Our Christian Life and Ministry. March 24 through March 30 [Press play below to hear the Meeting Workbook]
[Press play below to hear Proverbs 6]
[Click to read Bible chapter]|[Proverbs 6] My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, If you have given your handshake to a stranger, 2 If you have been ensnared by your promise, Caught by the words of your mouth, 3 Do this, my son, and free yourself, For you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor: Go and humble yourself and urgently plead with your neighbor. 4 Do not allow your eyes to sleep, Nor your eyelids to slumber. 5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, Like a bird from the hand of the birdcatcher. 6 Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler, 8 It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest. 9 How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, 11 And your poverty will come like a bandit,And your want like an armed man. 12 A useless and wicked man walks about with crooked speech; 13 He winks with his eye, signals with his foot, and motions with his fingers. 14 With a perverted heart,He is always scheming evil and spreading contentions. 15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly;In a moment he will be broken beyond healing. 16 There are six things that Jehovah hates;Yes, seven things that he detests: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, 19 A false witness who lies with every breath,And anyone sowing contentions among brothers. 20 Observe, my son, the commandment of your father,And do not forsake the instruction of your mother. 21 Always bind them around your heart;Tie them about your neck. 22 When you walk about, it will lead you;When you lie down, it will stand guard over you; And when you awaken, it will speak to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law is a light, And the reproofs of discipline are the way to life. 24 They will guard you against the bad woman, Against the seductive tongue of the immoral woman. 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart Or allow her to captivate you with her alluring eyes, 26 For because of a prostitute, a man is reduced to a loaf of bread, But the wife of another man preys on a precious life. 27 Can a man rake fire to his chest and not burn his garments? 28 Or can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? 29 It is the same with anyone having relations with his neighbor’s wife; No one who touches her will go unpunished. 30 People do not despise a thiefIf he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry. 31 Yet, when found, he will repay sevenfold; He will give up all the valuables of his house. 32 Anyone committing adultery with a woman is lacking good sense; The one who does so brings ruin on himself. 33 He will get only wounds and dishonor, And his disgrace will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy makes a husband furious; He will show no compassion when he takes revenge. 35 He will accept no compensation; He will not be appeased, no matter how large you make the gift. [End of Bible chapter] [Click to close]
Song 11 Creation Praises God. Based on Psalm 19
1. Your glory, God, your mighty works abound,
In skies above, their praise for you resounds.
Creation speaks without a voice or word;
In all the earth, its message can be heard.
Creation speaks without a voice or word;
In all the earth, its message can be heard.
2. True wisdom starts with wholesome fear of you
And guards our way in all we say and do.
Your wise commands enlighten young and old
A treasure far exceeding finest gold.
Your wise commands enlighten young and old
A treasure far exceeding finest gold.
3. By knowing you, our life is not in vain,
And by your word, our life will be sustained.
The greatest honor anyone can gain
Will come to all who sanctify your name.
The greatest honor anyone can gain
Will come to all who sanctify your name.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
Treasures From God’s Word 1. What Can We Learn From the Ant? (10 minutes)
We can learn valuable lessons from observing ants
[Inserted scripture] Proverbs 6.6: Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise. [End of inserted scripture]
Despite having no ruler, ants instinctively work hard, cooperate, and prepare for the future
[Inserted scripture] Proverbs 6.7 and 8: Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler, 8 It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest. [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Insight volume 1 page 115 paragraphs 1 and 2] ‘Instinctive Wisdom.’ The ‘wisdom’ of the ants is not the product of intelligent reasoning but results from the instincts with which they are endowed by their Creator. The Bible makes reference to the ant as ‘preparing its food in the summer and gathering its supplies in the harvest.’ (Proverbs 6.8) One of the most common varieties of ants found in Palestine, the harvester, or agricultural, ant (Messor semirufus), stores up a large supply of grain in the spring and summer and makes use of it in seasons, including winter, when the obtaining of food becomes difficult. This ant is often found in the vicinity of threshing floors, where seeds and grain are plentiful. If rain causes dampness to reach the stored seeds, the harvester ant will thereafter carry the grains out into the sun for drying. It is even known to bite off the germ part of the seed so that it will not germinate while stored. Colonies of harvester ants are made conspicuous by well-worn paths as well as by seed husks that are left outside the entrance.
Exemplary Characteristics. Thus, a brief investigation of the ant gives force to the exhortation: “Go to the ant, you lazy one; see its ways and become wise.” (Proverbs 6.6) Not only is their instinctive preparing for the future notable but also their persistence and determination, often carrying or tenaciously dragging objects weighing twice their own weight or more, doing everything possible to fulfill their particular task, and refusing to turn back even though they may fall, slide, or roll down some steep precipice. Remarkably cooperative, they keep their nests very clean and show concern for their fellow workers, at times assisting injured or exhausted ants back to the nest. [End of reference material]
Benefit from imitating the ant
[Inserted scripture] Proverbs 6.9 through 11: How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, 11 And your poverty will come like a bandit, And your want like an armed man. [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Watchtower 2000 September 15th page 26 paragraphs 3 and 4] Like the ant, should we not also be industrious? Working hard and striving to improve in our work is good for us whether we are being monitored or not. Yes, in school, at our place of employment, and while sharing in spiritual activities, we should do our best. As the ant benefits from its industriousness, so God wants us to ‘see good for all our hard work.’
[Quotation] Ecclesiastes 3.13: also that everyone should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all his hard work. It is the gift of God. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Ecclesiastes 3.22: And I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to find enjoyment in his work, because that is his reward; for who can enable him to see what will happen after he is gone? [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Ecclesiastes 5.18: This is what I have seen to be good and proper: that one should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all the hard work at which he toils under the sun during the few days of life that the true God has given him, for that is his reward. [End Quotation]
A clean conscience and personal satisfaction are the rewards of hard work.
[Quotation] Ecclesiastes 5.12: Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, whether he eats little or much, but the plenty belonging to the rich one does not permit him to sleep. [End Quotation]
Using two rhetorical questions, Solomon tries to awaken a slothful one from his indolence: “How long, you lazy one, will you keep lying down? When will you rise up from your sleep?” Mimicking him in speech, the king adds: “A little more sleep, a little more slumbering, a little more folding of the hands in lying down, and your poverty will certainly come just like some rover, and your want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6.9 through 11) While the lazy one is supine, poverty overtakes him with the speed of a bandit, and scarcity attacks him like an armed man. The fields of a sluggard quickly become full of weeds and nettles.
[Quotation] Proverbs 24.30 and 31: I passed by the field of the lazy one, By the vineyard of the man lacking good sense. 31 I saw that it was overgrown with weeds; The ground was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. [End Quotation]
His business enterprise suffers losses in no time. For how long would an employer tolerate an idler? And can a student who is too lazy to study expect to do well in school? [End of reference material]
[Image Alt:] Ants carrying pieces of leaves.
2. Spiritual Gems (10 minutes)
Proverbs 6.16 through 19 Are the sins mentioned in these verses intended to be a complete and detailed list of all the things Jehovah hates?
[Inserted scripture] Proverbs 6.16 through 19: There are six things that Jehovah hates; Yes, seven things that he detests: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, 19 A false witness who lies with every breath, And anyone sowing contentions among brothers. [End of inserted scripture]
[Reference material Watchtower 2000 September 15th page 27 paragraph 3] The seven categories that the proverb mentions are basic and cover virtually all types of wrongs. “Lofty eyes” and “a heart fabricating hurtful schemes” are sins committed in thought. “A false tongue” and “a false witness that launches forth lies” are sinful words. “Hands that are shedding innocent blood” and “feet that are in a hurry to run to badness” are wicked deeds. And especially hateful to Jehovah is the type of individual who takes keen delight in kindling strife among people who otherwise would dwell together peacefully. The increase in the number from six to seven suggests that the list is not intended to be complete, since humans ever keep multiplying their evil deeds. [End of reference material]
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share?
3. Bible Reading (4 minutes) Proverbs 6.1 through 26 (Apply yourself to reading and teaching study 10) [Press play below to hear the Bible reading]
Proverbs 6.1 through 26 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, If you have given your handshake to a stranger, If you have been ensnared by your promise, Caught by the words of your mouth, Do this, my son, and free yourself, For you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor: Go and humble yourself and urgently plead with your neighbor. Do not allow your eyes to sleep, Nor your eyelids to slumber. Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, Like a bird from the hand of the birdcatcher. Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise. Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler, It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest. How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, And your poverty will come like a bandit,And your want like an armed man. A useless and wicked man walks about with crooked speech; He winks with his eye, signals with his foot, and motions with his fingers. With a perverted heart,He is always scheming evil and spreading contentions. Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly;In a moment he will be broken beyond healing. There are six things that Jehovah hates;Yes, seven things that he detests: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil, A false witness who lies with every breath,And anyone sowing contentions among brothers. Observe, my son, the commandment of your father,And do not forsake the instruction of your mother. Always bind them around your heart;Tie them about your neck. When you walk about, it will lead you;When you lie down, it will stand guard over you; And when you awaken, it will speak to you. For the commandment is a lamp, And the law is a light, And the reproofs of discipline are the way to life. They will guard you against the bad woman, Against the seductive tongue of the immoral woman. Do not desire her beauty in your heart Or allow her to captivate you with her alluring eyes, For because of a prostitute, a man is reduced to a loaf of bread, But the wife of another man preys on a precious life. [End of scripture]
[Reference Material] Apply yourself to reading and teaching. Study 10. Modulation.
[Quotation] Proverbs 8.4: “To you, O people, I am calling; I raise my voice to everyone. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Proverbs 8.7: For my mouth softly utters truth, And my lips detest what is wicked. [End Quotation]
Summary: Convey ideas clearly and stir emotion by varying your volume, pitch, and pace.
[Press play below for Video: Study 10. Modulation. (4:59)]
[Click for Transcript]|[Study 10 Modulation]
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching. 10 Modulation. Proverbs 8.4 and 7. Summary: Convey ideas clearly and stir emotion by varying your volume, pitch and pace)
Presenter: The human voice is a marvellous instrument, capable of great variety.
(Text: How to do it: Vary your volume, pitch, and pace in order to convey ideas and stir emotion)
When we vary our volume, pitch, and pace so as to convey ideas clearly and stir emotion, we’re using modulation. Why is modulation important when speaking? For the same reason it’s important
when playing a musical instrument.
(Right hand plays the same note on a piano)
How would music sound without modulation? It’s not very appealing, is it? Now let’s vary the volume.
(Right hand plays the same note on a piano hard and soft)
Let’s also add changes in pace.
(Right hand plays the same note on a piano fast and slow)
Finally, let’s add variations in pitch.
(Both hands play music on the piano)
When the musician varied the volume, pace, and pitch, the result was something pleasurable to listen to. To illustrate the importance of doing this when we speak, let’s listen as a speaker presents fine information but with little modulation.
(A brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience)
Brother: After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites are on the verge of a momentous change. They’re about to take possession of the Promised Land. Tents will be replaced by houses. Manna will be replaced by meat and vegetables. At last, they will be able to worship Jehovah as a free and spiritually clean people. Still, challenges awaited them. What would Moses say shortly before his death to encourage and prepare them? Let’s find out by reading Deuteronomy 31.7 and 8.
Presenter: We stopped the speaker before he read the scripture and finished making the point because he was difficult to listen to. Let’s watch him try again, but this time, he varies his volume, pitch, and pace.
(Left side: The brother presents a talk. Silhouette of audience. Right side Text: Vary your volume; Vary your pitch; Vary your pace)
Brother: After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites are on the verge of a momentous change. They’re about to take possession of the Promised Land. Tents will be replaced by houses. Manna will be replaced by meat and vegetables. At last, they’ll be able to worship Jehovah as a free and spiritually clean people. Still, challenges awaited them. But what would Moses say shortly before his death to encourage and prepare them? Let’s find out by reading Deuteronomy 31.7 and 8: Moses then called Joshua and said to him before the eyes of all Israel: ‘Be courageous and strong, for you are the one who will bring this people into the land that Jehovah swore to their forefathers to give to them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance. Jehovah is the one marching before you, and he will continue with you. He will neither desert you nor abandon you. Do not be afraid or be terrified.’
Presenter: It was much better, wasn’t it? Did you notice how the speaker-built anticipation for the scripture by lowering his volume as he asked: What would Moses say shortly before his death to encourage and prepare them? Then he increased his volume when reading Moses’ exhortation. If we strive to read and speak with modulation, we’ll convey the ideas more clearly and stir the emotion of our listeners.
(Text: Apply Yourself to Reading and Teaching. 10. Modulation. Proverbs 8.4 and 7)
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2019 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
How to Do It: Vary your volume. Increase your volume to highlight main points and to motivate your listeners. Do the same when reading Scriptural judgments. Decrease your volume to build anticipation or to convey fear or anxiety.
Tip: Do not increase your volume so often that your listeners feel scolded. Avoid drawing attention to yourself by being overly dramatic.
Vary your pitch. If appropriate in your language, raise your pitch to express enthusiasm or to indicate size or distance. Lower your pitch to express sorrow or anxiety.
Vary your pace. Speak more rapidly to convey excitement. Speak more slowly when stating important points.
Tip: To avoid startling your listeners, do not change pace abruptly. Do not speak so rapidly that your diction suffers. [End of Reference Material]
Apply Yourself to the Field Ministry 4. Starting a Conversation (4 minutes)
Informal Witnessing. Invite an inactive relative to the special talk and the Memorial. (Love People Make Disciples lesson 4 point 3)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples lesson Humility] Imitate Paul. Do not be condescending. Avoid giving the impression that you know everything and that the other person knows nothing. Speak with him in a respectful way. [End of Reference material]
5. Starting a Conversation (4 minutes)
Informal Witnessing. Ask your employer for time off to attend the Memorial. (Love People Make Disciples lesson 3 point 3)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples lesson Kindness] Imitate Jesus. Empathize with the person. Try to imagine how he feels. a. Ask yourself: ‘What may he be concerned about? What might he find helpful and appealing?’ Doing so will help you to show kindness in a natural and sincere manner. b. Show that you care about what matters to a person by listening. If he tells you how he feels about something or mentions a problem he is facing, do not change the subject. [End of Reference material]
6. Starting a Conversation (4 minutes)
Informal Witnessing. Invite the person to the special talk and the Memorial. (Love People Make Disciples lesson 5 point 3)
[Reference Material Love People Make Disciples lesson Tact] Imitate Paul. Choose appealing words. For example, when speaking with someone from a non-Christian background, you may need to adjust the way you introduce the Bible or how you refer to Jesus. [End of Reference material]
Living as Christians Song 2 Jehovah Is Your Name. Based on Psalm 83.18
1. The living and true God
The God of all creation
In ev’ry generation
Jehovah is your name.
We’re honored and we’re proud
To be your congregation.
In ev’ry tribe and nation,
You’re glory we proclaim.
Jehovah, Jehovah,
There is no God like you.
There’s no other in the heavens
Or on the earth below.
You alone are God Almighty,
And this all men must know.
Jehovah, Jehovah,
We have no other God but you.
2. You cause us to become
Whatever you desire,
To do as you require
Jehovah is your name.
And Witnesses for you
Is what you’ve kindly named us.
We’re honored you have claimed us
A people for your name.
Jehovah, Jehovah,
There is no God like you.
There’s no other in the heavens
Or on the earth below.
You alone are God Almighty,
And this all men must know.
Jehovah, Jehovah,
We have no other God but you.
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
7. Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Fascinating Animals (5 minutes)
Discussion.
Play the video. Then ask the audience: What does the animal creation teach us about Jehovah?
[Press play below for Video: Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Fascinating Animals (?:??)]
[Click for transcript]|[Creation Proves That Jehovah Wants Us to Rejoice. Fascinating Animals
[A little girl in an aquarium]
Narrator:Animals fascinate us.
[A woman rides a horse]
We marvel at their speed,
[A cheater racing]
their agility,
[A seal diving]
and their strength.
[Sled dogs traversing a vast snowy wilderness]
Their beauty and behavior are a pleasure to watch.
[A tiger stares, wild horses run, a lima prances]
Like us, they play.
[Baby mountain goats butt heads. Baby pandas wrestle]
Some even dance!
[A crane struts. Pink flamingoes dance]
They are industrious.
[A caravan of camels ascends a sand dune]
A beaver dam can extend hundreds of meters. Some can even be seen from space! When we observe animals, we learn more about the Creator.
[A scuba diver observes an octopus. A woman is bird watching]
Their instinctive wisdom reveals his wisdom.
[Geese fly in v formation]
He is caring and generous.
[Mother elephant helps her baby stand]
And he is a happy God.
[An otter floats and a puppy plays]
Animals fascinate us because we are made in God’s image.
[Girl feeds a baby lamb with a bottle]
We enjoy what He enjoys, especially our earth and its amazing animals. They are his gift to us. “Let us make man in our image, “according to our likeness, “and let them have in subjection the fish of the sea “and the flying creatures of the heavens and the domestic animals and all the earth.”
[Genesis 1:26]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG in a white box. Copyright 2020 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
8. Local Needs (10 minutes)
9. Congregation Bible Study (30 minutes)
“Bearing Thorough Witness” About God’s Kingdom,chapter 24 paragraphs 7 through 12, box “Felix. Procurator of Judea” [Press play below for the audio of the Congregation Bible Study]
Question 7 and 8. What arrangements did Claudius Lysias make for Paul’s safety?
7. Immediately on being informed about the plot against Paul, Claudius Lysias, who commanded 1,000 men, ordered that a military guard of 470, soldiers, spearmen, and horsemen, be formed to leave Jerusalem that night and safely conduct Paul to Caesarea. Once there, he was to be turned over to Governor Felix.* [Footnote] See the box “Felix. Procurator of Judea.” (In Braille, after paragraph 8.) [End of footnote] Although Caesarea, the Roman administrative capital of Judea, had a substantial number of Jewish residents, it was populated mainly by Gentiles. The orderly conditions existing there contrasted with the situation that prevailed in Jerusalem, where many displayed emotional religious prejudice and were involved in riots. Caesarea was also the main headquarters of the Roman military forces in Judea.
8. Complying with Roman law, Lysias sent a letter to Felix outlining the case. Lysias mentioned that on learning that Paul was a Roman citizen, he had rescued Paul when he “was about to be killed” by the Jews. Lysias stated that he did not find Paul guilty of anything “deserving of death or prison bonds,” but because of a plot against Paul, he was turning him over to Felix so that the governor could hear the accusers and render judgment on the matter.
[Quotation] Acts 23.25 through 30: And he wrote a letter with this content: 26 “Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings! 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but I came quickly with my soldiers and rescued him, because I learned that he is a Roman. 28 And wanting to find out the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin. 29 I found him to be accused about questions of their Law, but not charged with a single thing deserving of death or prison bonds. 30 But because a plot against the man has been made known to me, I am at once sending him to you and ordering the accusers to speak against him before you.” [End Quotation]
[Box] Felix. Procurator of Judea. In about 52 C.E., Roman Emperor Claudius appointed one of his favorites, Antonius Felix, as procurator, or governor, of Judea. Like his brother Pallas, Felix was a freed slave of the emperor’s family. The appointment of a freedman to the post of procurator with a military command was unprecedented.
[Image Alt:] Felix.
Because of his brother’s influence with the emperor, Felix “believed that he could commit all kinds of enormities with impunity,” states Roman historian Tacitus. As procurator, Felix “practised every kind of cruelty and lust, wielding the power of king with all the instincts of a slave.” During his tenure as procurator, Felix married Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa I, after seducing her away from her husband. Felix treated the apostle Paul in a corrupt and illegal manner, considering him a likely source of a bribe. Felix’s administration was so corrupt and oppressive that Emperor Nero recalled him in 58 C.E. A deputation of Jews followed Felix to Rome to accuse him of misgovernment, but Pallas reportedly saved his brother from punishment. [End of box]
Two parts: Question 9a. How were Paul’s rights as a Roman citizen violated?
Question 9b. Why might we take advantage of our rights as citizens of a country?
9 .Was Lysias truthful in what he wrote? Not entirely. It seems that he was trying to present himself in the most favorable light. He really had not come to Paul’s rescue because he found out that the apostle was a Roman citizen. Additionally, Lysias failed to mention that he had had Paul “bound with two chains” and had later given the order that he “be interrogated under scourging.”
[Quotation] Acts 21.30 through 34: The whole city was in an uproar, and the people came running together and seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple, and immediately the doors were closed. 31 While they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the army unit that all Jerusalem was in confusion; 32 and he immediately took soldiers and army officers and ran down to them. When they caught sight of the military commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the military commander came near and took him into custody and ordered that he be bound with two chains; then he inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 But some in the crowd began shouting out one thing, and others something else. So being unable himself to learn anything for certain because of the disturbance, he commanded him to be brought to the soldiers’ quarters. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Acts 22.24 through 29: the military commander ordered Paul to be brought into the soldiers’ quarters and said that he should be interrogated under scourging, so that he could learn exactly why they were shouting against Paul this way. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whipping, Paul said to the army officer standing there: “Is it lawful for you to scourge a Roman who has not been condemned?” 26 Well, when the army officer heard this, he went to the military commander and reported it, saying: “What are you intending to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 So the military commander approached and said to him: “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said: “Yes.” 28 The military commander responded: “I purchased these rights as a citizen for a large sum of money.” Paul said: “But I have them by birth.” 29 Immediately, therefore, the men who were about to interrogate him under torture backed away from him; and the military commander became afraid when he realized that he was a Roman and that he had bound him in chains. [End Quotation]
Lysias had thereby violated Paul’s rights as a Roman citizen. Today, Satan uses the religious fanaticism of opposers to fan the flames of persecution, and we may find our civil liberties violated. But like Paul, God’s people can often take advantage of the rights accorded them as citizens of a country and seek protection under the law.
“I Readily Speak in My Own Defense” (Acts 23.35 through 24.21)
[Click to read scripture]|[Acts 23.35 through 24.21] “I will give you a thorough hearing,” he said, “when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. Chapter 24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a public speaker named Tertullus, and they presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When he was called, Tertullus started accusing him, saying: “Seeing that we enjoy great peace through you and that through your forethought reforms are taking place in this nation, 3 at all times and also in all places we acknowledge this, Your Excellency Felix, with the greatest thankfulness. 4 But that I may not detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your kindness. 5 For we have found this man to be a pest, stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth, and he is a spearhead of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He also tried to profane the temple, so we seized him. 7 8 When you examine him yourself, you will find out about all these things of which we are accusing him.” 9 With that the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were true. 10 When the governor nodded to Paul to speak, he answered: “Knowing well that this nation has had you as judge for many years, I readily speak in my own defense. 11 As you can verify for yourself, it has not been more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem; 12 and they found me neither arguing with anyone in the temple nor stirring up a mob, either in the synagogues or throughout the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of right now. 14 But I do admit this to you, that according to the way that they call a sect, in this manner I am rendering sacred service to the God of my forefathers, as I believe all the things set forth in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15 And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this I always strive to maintain a clear conscience before God and men. 17 Now after quite a number of years, I arrived to bring gifts of mercy to my nation and to make offerings. 18 While I was caring for these matters, they found me ceremonially cleansed in the temple, but not with a crowd or causing a disturbance. But there were some Jews from the province of Asia 19 who ought to be present before you to accuse me if they actually have anything against me. 20 Or let the men here say for themselves what wrong they found as I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 except for this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘Over the resurrection of the dead I am today being judged before you!’” [End of scripture] [Click to close]
Question 10. What serious accusations were leveled against Paul?
10. In Caesarea, Paul was “kept under guard in Herod’s palace” to await the arrival of the accusers from Jerusalem.
[Quotation] Acts 23.35: “I will give you a thorough hearing,” he said, “when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. [End Quotation]
Five days later, they came, High Priest Ananias, a public speaker named Tertullus, and a group of elders. Tertullus first praised Felix for what he was doing for the Jews, evidently to flatter him and gain his favor.* [Footnote] Tertullus thanked Felix for the “great peace” he brought to the nation. However, the truth was that less peace prevailed in Judea during the time that Felix was governor than during any other administration up until the revolt against Rome. Also far from the truth was the mention of “the greatest thankfulness” of the Jews for reforms that Felix had made. In reality, Felix was despised by most Jews for making their lives miserable and for his brutality in crushing their insurrections.
[Quotation] Acts 24.2 and 3: When he was called, Tertullus started accusing him, saying: “Seeing that we enjoy great peace through you and that through your forethought reforms are taking place in this nation, 3 at all times and also in all places we acknowledge this, Your Excellency Felix, with the greatest thankfulness. [End Quotation] [End of footnote]
Then, getting to the matter at hand, Tertullus referred to Paul as “a pest, stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth, and he is a spearhead of the sect of the Nazarenes. He also tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.” The other Jews “joined in the attack, asserting that these things were true.”
[Quotation] Acts 24.5 and 6: For we have found this man to be a pest, stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth, and he is a spearhead of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He also tried to profane the temple, so we seized him. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Acts 24.9: With that the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were true. [End Quotation]
Stirring up sedition, spearheading a dangerous sect, and profaning the temple, these were serious charges that could result in a sentence of death.
Question 11 and 12. How did Paul refute the charges against him?
11. Paul was then allowed to speak. “I readily speak in my own defense,” he began. He flatly denied the accusations. The apostle had not profaned the temple, nor had he tried to stir up sedition. He pointed out that he had actually been absent from Jerusalem for “quite a number of years” and had come with “gifts of mercy”, contributions for Christians whose poverty may have resulted from famine and persecution. Paul insisted that before he entered the temple, he had been “ceremonially cleansed” and that he had striven “to maintain a clear conscience before God and men.”
[Quotation] Acts 24.10 through 13: When the governor nodded to Paul to speak, he answered: “Knowing well that this nation has had you as judge for many years, I readily speak in my own defense. 11 As you can verify for yourself, it has not been more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem; 12 and they found me neither arguing with anyone in the temple nor stirring up a mob, either in the synagogues or throughout the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of right now. [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Acts 24.16 through 18: Because of this I always strive to maintain a clear conscience before God and men. 17 Now after quite a number of years, I arrived to bring gifts of mercy to my nation and to make offerings. 18 While I was caring for these matters, they found me ceremonially cleansed in the temple, but not with a crowd or causing a disturbance. But there were some Jews from the province of Asia [End Quotation]
12. Paul did admit, however, that he rendered sacred service to the God of his forefathers “according to the way that they call a sect.” But he insisted that he believed “all the things set forth in the Law and written in the Prophets.” And as did his accusers, he held to the hope of “a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” Paul then challenged his accusers: “Let the men here say for themselves what wrong they found as I stood before the Sanhedrin, except for this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘Over the resurrection of the dead I am today being judged before you!’” (Acts 24.20 and 21.)
[Quotation] Acts 24.14 and 15: But I do admit this to you, that according to the way that they call a sect, in this manner I am rendering sacred service to the God of my forefathers, as I believe all the things set forth in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15 And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. [End Quotation]
Song 126 Stay Awake, Stand Firm, Grow Mighty. Based on 1 Corinthians 16.13
1. Stay awake, stand firm, grow mighty,
Be determined to endure.
Carry on with manly courage,
For the victory is sure.
We obey Christ Jesus’ clear command;
Under him we firmly take our stand.
Stay awake, stand firm, and grow mighty!
Carry on right to the end!
2. Stay awake, and keep your senses,
Always ready to obey.
Stay alert to Christ’s direction
Through his faithful slave today.
Heed the counsel of the older men,
Who protect his sheep and truth defend.
Stay awake, stand firm, and grow mighty!
Carry on right to the end!
3. Stay awake, remain united
As the good news we defend.
Though our enemies will fight it,
We will preach until the end.
Join the shout of praise throughout the land.
Look! Jehovah’s day is soon at hand!
Stay awake, stand firm, and grow mighty!
Carry on right to the end!
[End of Song. Press Play below to play this song with Audio Description]
