(March 20, 2019)

Submitted by:
Ecarma, Kim D.
Cell leader: Fernandez, Carla L.

Submitted to:
Araneta, Arian C.
Introduction

The Book of Acts is a compendium of the story of the life of the early Christians
after Jesus‘ martyrdom and resurrection, and how the Good News spread first
throughout the Jews, then to the Greeks, and then to the Gentiles, thereby fulfilling the
will of God that none should perish.

It commences with the communion of the first believers as they received not only
the word of salvation but also the Holy Spirit that enabled them to outlive the
persecutions that awaited them in their ministry of preaching the gospel to the ―ends of
the earth‖, as Christ entrusted them.

As the apostles formed a separate personality apart from the synagogue, they also
broke into many regions and cities across Jerusalem and even towards Asia. Recounted
are the ministry of several preachers of the Gospel appointed by God like Peter,
Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, and especially Paul. Their testimonies about their early life
before Christ are significant, for each of them show how God alone transforms imperfect
people into His vessels to save multitudes from eternal death. The persecutions,
oppositions, and executions came, but their story only glorified the power of the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit enabled these vessels to fully deny their lives for the cause of
Christ.

The book terminates with few more of Paul's voyages in line with the ministry of
the Word, which is encapsulated in this: that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world,
and resurrected so that He may live and dwell in the hearts of those who would accept
Him as Lord and Savior.
Chapter 1
Jesus having ascended into heaven, assembles together with His disciples
promising them the Holy Spirit. The apostles continued in prayer and supplication while
hiding from their persecutors. Meanwhile, they had to choose someone to replace the
position of Judas Iscariot. After they prayed to God for guidance, they cast lots on two
options, Joseph Justus and Matthias, and the lot fell on Matthias.

Chapter 2
Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit becomes manifest when in one place were the
apostles were gathered on a Pentecost suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting (Acts 2:2
NKJV). And as the crowd witnessed them speak in their (the crowd's) own language, the
crowd got confused and accused them of being drunk. So Peter stood to explain and
preach the Gospel to the crowd: about Jesus Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection.
And being cut to the heart, they asked how they could be saved.
Then Peter said to them, ―Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the
Lord our God will call.‖ Acts 2:38 -39 NKJV On the same day three thousand people
surrendered their lives to Jesus and got baptized, and having continued daily in one
mind, broke and ate bread together from house to house, the Lord added to their
number those who were saved every day.

Chapter 3
As Peter and John went to the temple, they encountered a certain man lame from
birth. The latter approach them in the hopes of receiving provision for he was poor, but
Peter offered him healing using the name of Jesus, and thus he was healed. He began
leaping in praise and worship to the Lord, and as the crowd saw him, they were filled
with wonder as to his healing for they knew he used to sit begging alms at the Beautiful
Gate of the temple. Because of this those people ran out of amazement eager to hear
from them at Solomon's porch. But Peter took this as a chance to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, emphasizing that it was the name of Jesus and faith in His name that the
man was healed. Thereby Peter admonished them to repent from their ignorance of
their past deeds and turn to Christ, with the statement of the hope of God's promise to
Abraham that from his seed all nations shall be saved according to as many as would call
upon Jesus' name.

Chapter 4
Because of the Peter and John's zeal for the Gospel, the authorities laid hands on
them and put them in custody so that they could interrogate them before the Sanhedrin.
So was the opportunity to stand before the latter in the sight of a great crowd of
believers, Peter and John testified about the power of Jesus' name that healed the
broken man back to whole, who also stood with them. The authorities tried to threaten
them, but could not move along for they could not deny that they knew that the man had
been lame since birth but was made whole again by the power of Jesus. Therefore, they
sought to forbid Peter and John from continuing to preach, but this never stopped them
from proclaiming even the more, and the believers increased in their praises to the Lord
for such miracle.

Nevertheless, the apostles went to their companions to pray together for boldness
in order to be sustained in their persecutions. And when they had prayed, the place
where they assembled was shaken, and they acquired boldness through the Holy Spirit
that filled them.

And the chapter continued with the account of the believers' lifestyle of mutual
giving and sharing, testifying to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as they were being one
in heart and soul. They shared in all things as if everything they had were owned by
them in common that no one was in lack. Furthermore, the rich laid at the apostles' feet
the proceeds of the real properties that they sold.

Chapter 5
This chapter commences with the story of a certain man named Ananias who sold
also his property. But he kept part of it to himself, his wife knowing of the act, while
giving the rest to the apostles. But as Peter discerned in him a corrupted heart, the latter
rebuked him for lying to the Holy Spirit, and having done so, Ananias breathed his last
and died. The same thing happened to his wife three hours later, when Peter
emphasized how she and her husband had lied not to men but to God.
 And the chapter continues with the account of the multitudes growing in number
because of the signs and wonders done among them through the apostles' hands. Their
faith grew more passionate that they would lay the sick on porches arrayed on the
streets so that when Peter would pass, his shadow would fall on the sick and possessed
by demons, and all of them would get healing. However, this displeased the authorities
so much that they decided to imprison them. But at night an angel appeared to them
and freed them with the instruction to continue preaching about Jesus Christ at the
temple. And so the captain and is officers brought them before the council to answer for
their act. But Peter all the more boldly expressed that they were compelled to obey God
rather than men. Gamaliel, one of the Pharisees in the council stood up to suggest to
free the apostles, on the hypothesis that if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to
nothing; but if it is of God, they cannot overthrow it—lest they even be found to fight
against God.‖ Acts 5:38-39 NKJV Therefore, the council decided to let the apostles go
after they had beaten them and commanded them to stop preaching. The apostles
departed from the presence of the council praising God for counting them worthy to
suffer shame for His name's sake. And all the more they continued teaching and
preaching in every temple and from house to house Jesus as the Christ.

Chapter 6
As their number increased, some believers among the Hellenists complained
about the neglect of some of their widows in the daily distribution. To resolve it, the
twelve summoned the disciples together to appoint men of good reputation and filled
with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who would serve this business while they dedicated
themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And so having chosen
seven from among the multitudes, they laid hands on them to pray for them. This
efficiently mobilized the spreading of the Gospel in Jerusalem, multiplying the believers
and the priests who came to be obedient to the faith.

Meanwhile, Stephen who was among the seven who were chosen did many great
signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit. And because of this, he was slandered by
disputers from the Synagogue of the Freedmen, who induced men and set up false
witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy. Nevertheless, the council witnessed him to be
having a face that of an angel.

Chapter 7
Stephen continues testifying about God's story of redemption of humankind. He
recounted the story of how God delivered Israel starting from when God released a
Word to Abraham that he would be the father of all nations, and then how Joseph was
appointed as governer of Egypt by through, and then how God delivered Israel through
Moses. The whole redemptive story before Jesus was a depiction of man's common
limitation - to be ungrateful despite of being saved from their past bondages and slavery.
And Stephen shared this in a way that would confirm the opposition of Jesus' Gospel at
the time; it explained why upto his time the people would not turn to God, although at
such time, they were already deemed to resist the Holy Spirit Himself. This truth cut the
hearts of the people who were listening, and they decided to stone him to death. And
they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ―Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.‖ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ―Lord, do not charge them
with this sin.‖ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59 -60 NKJV

Chapter 8
The same day Stephen is killed, the persecutors led by Saul at the time attacked
the rest of the believers, too. Philip makes his way over to Samaria, preaching about the
Gospel there and performing many miracles through the Holy Spirit, and everyone who
witnessed were impressed. Eventually he bumped into Simon, who was known to
perform magic. But upon hearing the Gospel, he gave his life to Jesus and got baptized.

The apostles sent for Peter and John to lay hands on the new believers that they
may receive the Holy Spirit, and so they did. Simon being impressed also desired to have
the gift of the laying of hands but thought that he could purchase it with money. His
heart being revealed, he was rebuked by Peter for the gifts of the Holy Spirit could not
be gained through human resources merely. Simon remorsed over his wrong and asked
the apostles to pray for him.

Meanwhile, an angel of the Lord told Philip to take a trip down south. On his way
there, he met a eunuch who occupied a high position serving the royalty of Candace.
Having seen him reading the book of Isaiah, Philip approached him. The former asked
the latter who Isaiah 53:7,8 was pertaining to. So Philip told him it was Jesus, and then
from there, began to preach the Gospel. The eunuch decided to be baptized, and seeing
some water as they traveled, got baptized right then and there, for he believed with all
his heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now when they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he
went on his way rejoicing.
Chapter 9

Chapter 9 marks Saul's encounter with Jesus and conversion. It began when he
was journeying near Damascus, the Lord spoke to him. A very bright light came from
the skies that it blinded him. He heard Jesus' voice speaking to him saying why he was
persecuting Him. And Jesus told him it was Him whom he was persecuting. His
company also heard it as sounding as a voice of man but they did not see anyone.

The Lord asked Saul why he was persecuting Him and His disciples. He then told
him to go to the city and he would know what he was supposed to do once he got there.
Saul did as he was told and he remained sightless for three days as a result of that bright
light. He did not eat nor drink during that time either.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias to whom God spoke for him to
look for Saul. God instructed him to lay his hands on Saul as he was chosen by Him to
do great things for His Kingdom, calling him as His 'chosen vessel'. And Ananias obeyed
the Lord. When he found Saul, put his hands on him, so Saul could be filled with the
Holy Ghost, and so he was. From then on Saul was named Paul and started preaching
the Gospel.

The people witnessed and were amazed by Paul's abrupt change of ways and
lifestyle, that some of the apostles could not trust his testimony, and some Jews even
plotted to kill him. But Barnabas defended him that Jesus indeed changed him.

The chapter commences with a recounting of God's miracles through Peter like his
healing a man named Aeneas, and the raising a woman from the dead named Tabitha.

Chapter 10
This chapter is about Peter and his encounter with Cornelius. Cornelius was an
Italian centurion. The Bible describes him as God-fearing, very prayerful and faithful in
his giving. He was visited by an angel of God one time he was praying and was told to
look for Simon Peter who would tell him what God had wanted him to do.

Now Peter was praying and while doing so he got into a vision of many four-
legged animals set on what looked like a huge sheet descending from heaven. God told
him to kill and eat for he was angry, but he refused saying he did not want to consume
unclean meat because of Jewish tradition. In the same vision, God told him he ought not
to call anything unclean no longer and not to treat as common what He has already
cleansed. Therefore, Peter obeyed God's instruction. Eventually, Cornelius came to his
place where to meet him, falling at his feet at the sight of Peter. Peter told him not to do
so for he was not God.

Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius. Both of them exchanged their individual
experiences with the vision they got from God. So Peter finally realized that his vision
meant that he ought to spread the Gospel also to the Gentiles. God was showing to them
that He called not only the Jews but also the Gentiles to Him, so that His disciples may
that be of all nations, and His ultimate will would finally come to fulfillment: that none
should perish.

Chapter 11
Peter went back to Jerusalem after his encounter with the Gentile centurion
named Cornelius. The Jews should have believed that salvation was only meant for
them, and so they questioned Peter's preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. Nevertheless,
Peter explained his vision to his colleagues; that it was God who commanded him not to
treat what He has uncleansed common - that the Gospel was already to be preached to
the Gentiles also.

Peter told the other apostles about his vision. He was in a trance-like state when
he saw a vessel descend from heaven. This was when the Lord told him three times to
eat beasts that he considered unclean. The Lord then told him that anything that was
cleansed by God was no longer considered unclean. Only after Peter explained this did
the other apostles realize and understand that God also intended to save the Gentiles.

Hence, the apostles journeyed across the land to preach the Gospel to all classes
of people until the Word of salvation reached to as many nations as God would allow
without partiality. Then it was when Barnabas evangelized the people of Antioch where
the disciples therein the Bible first called the "Christians".

Chapter 12
Now Peter was laid hands on by Herod Agrippa, who was the grandson of Herod
the Great, known to be a Jewish religious and an avid persecutor of Christians.
Herod called for 16 soldiers to take shifts in guarding Peter while he was inside his
prison cell bound in chains. As the disciples prayed hard for Peter's release, an angel
came at night to unchain him and unlock the prison doors so he could escape. Then
Peter went to Mary's (Mark's mother) house. A woman named Rhoda recognized Peter's
voice as he knocked at their gate, and he told them how an angel rescued him.

Herod was greatly enraged upon knowing the news that Peter had escaped, that
he had the guards whom he entrusted killed. Thereafter, he clothed himself in royal
covering and sitting at his throne, spoke to a crowd of Gentiles, commending himself to
them that they would worship him like a god. So God struck him, and in days later he
died. News of this working of God spread, and God's Word became known throughout
the land.

Chapter 13
The disciples of Christ continued to pray and and fast about their ministry.
Therefore, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas laid hands on the
other believers so that they could set out to their separate destinations, to journey
further and continue with their ministry.

Before reaching Antioch, Paul and Barnabas passed through Paphos where they
met a blasphemous preacher and sorcerer who introduced himself as Bar-jesus.
Meanwhile, Sergius Paulus, who was the deputy of the land, called them to preach to
him the Gospel.

However, Elymas, another sorcerer, did not want the deputy to receive salvation
and so continued to deceive him. So Paul rebuked him, and right then he fell to his feet
and lost his eyesight. The deputy witnessed all of it and was astonished by God's power.

Paul and Barnabas finally arrived at Antioch in Pisidia during the Sabbath. The
rulers at the synagogue allowed for them to speak a message, but Paul stood up and
preached the Word. He talked about God's saving grace through Jesus Christ His Son
who had been a descendant of David.

Nevertheless , not all people believed the Gospel through Peter and Barnabas,
imputing to them blasphemy. Therefore, they preached to the Gentiles who gratefully
received the Word, and so salvation was received by many Gentiles throughout the
land.
Chapter 14
Paul and Barnabas set forth to Iconium to preach, and while many Jews believed,
some did not. They faced opposition; some Jews slandered them and even conspired to
stone them to death. Hence, Paul and Barnabas fled to the adjacent cities to spread the
Word there.

Moving on, Paul and Barnabas encountered a crippled man. Paul discerned that
the latter had faith that he would be healed, so he told him to rise to his feet, and so he
did and began walking. The crowds were astonished at the sight of the miracle and
cheered, comparing them to the gods named Zeus and Hermes. But they quickly
corrected them to glorify God instead of them.

The Jews stoned Paul until the point of death and then dragged him out of the
city thinking he was dead, but when the disciples went to get him, he got up and set
forth to Lystra. They thought he was dead, but as the disciples stood over him, he got up
and went back into Lystra and then went to Derbe with Barnabas.

There they appointed leaders for each city as visited. Such were trustworthy
people who could serve the church while they were away. Hence, they returned to
Antioch with reports of God's workings through them.

Chapter 15
One of the main issues the early church faced was the cloud of opposition against
the Gospel through which the disciples encountered people who subjected them to
debates about the matter on circumcision. The Jews could not let go of their loyalty to
the law of Moses. They bothered Paul, for although the Gentiles were converted they
remained uncircumcised, and they believed that these Gentiles remained unsaved for
such reason. The Jews maintained that the Gentiles were unclean and wanted to isolate
them. They debated over the topic of Mosaic laws and which ones they would follow; the
apostles were left confused whether or not they should keep the Mosaic laws.

Therefore, Peter recounted his experience with the Gentile centurion Cornelius
and how God considered him as already clean and deserving to be treated not as
common. He told them that God manifested His will of salvation for the Gentiles and
Jews alike, and that circumcision was a matter of the heart and not of religiosity.
 Paul decided to go back to the cities where Barnabas was preaching, but Barnabas
wanted to bring along John Mark. But since the latter deserted them on a previous
voyage, Paul rejected the idea. So the two of them argued over such a matter and in the
end decided to part ways. Paul chose Silas to go with him while Barnabas took John
Mark.

Chapter 16
Chapter 16 introduces Timothy, the son of a Greek man and a Jewish mother.
Paul appointed Timothy to go preaching with him, so he circumcised him. Paul had a
vision of a man telling him to go to Macedonia, he did as instructed. There Paul with his
companions met a woman named Lydia who wanted to hear the Gospel. And then, they
baptized her and her entire household and altogether they prayed.

Moving along from the river, they encountered a woman who was possessed by
the spirit of divination, so Paul and Silas cast it our. This angered her masters, fearing
they could no longer profit from her. Then they brought Paul and Silas before the high
priests.

Paul and Silas were put to custody and got whipped. Soon after, they were locked
up in chains in prison. Hence, they fervently prayed until an earthquake shook the city
that the prison broke and allowed them to escape. The prison guard feared for his life
and intended to kill himself for worse fear of torture or death in the hands of the
authorities. But Paul quickly called him out stopping him from hurting himself. So Paul
shared the Gospel to him and the guard received salvation.

A great earthquake fell upon the city which caused the prison to break and
allowed the two to escape. The prison guard, fearing for his life for failing to stop the two
men from escaping, wanted to kill himself rather than face the possibility of torture or
execution. But Paul called out to him and told him not to hurt himself. After the chaos,
He shared the Word of the Lord with him and the guard found salvation.

Chapter 17
The apostles continue to face difficult circumstances in their ministry of the
word, this time in Thessalonica. Many Greeks believed them. However, many also did
not believe, especially the Jews. The latter placed the city in an uproar to stop their
ministry. They attacked Jason's house, and Paul and Silas got banished from the city.

Then they went to Berea. Many people accepted the word there and devoted
themselves to Jesus. However, when the Jews in Thessalonica heard about this, they
also came to Berea so they could stop Paul's influence there. Paul and Silas decided to go
to Athens. Many Athenians worshiped idols, so Paul had to persevere in preaching about
Jesus to them. For this he was accused as a blasphemer and praising a foreign god.
Nevertheless, they wanted to know the doctrine Paul was preaching, but Paul critiqued
that they were too superstitious to believe. So Paul decided to leave the place because he
could see that he could not change their minds and they mocked him.

Chapter 18
From Athens Paul headed to Corinth. At the time all Jews in Rome were ordered
to relocate. Along his way, Paul met Aquila and the latter‘s wife, Priscilla. He tarried
with them for a while, and had a common trade – tent-making. Discouraged by those
Jews who once believed but had fallen asleep, he left them and went off to preach the
Gospel to the Gentiles.

After Corinth, Paul left for a man named Justus. This Justus and his household
believed in the Lord Jesus. Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, heard about
Paul‘s coming to Justus‘ household, he, too, believed in the Lord. Therefore, many
people in the synagogue got saved. God spoke to Paul in a vision telling him to keep the
momentum of preaching the Gospel, and that He would not leave him. After how many
months of doing the ministry, consequently he was apprehended for teaching laws that
were contrary to the customs and traditions which they had adopted for so long.

A man named Gallio spoke for Paul, so he was released. So Paul sailed towards
Syria with Aquila and Priscilla. Later they left for Jerusalem, and then sailed to
Euphesus. There Paul met Apollo who was also engaged in the ministry of the word.
However, he lacked knowledge about Jesus. Nevertheless, he had a pure heart for
service to the Lord. When Aquilas and Priscilla heard about this, they took him and
taught him in depth knowledge about the faith, salvation and Jesus Christ.

Chapter 19
As soon as Paul arrived at Ephesus he met men who eventually became his
disciples. He inquired them if they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit, but none of
them fully understood such baptism, having only known about John‘s baptism. So Paul
informed them of the resurrection of Jesus and His second coming. Soon after, he
baptized them in Jesus‘ name and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. These men were
12 in number.

Paul began to teach at the synagogue. As usual, he faced opposition. After this,
Paul started at teaching at a school called Tyrannus. There he decided to form his
disciples a distinct personality apart from the synagogue. He taught at Tyrannus for a
total of two years, and was able to gather a significant number of Jews and Greeks being
saved.

Many people defected from their old beliefs as they turned to Jesus Christ. This
news gladdened the heart of Paul, yet many remained blinded, stirring up trouble. They
continued to speak ill of him. Specifically those who made statues of gods for a living
blamed him for the loss of profits they incurred.

Paul and his companions were blamed for these problems, and so they got angry
at them and began to cause conflicts. To the Romans, starting a riot was a capital
offense, and since the crowd seemed to stalk Paul and the apostles, they realized they
were in danger and so left the region.

Chapter 20
Paul spoke to his disciples and gave them words of encouragement before he left
for Macedonia. He preached to the people there and then traveled onwards to Greece.
After discovering plots against him in there, he decided to travel back to Macedonia.

While Paul was visiting in Troas, he preached until midnight. In the middle of his
preaching, a man in the audience named Eutychus was sitting in a third-floor window.
He fell asleep until he fell and hit the ground to his death. Paul hurriedly went outside,
took him in his arms and raised him back from the dead, and continued preaching. He
prepared to set out for another journey the next day.

Through his travels, Paul arriving in Miletus, asked to meet with the elders. He
told them that he had been preaching the Word of the Lord. He also noted that many
persecuted him in some of the cities where he preached.

Paul mentioned that he had visions from the Holy Spirit warning him of future
apprehension and execution. However, he responded towards it with grace in the
assurance that his life no longer mattered, but that his ultimate purpose was to preach
the Gospel. He empowered his followers not to fret but to remain brave. He also warned
them of false prophets that may deceive them. And he bade them a sorrowful goodbye.
Chapter 21
Paul was advised by the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. This was confirmed
through the prophecy of a man who had seven daughters.

The disciples stayed there for many days before heading for Judea. There they
met a man named Agabus. This Agabus took Paul by the girdle and bound him at his
hands and feet. Laying at Paul‘s feet, he warned him of the plot of the people of
Jerusalem to capture whoever owns the girdle that he had touched.

The apostles went to Jerusalem where they assembled with many church elders.
Paul spoke about experiences of preaching to the Gentiles and how they had accepted
the Lord. Everyone rejoiced over such news and praised God. Nevertheless, they also
spoke of the Jews who were neither willing to associate with the Gentiles nor willing to
leave their loyalty to the teachings of Moses regarding the holy laws.

The apostles continued their ministry in Jerusalem while Paul headed over to a
synagogue seeking to preach the Word. While he was about to preach after cleansing
himself at the temple before starting the ministry in Jerusalem, men from Asia laid
hands on him and grabbed him, accusing him of blasphemy. They claimed that he was
stirring up trouble in the city. So they took Paul out of the temple and handed him to the
guards. He was then apprehended, and while being led to prison, he asked if he could
speak to the crowd.

Chapter 22
While being led to prison by the centurions and permitted to address the crowd,
Paul presented his defense publicly. He informed them that he was born in Tarsus and
grew up in the same city as those who were in the crowd. He testified his past of
persecuting Christians even to the point of sentencing them to death. He described his
conversion; how he encountered Christ while on his way to Damascus, and how God
used a man named Ananias to perform and confirm Jesus‘ promise of a miracle that
awaited him, so he could be renamed to Paul and start preaching the Gospel for Jesus‘
sake.

Nevertheless, Paul was placed in chains by the Roman guards. In front of a

mocking crowd, he was flogged. But Paul informed their commander that he was a
Roman citizen, having been born as one. Upon knowing this, the commander trembled
with fear for he placed a Roman citizen in chains and punished him without ground.

Because of this, Paul was taken by the said commander who sought to clarify the
charges against Paul. Therefore, the Sanhedrin was ordered to meet with Paul in order
to settle the said matter.
Chapter 23
The council before whom Paul was tried did their best to condemn him because
wanted him to stop preaching the Word of God. The Sadducees did not believe in the
resurrection, but the Pharisees did and ruled in favour of Paul. This led to a schism
between the two factions.
Now a group of 40 men were against Paul. Fearful that he may influence many people to
believe, they aspired to kill him, promising not to eat anything until Paul was dead. In
line with this they requested him to be brought back before the council so that they
could ambush and kill him in the course of questioning him.

Paul‘s nephew immediately reported the plot to the chief captain, so that latter
sent Paul to Caesarea with a cadre of soldiers. They did this during night time in order to
hide from any adversary. Then Paul faced Felix, the governor of Caesarea, while his
accusers followed him.

Chapter 24
Five days after Paul was sent to Caesarea, he had been kept in Herod‘s judgment
hall when Ananias, the high priest, came into his cell with some lawyers.

They claimed before the governor Felix that Paul had been a dishonor to Jews all
over the world; that he was one of the leaders of the followers of Jesus, which Tertullus
strongly claimed to be a cult-like sect called the Nazarenes. In the middle of further
accusing Paul, a military commander named Lysias interrupted and violently took Paul
away. But out of pure conscience, Paul boldly expressed that he was willing to be
accused by his persecutors face to face, and to this the Jews agreed.

Paul told Felix that he came to Jerusalem to worship the God of his fathers
having no intentions arguing with anyone or stirring up trouble.

He went on to describe how he purified himself at the temple and was captured
by men from Asia, none of which were there to hear him defend himself. As for the
people who came to accuse him, Paul asked for them to speak up if they found anything
against him.

A few days later, Felix returned with his Jewish wife. He called out Paul in order
to listen about Jesus Christ and His second coming. Upon hearing Paul‘s preaching, he
got scared and so asked Paul to leave.

Nevertheless, Paul was still held in prison at the time because Felix wanted to
satisfy the whims of the Jews.
Chapter 25
Festus visited Jerusalem and while there, the Jewish officials and high priest told
him about Paul. This Jewish pack was out to kill him. With a plot to kill Paul, they asked
Festus to help deliver him to them. However, Festus refused the conspiracy out of his
desire to hear from Paul‘s side of the story.

Upon arriving at Caesarea, Festus sat at his judgment throne and accommodated
the many grievances of the people against Paul, and then called Paul before him to hear
his case. Paul relayed his defences and swore that he had done nothing evil against
Caesar or the Jews. He boldly expressed that should be found guilty as charged, he was
not afraid to die.

Festus permitted Paul to plead before Caesar, but expressed the concern that this
would not be possible soon. Meanwhile, Bernice and King Agrippa visited Caesarea to
confer with Festus. So Festus told them about Paul and his preaching about the man
named Jesus who had died but had resurrected.

As requested, Festus introduced Paul to the audience composed of the important

citizens of Caesarea and the town‘s commanders. He identified him as the man the Jews
wanted to kill. Festus fervently defended Paul, but stated that since Paul wanted to
personally visit Caesar, he would write to him in had requested a personal visit with
Caesar, he would write to him in his favor.

Chapter 26
Paul finally step foot on his chance to plead his case before King Agrippa and
Festus while under custody of the Roman Empire. Paul expressed his joy of being
persecuted and began to recount his past life before he encountered Christ; that he was
once an accuser and persecutor of Christians even to the point of sentencing them to
death. He followed up with his journey to Damascus in the course of which he
encountered Christ; that from that moment on he was never the same and ultimately
was converted to become His ‗chosen vessel‘ to preach the Good News not only to the
Jews but also to the Gentiles. He explained that these events were the reason by which
he had been accused by the Jews who opposed him, and that nevertheless, he was never
discouraged to continue preaching about Jesus Christ. For this message, Festus called
Paul foolish, but Paul reprimanded him all the more by confronting him with the reality
that the king knew of the things of which he (Paul) was speaking. But the king told
Festus that Paul could have been released to liberty had he not appealed to Caesar, for
after hearing from him, he found no charge against him.
Chapter 27
Paul was taken as a prisoner to face trial before Caesar in Rome.

On his journey to Rome, a major storm occurred which took the ship that Paul
and other prisoners were on off its course. Since they could no longer control the
direction of their course, the sailors gave up their stir to the wind. The crew began
throwing cargoes on the sea in order to help lighten their ship and prevent it from
sinking.

Days later when the storm departed, Paul encouraged the passengers of the ship
saying that although the ship must go down, no one was going to die. He informed them
that an angel of the Lord told him this encouragement in a vision.

After 14 days of storm, Paul urged the men to eat something. He demonstrated
them the breaking of the bread and ate while he continued to encourage them, until they
finally saw a land toward which they could run the ship aground. Nevertheless, the
sailors wanted to kill the prisoners aboard so the latter would not be able to escape. But
the commanding officer did not want Paul to be harmed, so some of them swam ashore
while others held on to pieces of planks. In the end, everybody made it safely to the land
just as Paul had said.

Chapter 28
Paul and a ship‘s crew were shipwrecked in an island named Malta. A good
opportunity from the Lord led Paul to the hospitality and kindness of the Maltese people
who treated him and those who were shipwrecked. While they were building a bonfire to
warm them, a viper came suddenly out of the fire and clung unto Paul‘s hand. Now some
people who witnessed claimed that this happened for he was a murderer and that
although he had survived from the shipwreck, he was nevertheless fated to die from the
snakebite. But as soon as they saw that Paul was unharmed, they shifted their minds
and concluded that he was a god, believing he would not so survive if he were not one.

Moving along, Paul got a chance to perform a miracle of healing on the father of a
wealthy man named Publius who was very kind to Paul. He also healed several other
people and preached the Gospel to them. When Paul and the crew decided to leave,
people gave them out of gratitude provision and resources they needed for their next
voyage.

Finally, when Paul returned to Rome having spent three months in Malta, he
addressed a crowd of Jews. He emphasized on their need to listen with their hearts so
they could be healed and transformed. And he continued preaching in Rome for two
more years, with liberty and without any trouble.
 Jesus Christ is the Messiah, who alone gives both to Jews and Gentiles salvation
without partiality.
Conclusion/Reflection

The Book of Acts is really powerful, because the Gospels having been filled with
the story of Jesus‘ ministry, I find this compendium like a mirror of such ministry, only
that it is totally done out of grace through the power of the Holy Spirit that encompassed
the apostles and early disciples of Jesus.

I am much inspired by the testimony of Paul, because for me it is replica of the

testimony of the rest of us who now follow Jesus. His life speaks of the wretchedness of
our past, and the powerfulness of a new life in Christ. Not only that, his life as God‘s
―chosen vessel‖ is something I aspire in my own walk with Him while I am still on earth.
In short, I also want to live to glorify God.

I pray that whatever is in this book does not stay in the letter, but that as a
disciple of Jesus, the Spirit in it will be engraved in my heart that I may be able to live
out God‘s purpose and will for me with full liberality by the law of His love.