Friday, March 11, 2011

Paul and Silas Falsely Punished,Peter accused of wrong doing,etc.

Many people in the New Testament were accused of all kinds of things without proof.
Some examples are the following: 1. Paul & Silas-Acts 16:16-40 They were accused of stirring up trouble,and teaching customs that were not "...lawful for us, being Romans ,to reserve, or observe." They were accused of teaching things that were contrary to the laws around them. They were given no trial at all which was against the Roman law because Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They had their clothes taken away,were beaten many times,thrown into an inner prison,and put in chains (fetters). 2. Peter-Acts 11:1-18 He was accused of defilying himself by eating with Gentiles. He tells them how God convicted him of the sin of favoritism towards certain people groups,etc. He tells how God called him to be a witness to the Gentiles, and about Cornelius. He tells them that God gives the Gentiles the same gift that he gave them when they believe on the name of the LORD, Jesus Christ! He explained that God wants to save the Gentiles souls from sin too!
3. Paul-Acts 21:27-40,Acts 23:12-35 He was accused of teaching things against the Jews,the law,and the temple, and deflying the temple. He was dragged out of the temple, and the doors were shut. He was beaten, again without a trial.
The people planned to kill him. The commander of the garrison and his soldiers stopped them from beating Paul to death. Paul was bound with two chains and asked who he was, and what it was he had done. He taken into the barracks for safe keeping when the commander was given different answers by the people, since they were divided in what they said. He was carried away by the soldiers to protect him from the mob after he reached the stairs. He asked the commander a question on the way to the barracks, he asked for permission to speak to him. The commander asked if he could speak Greek. He asked him if he was the person who lead 4,000 assasins into the wilderness in the past. Paul told him, he was a Jew,from Tarsus,he asked for permission to speak to the people. He was given permission,and stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. He spoke to them in Hebrew. In Chapter 22 of Acts he speaks up for himself,and is released from the bonds, and brought before the chief priests and their council. He speaks to the chief priests,etc. in Chapter 23:1-10. He was brought back into the barracks in verse 10. He had the Lord standing by him the whole time,and heard him speak about being a witness for him in Rome in verse 11. In Chapter 23:12-35, some men plotted to kill Paul. The Governor kept him Herod's Praetorium. In Chapters 24,25,and 26- He tells Felix,Festus,Agrippa and Bernice, and King Agrippa by himself,what all he is accused of and the truth of the matter. HE appeals to Caesar in Chapter 25. He also tells his testimony about how he came to know Jesus Christ as his personal LORD and Savior in Acts Chapter 26.