Acts 24:22

When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”

Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”

But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,

Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”

When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.

then you shall inquire, investigate, and ask diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination was done among you,

and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in Israel,

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

The burden of Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.

So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Those who swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, ‘As your god, Dan, lives;’ and, ‘As the way of Beersheba lives;’ they will fall, and never rise up again.”

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.

They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day

Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has testified falsely against his brother,

Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth.

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”

For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

Of Damascus: “Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil news. They have melted away. There is sorrow on the sea. It can’t be quiet.

“ ‘ “Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.

Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer Hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.

For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him,

being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.

The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive.

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.

and advocate customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.”

When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,

but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”

When they asked him to stay with them a longer time, he declined;

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.

For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.

By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;

He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem; plotting to kill him on the way.

of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write.

especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,

who, when they had examined me, desired to set me free, because there was no cause of death in me.

Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.

For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.