having this hope. 00:08:29.356 --> 00:08:33.706 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead? 00:08:34.756 --> 00:08:38.236 I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the 00:08:38.236 --> 00:08:40.306 very name of Jesus, the Nazarene. 00:08:40.936 --> 00:08:45.976 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem authorized by the leading priests. 00:08:46.276 --> 00:08:51.316 I caused many believers there to be sent to prison, and I cast my vote against 00:08:51.316 --> 00:08:52.696 them when they were condemned to death. 00:08:53.416 --> 00:08:57.466 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. 00:08:58.096 --> 00:09:03.076 I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 00:09:03.886 --> 00:09:08.566 One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority 00:09:08.566 --> 00:09:12.856 and commission of the leading priests, about noon Your Majesty. 00:09:13.186 --> 00:09:17.176 As I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun 00:09:17.176 --> 00:09:19.426 shone down on me in my companions. 00:09:19.846 --> 00:09:24.826 We all fell down and I heard a voice saying to me, an Aramaic, Saul. 00:09:25.126 --> 00:09:27.316 Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:09:27.706 --> 00:09:30.286 It is useless for you to fight against my will. 00:09:31.036 --> 00:09:32.086 Who are you Lord? 00:09:32.386 --> 00:09:37.936 I asked and the Lord replied, I am Jesus the one You are persecuting. 00:09:38.536 --> 00:09:39.796 Now, get to your feet. 00:09:40.336 --> 00:09:44.296 For I have appeared to you, to appoint you as my servant and witness. 00:09:44.986 --> 00:09:49.156 Tell people that you have seen me and tell them what I will show you in the future. 00:09:49.681 --> 00:09:53.581 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. 00:09:54.091 --> 00:09:58.681 Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes so they may 00:09:58.681 --> 00:10:03.151 turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. 00:10:03.721 --> 00:10:07.201 Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a 00:10:07.206 --> 00:10:11.311 place among God's people who are set apart by faith in me. 00:10:12.481 --> 00:10:16.321 And so King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 00:10:16.966 --> 00:10:21.316 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout 00:10:21.316 --> 00:10:26.536 all Judea, and also to the Gentiles that all must repent of their sins 00:10:26.536 --> 00:10:31.186 and turn to God and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 00:10:31.846 --> 00:10:36.316 Some Jews arrested me in the temple for preaching this and they tried to kill 00:10:36.316 --> 00:10:42.256 me, but God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to 00:10:42.256 --> 00:10:44.956 everyone from the least to the greatest. 00:10:45.736 --> 00:10:49.696 I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 00:10:50.116 --> 00:10:53.926 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead 00:10:54.346 --> 00:10:59.626 and in this way, announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike. 00:11:00.766 --> 00:11:04.456 Suddenly, Festus shouted, Paul, you are insane. 00:11:04.816 --> 00:11:06.826 Too much study has made you crazy. 00:11:07.876 --> 00:11:10.726 But Paul replied, I am not insane. 00:11:10.756 --> 00:11:12.286 Most excellent Festus. 00:11:12.766 --> 00:11:17.086 What I am saying is the sober truth and King Agrippa knows about 00:11:17.086 --> 00:11:20.146 these things I speak boldly for. 00:11:20.146 --> 00:11:24.676 I am sure these events are all familiar to him for they were not done in a corner. 00:11:25.456 --> 00:11:29.926 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets, I know you do. 00:11:30.976 --> 00:11:32.326 Agrippa interrupted him. 00:11:32.926 --> 00:11:35.866 Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly? 00:11:35.866 --> 00:11:35.896 I. 00:11:36.916 --> 00:11:42.286 Paul replied, whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone 00:11:42.286 --> 00:11:46.546 here in this audience might become the same as I am except for these chains. 00:11:47.686 --> 00:11:52.066 Then the king, the Governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 00:11:52.696 --> 00:11:53.506 As they went out. 00:11:53.776 --> 00:11:57.586 They talked it over and agreed, this man hasn't done anything to 00:11:57.586 --> 00:11:59.446 deserve death or imprisonment. 00:12:00.256 --> 00:12:04.276 And Agrippa said to Festus, he could have been set free if 00:12:04.276 --> 00:12:05.716 he hadn't appealed to Caesar. 00:12:07.186 --> 00:12:10.096 When the time came, we set sail for Italy. 00:12:11.026 --> 00:12:14.086 Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of 00:12:14.091 --> 00:12:18.226 a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment. 00:12:19.036 --> 00:12:22.906 Aris Starke, a Macedonian from Thessalonica was also with us. 00:12:23.866 --> 00:12:27.886 We left on a ship whose home port was Adra Mitia on the northwest 00:12:27.886 --> 00:12:29.386 coast of the province of Asia. 00:12:29.896 --> 00:12:33.736 It was scheduled to make several stops at ports along the coast of the province. 00:12:34.561 --> 00:12:38.611 The next day when we docked at Siden, Julius was very kind to 00:12:38.611 --> 00:12:42.271 Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide 00:12:42.271 --> 00:12:44.851 for his needs putting out to sea. 00:12:44.856 --> 00:12:48.691 From there, we encountered strong headwinds that made it difficult to 00:12:48.691 --> 00:12:53.581 keep the ship on course, so we sailed north of Cyprus between the island and 00:12:53.586 --> 00:12:56.311 the mainland, keeping to the open sea. 00:12:56.521 --> 00:13:02.161 We passed along the coast of CIA and Pamphylia landing at Myra in the province. 00:13:02.191 --> 00:13:02.791 Ofia. 00:13:03.631 --> 00:13:03.961 There. 00:13:03.961 --> 00:13:07.981 The commanding officer found an Egyptian ship from Alexandria that was bound 00:13:07.981 --> 00:13:10.141 for Italy, and he put us on board. 00:13:11.041 --> 00:13:15.781 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty, we finally 00:13:15.786 --> 00:13:21.121 neared nidus, but the wind was against us, so we sailed across Dec Crete 00:13:21.391 --> 00:13:25.561 and along the sheltered coast of the island past the Cape of Ceremony. 00:13:26.221 --> 00:13:29.281 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty, and 00:13:29.286 --> 00:13:31.201 finally arrived at Fair Havens. 00:13:31.711 --> 00:13:35.341 Near the town of Laia, we had lost a lot of time. 00:13:35.911 --> 00:13:39.901 The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall, 00:13:40.261 --> 00:13:46.291 and Paul spoke to the ship's officers about it, men, he said, I believe there is 00:13:46.291 --> 00:13:52.381 trouble ahead if we go on shipwreck, loss of cargo and danger to our lives as well. 00:13:53.521 --> 00:13:56.851 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship's 00:13:56.851 --> 00:13:58.981 captain and the owner than to Paul. 00:13:59.686 --> 00:14:03.886 And since Fair Havens was an exposed harbor, a poor place to spend the 00:14:03.886 --> 00:14:08.326 winter, most of the crew wanted to go on to Phoenix, farther up the coast 00:14:08.326 --> 00:14:10.396 of Crete and spend the winter there. 00:14:11.056 --> 00:14:15.286 Phoenix was a good harbor with only a southwest and northwest exposure. 00:14:16.516 --> 00:14:20.386 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could 00:14:20.386 --> 00:14:24.616 make it, so they pulled up, anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 00:14:25.486 --> 00:14:27.076 But the weather changed abruptly. 00:14:27.691 --> 00:14:32.341 And a wind of typhoons strength called a northeaster burst across 00:14:32.341 --> 00:14:34.441 the island and blew us out to sea. 00:14:35.101 --> 00:14:39.511 The sailors couldn't turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run. 00:14:39.511 --> 00:14:43.921 Before the gale, we sailed along the sheltered side of a small 00:14:43.921 --> 00:14:48.181 island named Kata, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the 00:14:48.181 --> 00:14:49.981 lifeboat being towed behind us. 00:14:50.611 --> 00:14:54.091 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. 00:14:55.036 --> 00:14:58.726 They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of certi off 00:14:58.726 --> 00:15:03.196 the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were 00:15:03.201 --> 00:15:06.616 driven before the wind the next day. 00:15:06.646 --> 00:15:11.416 As Gail Force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the 00:15:11.421 --> 00:15:14.356 cargo overboard the following day. 00:15:14.566 --> 00:15:17.626 They even took some of the ship's gear and threw it overboard. 00:15:18.331 --> 00:15:23.071 The terrible storm raged for many days blotting out the sun and the stars. 00:15:23.431 --> 00:15:26.011 Until at last all hope was gone. 00:15:27.061 --> 00:15:28.981 No one had eaten for a long time. 00:15:29.611 --> 00:15:34.201 Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, men, you should have listened to 00:15:34.206 --> 00:15:36.421 me in the first place and not left Crete. 00:15:36.751 --> 00:15:39.211 You would've avoided all this damage and loss. 00:15:39.751 --> 00:15:40.831 But take courage. 00:15:41.251 --> 00:15:44.521 None of you will lose your lives even though the ship will go down. 00:15:45.301 --> 00:15:49.051 For last night, an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I 00:15:49.051 --> 00:15:54.421 serve stood beside me and he said, don't be afraid, Paul, for you will 00:15:54.421 --> 00:15:56.611 surely stand trial before Caesar. 00:15:57.211 --> 00:16:00.931 What's more God in his goodness has granted safety 00:16:00.931 --> 00:16:02.371 to everyone sailing with you. 00:16:02.971 --> 00:16:08.611 So take courage for I believe God, it will be just as he said, but we 00:16:08.611 --> 00:16:10.381 will be shipwrecked on an island. 00:16:11.791 --> 00:16:15.841 About midnight on the 14th night of the storm, as we were being 00:16:15.841 --> 00:16:20.191 driven across the sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. 00:16:20.881 --> 00:16:24.871 They dropped awaited line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. 00:16:25.561 --> 00:16:29.341 But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. 00:16:30.001 --> 00:16:32.851 At this rate, they were afraid we would soon be driven against 00:16:32.851 --> 00:16:34.201 the rocks along the shore. 00:16:34.501 --> 00:16:38.881 So they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. 00:16:39.961 --> 00:16:42.241 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship. 00:16:42.451 --> 00:16:44.821 They lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out 00:16:44.821 --> 00:16:46.321 anchors from the front of the ship. 00:16:47.101 --> 00:16:50.881 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, you will all 00:16:50.881 --> 00:16:53.101 die unless the sailors stay aboard. 00:16:54.061 --> 00:16:57.721 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. 00:16:58.786 --> 00:17:00.166 Just as day was dawning. 00:17:00.496 --> 00:17:02.086 Paul urged everyone to eat. 00:17:02.836 --> 00:17:06.286 You've been so worried that you haven't touched food for two weeks. 00:17:06.376 --> 00:17:10.726 He said, please eat something now for your own good, for not a 00:17:10.731 --> 00:17:12.406 hair of your heads will perish. 00:17:13.486 --> 00:17:16.786 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before the mall 00:17:17.236 --> 00:17:19.096 and broke off a piece and ate it. 00:17:19.936 --> 00:17:25.936 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat all 276 of us who were on board. 00:17:26.851 --> 00:17:30.751 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo 00:17:30.751 --> 00:17:35.881 of wheat overboard When mourning dawned, they didn't recognize the 00:17:35.881 --> 00:17:39.901 coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get 00:17:39.901 --> 00:17:41.731 to shore by running the ship a ground. 00:17:42.421 --> 00:17:45.031 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. 00:17:45.661 --> 00:17:49.621 Then they lowered the rudders, raised the fore sail, and headed towards 00:17:49.621 --> 00:17:54.151 shore, but they hit a shoal and ran the ship of ground too soon. 00:17:54.751 --> 00:17:56.851 The bow of the ship stuck fast. 00:17:57.211 --> 00:18:01.111 While the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began 00:18:01.111 --> 00:18:05.401 to break apart, the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure 00:18:05.401 --> 00:18:07.141 they didn't swim, ashore and escape. 00:18:07.771 --> 00:18:11.161 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul so he didn't 00:18:11.161 --> 00:18:12.691 let them carry out their plan. 00:18:13.351 --> 00:18:17.881 Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 00:18:18.421 --> 00:18:21.601 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. 00:18:22.291 --> 00:18:24.871 So everyone escaped safely to shore. 00:18:26.461 --> 00:18:30.691 Once we were safe on shore, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 00:18:31.201 --> 00:18:33.601 The people of the island were very kind to us. 00:18:34.081 --> 00:18:38.461 It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the shore to welcome us. 00:18:39.721 --> 00:18:42.961 As Paul gathered an arm full of sticks and was laying them on the 00:18:42.961 --> 00:18:47.701 fire, a poisonous snake driven out by the heat bit him on the hand. 00:18:48.391 --> 00:18:51.211 The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and 00:18:51.211 --> 00:18:53.011 said to each other, A murderer. 00:18:53.011 --> 00:18:55.531 No doubt though, he escaped the sea. 00:18:55.531 --> 00:19:01.351 Justice will not permit him to live, but Paul shook off the snake into the fire 00:19:01.741 --> 00:19:06.541 and was unharmed that people waited for him to swell up or suddenly dropped dead. 00:19:07.381 --> 00:19:10.561 But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, 00:19:11.191 --> 00:19:16.171 they changed their minds and decided he was a God near the shore. 00:19:16.176 --> 00:19:21.091 Where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. 00:19:21.601 --> 00:19:24.661 He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days. 00:19:25.411 --> 00:19:29.641 As it happened, Publius father was ill with fever and dysentery. 00:19:30.241 --> 00:19:33.751 Paul went in and prayed for him and laying his hands on him. 00:19:33.961 --> 00:19:34.861 He healed him. 00:19:35.506 --> 00:19:38.416 Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. 00:19:39.256 --> 00:19:42.826 As a result, we were showered with honors and when the time came 00:19:42.826 --> 00:19:46.756 to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. 00:19:48.436 --> 00:19:52.606 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had 00:19:52.611 --> 00:19:57.466 wintered at the island and Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. 00:19:58.096 --> 00:20:01.606 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days. 00:20:01.996 --> 00:20:04.156 From there, we sailed across to re. 00:20:05.371 --> 00:20:07.651 A day later, a south wind began blowing. 00:20:08.011 --> 00:20:11.011 So the following day, we sailed at the coast to il. 00:20:11.641 --> 00:20:15.271 There we found some believers who invited us to spend a week with 00:20:15.271 --> 00:20:17.941 them, and so we came to Rome. 00:20:18.871 --> 00:20:22.801 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to 00:20:22.801 --> 00:20:24.901 meet us at the forum on the Appian Way. 00:20:25.651 --> 00:20:27.691 Others joined us at the three taverns. 00:20:28.111 --> 00:20:31.321 When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God. 00:20:32.491 --> 00:20:36.541 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, 00:20:36.871 --> 00:20:38.671 though he was guarded by a soldier. 00:20:40.291 --> 00:20:44.551 Three days after Paul's arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. 00:20:44.971 --> 00:20:49.621 He said to them, brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over 00:20:49.621 --> 00:20:53.851 to the Roman government even though I had done nothing against our people 00:20:53.971 --> 00:20:55.711 or the customs of our ancestors. 00:20:56.506 --> 00:21:00.106 The Romans tried me and wanted to release me because they found 00:21:00.106 --> 00:21:01.696 no cause for the death sentence. 00:21:02.416 --> 00:21:07.246 But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal 00:21:07.246 --> 00:21:11.806 to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. 00:21:12.916 --> 00:21:16.666 I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted, and so I could 00:21:16.666 --> 00:21:21.076 explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope 00:21:21.076 --> 00:21:23.956 of Israel, the Messiah has already come. 00:21:24.871 --> 00:21:29.731 They replied, we have had no letters from Judea or reports against you 00:21:29.731 --> 00:21:34.111 from anyone who has come here, but we want to hear what you believe for. 00:21:34.111 --> 00:21:37.801 The only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere. 00:21:39.001 --> 00:21:44.101 So a time was set and on that day, a large number of people came to Paul's lodging. 00:21:44.941 --> 00:21:49.471 He explained and testified about the kingdom of God and tried to persuade 00:21:49.471 --> 00:21:50.971 them about Jesus from the scriptures. 00:21:51.886 --> 00:21:55.486 Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to 00:21:55.486 --> 00:21:57.316 them from mourning until evening. 00:21:57.946 --> 00:22:02.266 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. 00:22:02.986 --> 00:22:06.826 And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left 00:22:06.826 --> 00:22:08.626 with this final word from Paul. 00:22:09.346 --> 00:22:13.816 The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet. 00:22:14.476 --> 00:22:19.906 Go and say to this people, when you hear what I say, you will not understand. 00:22:20.596 --> 00:22:24.886 When you see what I do, you will not comprehend for the hearts of these 00:22:24.886 --> 00:22:29.416 people are hardened and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed 00:22:29.416 --> 00:22:35.236 their eyes, so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their 00:22:35.236 --> 00:22:40.726 hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. 00:22:41.866 --> 00:22:45.916 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to 00:22:45.916 --> 00:22:48.856 the Gentiles and they will accept it. 00:22:50.086 --> 00:22:53.896 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. 00:22:54.286 --> 00:22:58.276 He welcomed all who visited him boldly, proclaiming the Kingdom of 00:22:58.276 --> 00:23:03.766 God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him. 00:23:04.066 --> 00:23:08.266 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:23:08.316 --> 00:23:09.616 Thank you for joining us.