 All right, let's get started. We were talking about Paul's journey to Jerusalem and the fact that he was aware that he would need to go there and from there, many trials would begin in his life. So we're going to read about what happened in Jerusalem. So we will mostly go a little fast over the next few chapters, even up until chapter 24, we can just read away because what we see there is Paul's trial. So he will have an uproar by the mob in Jerusalem. He goes to the temple, but then he's dragged out of the temple. He is caught by the guards. He's beaten. So many things happened to him. But from there, this accusation against him that he's dishonoring the land, he's dishonoring the law, all that will be tested. So he will go into trial. We will see that from Jerusalem he's sent to Caesarea, where he will be imprisoned for two years. He will have a trial before, you know, it'll just go up in the structure. So initially it's the Roman guards in Jerusalem and they send him over to Caesarea and there will be a governor Felix and then his successor Festus. And then also, you know, Agrippa will come to visit there. And so Paul on his own, you know, he doesn't have any lawyers. And we also know that the very learned man with his own, you know, ability, he tries to defend himself. So all this will go on till chapter 24, where he is giving a defense for himself. Unfortunately, not only a defense, but you will see that he will also share the truth of the Lord Jesus with these officials, high ranking officials. He's not afraid to tell them about Jesus and the fact that Jesus is Christ. Unfortunately, he doesn't see a response from these officials also. They don't accept Christ even when they understand that, you know, what Paul is saying is true. So that is a very unfortunate thing. And after this, you know, after meeting with King Agrippa, he makes an appeal to Caesar as a Roman citizen, one had the right to directly appeal to the highest authority. So he makes an appeal to the Roman emperor at that time, Nero was the emperor in charge. And so we will then see Paul's travel out of the imprisonment. So this is the first imprisonment from here. He will travel to Rome, Italy, okay. He will travel to Rome. And it's more of a sea route that he will take to go to Italy, Rome. It's further away from all these places, you know, we saw the Galatia region, the Macedonian region, the Achaia region. So this is beyond that, Italy. So he'll go to Italy. And then eventually, you know, in his heart, he also has a desire to go to Spain. So many, many different things that, you know, Paul may have wanted to do. We don't have the details. You know, after the second imprisonment of Paul, he'll go to Rome over there also, he will be under custody. Okay, and he'll use that time in Rome to continue to preach the Gospel under custody. Okay, so that is again something we will observe. But Acts chapter 28 will sort of end very abruptly. And we don't know what all the causes were for this chapter, for ending very abruptly. We would like to find out what happened to Paul, you know, after this imprisonment and how, what kind of ministry did he do? Where did he go? But after chapter 28, what we would need to do is we will have to reconstruct the life of Paul based on many of his letters, which he has written to the various churches. So in total, he wrote 14 episodes. Okay, Apostle Paul wrote 14 episodes to the different churches, instructing them in their context. So, and when was he writing these episodes? He was writing these episodes throughout his journey as he was ministering in different places. He would write back to other churches where he had already been and he had done his ministry. So I'll try and share the details of, you know, these letters and where these letters were written and all that in the concluding class. But today I'm just painting a picture so we understand what exactly is going on. So we will get into these chapters. Maybe we'll just take time to read them quickly in this session. That's what we'll do. But before that, let me also show you another map. In the last class, we had a question about, you know, where these places, where is it in the current times? So I wanted to show you a recent map, and we'll get an idea. And also there was this question, I think Brother Manohar asked about Silas. So I think Silas is not journey with Paul anymore. He was left behind in Thessalonica, I suppose, somewhere in the Macedonian city to continue building up the believers when Paul left that region. And later we see that Silas actually helped write the epistle written by Peter, Apostle Peter, first Peter, second Peter. Peter gives credit to Silas. Silas is also known as Silvanus. So he gives credit to Silvanus for the writing of the letter because obviously, you know, Peter was a fisherman. He's not like Paul, so well educated, able to write letters eloquently. So he took Silvanus' help or Silas' help to actually write that epistle to the churches. So that's just a little bit about Silas. Okay, give me a moment. I will share my screen. I'll show you a recent map so then you can correlate and make connections. Yes, I hope you can see it. Everyone, can you? Okay, great. So here we are. This is like the 2022 map which we have. Now we know that it has been divided into various countries. So just have a look at this map here. We are talking about the Asian legion. So this is in Asia right now. And then you kind of move on to Europe. Okay, so you're up. You have Italy over here. And then, you know, Paul will also make a mention that he wanted to go to Spain. So you have the region of Europe. And remember, we talked about Ethiopian, Unac and people coming from Africa. So you have the African continent down below. So all of what we're reading, the book of Acts is unfolding in this entire region. So it's amazing, isn't it? That those days when they did not have transport the way we have, they did not have, you know, internet, they didn't have all the facilities which we have today. But in a short period of time, about three decades as you study about the life of Paul, three decades he covered this entire region. And it was not just him. He raised up many leaders. We could even say hundreds of leaders and, you know, so many different churches. It is enlisted by the names that I mentioned in the book of Acts that about 40 churches, right? 40 churches were planted by Paul and also in association with some of his leaders. So in this entire region in three decades, here is Israel for us, you know, Israel, Judea, all those regions. Remember Antioch of Syria. You have Syria here today. So Syria and then your Galatia region is nothing but Turkey. And, you know, they, they want to move, move into the Asian region, right? This way, Mycia, Bithynia, but God leads them to Macedonia. So Macedonia is over here, Greece, even Achaea is part of Greece right now. Achaea. Where is Ephesus? Where are the seven churches of Revelation? They are in this Turkey region right now. Okay. So yeah, this is the map for us and later Paul will travel. He is in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Caesarea. And from there you will see him, you know, making a journey by sea. So Mediterranean Sea, he will go to Italy, right? He'll go to Italy and go to Rome. So that's how things are, just so you can get an idea, get a good picture of what exactly is happening. Okay. Thank you for sharing this map. No problem brother. Yeah, thank you. All right. So let's proceed then. Let's continue from verse 15. At 21 verse 15 onwards, somebody could please read till verse 25. We'll talk a little bit about it and then, you know, move on to the next set of verses. So acts 21 verses 15 through 25. Can I read first? Yes, yes brother, please. After this we started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Manson, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples. When he was arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James and all the elders were present. The Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God and then they said to Paul, you are UC brother. How many thousands of Jews have believed and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or leave according to our custom. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. So do what we tell you. There were four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join their purification rights and pay their expenses so that they can have their head shape. Then everyone will know that there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. Thank you. Thank you brother for reading that. We will also just read verse 25. Could you please read that as well? Sure. As for the Gentile believers, we have returned to them our decision what they should abstain from food, sacrifice to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. Okay. Sure. Thank you. I understand here. Paul is now in Jerusalem. Can you hear everyone? Okay. Yeah. Thank you. So as we can see, yeah, as we can see Paul is now in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, we also have the apostles. We have the church of Jerusalem, which is headed by James. So those are the references here where Paul and his team, they go to meet with the apostles to meet with James as well and they share. So Paul shares about the ministry and how God has through him touched the lives of many, many Gentiles and you know, he reports. So this is a wonderful practice as well. You know, they share, look, I went for ministry and all these things have happened and others get to rejoice in it. So we notice that the leaders of Jerusalem, they praise God for what God was doing in and through Paul's life. Then, you know, we move on. We see that the leaders in Jerusalem appraise Paul and say many Jews have now come to believe in the Lord Jesus. But here is the issue. They have heard in verse 21, but they have been informed about you. This is all hearsay. This is all rumors. These are all accusations and allegations against Paul. So there are people who are creating these rumors against Paul. So verse 21, but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses. Did Paul actually do that? No, he didn't. People, because he's ministering among the Gentiles, there is a rumor about him that he's asking the Jews to forsake Moses. What else are they saying? Saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, not to walk according to the customs. So Paul had an image among the Jews that he had asked the Jews to forsake Moses, forsake the customs which are part of the Jewish culture. So the elders of the church, the apostles in their wisdom give Paul a suggestion. They say, look Paul, we feel that because people perceive you in this way and it's a wrong perception, how about we do something to let people see you for who you are. You are not a person who forsakes Jewish traditions. We know that. But the people don't understand it. So let's do this. There are four men who need to go to the temple and they will pay their vows. How about you go along with them, you pay for them, you go along with them. So in a way what this will do, this action will do is it will show that you are not forsaking these four men who are making vows. That means you are not forsaking the customs and the traditions of the Jews. You are in encouragement of the customs and traditions. And so the Jews will know that, hey, Paul is not the kind of person that we have been told about. So do that. You also go along with them. So that is what they advised Paul and we will see that Paul will actually take that advice and he'll go to the temple. Not just to worship but also to sort of clear the air that he's not against Moses. He's not against Jewish customs and traditions. But then again, they reiterate that the instruction which was given to the Gentiles, remember in Acts 15 there was a decree. They took it with them. They went and shared what was written in the letter to the Antioch Church and said, Gentiles, you don't have to follow any Jewish traditions to be born again. But you please be careful that you don't offend the Jewish brethren with your practices such as they had said having things which are offered to idols from blood, from things strangled, stay away from these things, stay away from sexual immorality. So that applies to the Gentiles. However, Paul, you need to show that you do uphold Jewish customs. Okay. So now let's move on from verse 26 all the way to verse 40. Who is up to reading this long section? Okay. Yes, Asha. Go ahead. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him. Crying out, men of Israel, how this is the man who has teaching everyone the viewer against the people and the law in this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled us. Sorry, Asha. From where did you start reading? 27, is it? Okay. 26 also, please. Then Paul took the man and the next day he clarified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification were fulfilled and the offering president presented for each one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him. Crying out, men of Israel, how this is the man who is teaching everyone the viewer against the people and the law in this place. However, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. For they had previously seen a trophy man who took the fish in with him in the city and they suppose that people had brought him into the temple. Then all this city was stirred up and people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple and at once the gates were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribe of the cohort that all the Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul and the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts, because of that quote, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd. For the mob of the people followed crying out away with him. As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, May I say something to you? And he said, Do you know, Greek? Are you not the Egyptian then who recently stirred up a revolt and led the 4,000 men of the citizens out of the wilderness? Paul replied, I am a Jew from Tausis in Sotsia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people. And when he had given him permission, all standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language. Say. Alright, so whatever transpired is quite clear there. So Paul goes to the church, goes to the temple. But you know, there were people from Asia, there were Jews from Asia who noticed him. And obviously they had seen him in Ephesus teaching people from many different regions. So they piled up some accusations against him. And they said that this man teaches against the Jews and the customs and he even brought Greek into the temple. So this was, you know, a person called Trophimus, who was from the Asian region. So we don't know whether, you know, he was, he tagged along with Paul and he was outside the temple. But, you know, they came up with the story and an uproar began against Paul. Now we know that in the Roman Empire, an uproar was not at all a good thing because then you would have the emperor sort of, you know, take notice of that place and then they would take charge of all the ministries in that region. So they did not want an uproar. So their first attempt was to quieten the uproar. So immediately when there's all the chaos going on, Paul is dragged out and, you know, people are ready to harm him. The commander comes and he takes Paul away from that situation. And in the commander's mind, he is assumed that, you know, Paul is some kind of foreigner. But then, you know, Paul using his identity, you see, do you recall? Even when in Philippi, he informed that he is a Roman citizen. He's a Jew, his value went up. They were so scared because getting Roman citizenship was a very tough thing. Like being a Roman citizen was a big deal in those times. And so, you know, Paul over here, he reveals his identity to the commander and he says, will you give me an opportunity to speak? In verse 39, Paul said, I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, citizen of no mean city. And I implore you, permit me to speak to the people. So when Paul shares his identity, you know, he's using his wisdom. And so he's using this, he's playing this card of, hey, you know, I am a law abiding citizen. And I am also a Jew. I'm not a foreigner. I'm not an Egyptian the way you think I am. And so give me an opportunity to speak to these people. So he is in that temple area and look at Paul, you know, he looks at this also as a ministry opportunity. We will see that he'll actually preach about Jesus. And a lot of what he shares will also contain some parts of his experience on the road to Damascus. So, you know, from passages like this, we reconstruct what exactly would have happened. Okay, so we will read Acts chapter 22. But before that, I noticed Shri Kumar has raised his hand. Yes, Shri Kumar. Thank you, Pastor. Pastor, I just want to know that when the Paul was knowing that even though he was gone by the prophets, and he was knowing that he's supposed to face this danger, then even though he's knowing those things, but if you read this from the passage from 24, where all the purification and Paul did the purification with them. And actually he was actually trusted with the gospel, the Bible says. But then, and why he have to, you know, tell the people that he is actually obedient to the law? Because even in the gospel, he always referred that he's actually, you know, the law, God is the law, the Old Testament was abolished through Christ and we are not under the law, we are under the grace. Then why he has to tell the people and even though he was, he took this, he took this pain, he said that I'm ready to take even the prophets wanted. So why he has to purify when he is knowing that the ultimate purification is only in Christ. So why he did that, that's my question. And was Paul change his mind or something like that? I just want to thank you. Okay, Shri Kumar, very important question there. We study the book of Romans. We understand that we are saved by grace. We are saved by grace through faith that is very, very clear. And so Paul was propagating faith and grace. So he was not about law. You know that that is absolutely settled as far as Paul's teaching is concerned. But if you recall, we've seen earlier in Acts 14, end of Acts 14, Acts 15, this whole thing about circumcision of the Gentiles was a question and they settled the matter. But when you start off with Acts 16 in Lystra, he takes Timothy and he circumcises him. At that point, I had explained to us that, you know, it is not about his, not that his understanding changed or his belief changed. No, he's still a believer in grace. He's still a believer in faith. But there is something about giving offence to the people, which Paul did not want. So once again, yeah, so in 1 Corinthians, he actually talks about it. 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 32, where he says, give no offence either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the Church of God. So that is the premise. That is the basis on which, you know, Paul goes with these four Jewish men to the temple to, you know, see them offer their vows and pace for them because there is a misunderstanding about him and he does not want that misunderstanding to remain. Okay, so his faith has not changed, but if there is something, you know, that is disturbing the hearts of his brothers, his Jewish brothers about him, that, hey, you know, Paul doesn't uphold Jewish customs. He does not want that offence to carry on. You know, so that's the kind of life he lived. So give no offence to the Jews. Give no offence to the Greeks. Give no offence to the Church of God. So in other words, in a simple way, it's like your testimony matters. Not that, you know, that particular perception or reputation is going to change your position before God, but it can change your access into people's hearts, especially when, you know, you're a leader, especially when you are teaching the word of God and people are following what you are speaking to them. So from that understanding, you know, Paul had to do something about this matter. Okay, so I hope I'm making sense, Shri Kumar. Yes, Master, yes. Yes, thank you. Thank you. Okay, sure. So let me just quickly read that 1st Corinthians 10 was 32 and 33. It's here in front of me. It says, give no offence either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved. So you see that it's very clear. That is the reason he does some things which may seem like they are against his own teaching. But what he's trying to do is, he's trying to win the favour of people in a healthy way so that the Gospel can continue to be proclaimed. Thank you, Master. Thank you. Yeah, sure. Thank you. Very, you know, pertinent question there. Anything else before we move on? So now, you know, we've seen that Paul has asked for an opportunity to speak. Okay. So let's read Acts 22 then. Okay. Who would like to read? We could read Acts 22 from verse 1 to verse 21. Can I read it, Master? Yes. Okay. But brethren and fathers, you're my defence before you now. And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. And then he said, I am indeed a Jew born in Tarsus of Cecilia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamilio, taught according to the strictness of our Father's law in Mozilla towards God as you all are today. I persecuted this way to the dead, binding and delivering into prison both men and women. Also, as also the High Priest bears witness and all the councils of the elders from whom I also received letters to the brethren and went to Damascus to bring in changes in those who were there to cherish them to be punished. Now it happened as a journey and came near Damascus to tell at about noon suddenly a great life for Pepe had been shown around me. And I fell to the ground and heard her voice say to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting? So I answered, who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nestor and whom you are persecuting. And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of him who spoke to me. So I said, what shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, arise and go into Damascus and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do. And since I could not see for the glory of that light being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. Then a certain man, according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me. And he stood and said to me, Father, Saul, receive your sight. At that same hour, I looked up at him and he said to me, the God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know his will and see the just one. I hear the voice of his mouth, for you will bear his, you will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you, why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the new of the Lord. Now it happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple that I was in a trance and saw, and saw him saying to me, make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning. So I said, Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and meet those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyrs, Stephen, were shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Then he said to me, depart for I will send you far from here to the checkouts. Yes, thank you. So here we notice that, you know, Paul has an opportunity to share about his experience. And this experience we've talked about it earlier and I refer to acts 22 to describe Paul's life a little bit, his the origins, like he was born and brought up in Tarsus, Cilicia, and he learned under Gamaliel, one of the best teachers of his time, and how he persecuted the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, the encounter that he had on the road to Damascus and how Ananias came and ministered to him. And, you know, God called him, gave him an agenda and an assignment to go preach the gospel. And then, you know, he talks about how God also spoke to him and said that, you know, Jews will not listen. So go to the Gentiles. He also makes a mention of the killing of Stephen for which he himself gave consent. And we saw that right in Acts chapter 7 that Paul was part of the team, right, which went against Stephen and he was very much present there. But the moment he brings up the term Gentiles, so you see, there's a lot of tension among the communities in Jerusalem. The Jews hated the Gentiles. So the moment he brings up the term Gentiles still now, they're happy to listen to him because he's speaking in the Hebrew language. He is also, he had also let them know that he is a Jew, okay, with this amazing background. So all that causes them to accept what Paul is saying, but when he brought up the term Gentiles, they lost it. Okay, so they didn't want to listen to him anymore. So let's go ahead and read from verse 22 to verse 30, please. Maybe somebody else could read it. Quite a number of us on the call. So it'll be nice for us to share the responsibility. Okay, you want me to volunteer you? Call our names. Anyone, anyone who can. Can I? Yes, sir. Yes, please. Chapter 22 from verse. Okay. Chapter 22. You can read from verse 22 to verse 30. Okay. And this word. And they raise their voice, raise their voice and say away with such a fellow from the earth for he is not to fit to live. Then as they cry out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the earth, the commander or the order him to be brought into the barrack and said that he should be examined under scorching so that he Why they shouted so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the Centurion who stood by, is it lawful for you to scorch a man who is a Roman and Uncondemned. When the Centurion heard that he went and told the commander and saying, take care what you do for this man is a Roman. Then the commander came and said to him, tell me, are you a Roman? He said, yes. The commander answered with a large sum. I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, but I was born a citizen. Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him and the commander was also afraid after he he found out that he was a Roman and because he had bound him. The next day because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews. He released him from his bond and commanded the chief priests and all their counsel to appear and brought Paul down and set him before them. Yes. Thank you Abhishek. So as we can see here, sorry, I said that he revealed himself as a Roman. No, but he revealed himself as a Jew. And at this point he revealed himself as a Roman because they took him under custody. They bound him. They beat him. A severe form of beating, they use, what does they say, like ropes with metal ends. So with that they beat you so it literally gets the flesh off of your body and your bones. So it's a pretty bad kind of beating that Paul went through. But when he was going through all this, he revealed that he's a Roman citizen. So when he reveals the fact that he's a Roman citizen, I already mentioned to us it was not easy to be a Roman citizen in those times. And to his advantage, he was born a Roman citizen. So the commander got scared and he wanted to examine this situation a little more in detail because there was a proper process that needed to be followed. For Roman citizen. So he goes ahead and calls the chief priests and everyone so that they can come to a conclusion. What to do with this man are the accusations real about him. So this is where we are at and we can continue reading. Let's move on to Acts chapter 23. And I would need another volunteer please to read the passage that follows. You may read from verse 1 to verse 10. Yes, yes, you are. Paul looked at the council members and said, brothers, I have lived my life in a good way before God, and I have always done what I thought was right. I don't know if the high priest was there. When he heard this, he told the man who was standing near Paul to hit him in the mouth using the law of Moses, but you are telling them to hit me. And that is against the law. The man standing near Paul said to him, are you sure you want to insult God's high priest like that? Paul said, brothers, I did not know this man was high priest. The scripture says you must not say bad things about a leader of your people. Paul knew that some of the men in the council meeting were seduces and some were Pharisees. So he shouted, my brothers, I am a Pharisee and my father was a Pharisee and I am on trial here because I believe that Paul will rise from death. When Paul said to this, a bigger argument started between the Pharisees and the seduces. The group was divided. The seduces believed that after people died, they will not live again as an angel or as a spirit, but the Pharisees believed in both. All these Jews began shouting louder and louder. Some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued, we find nothing wrong with this man. Maybe an angel or a spirit really did speak to him. The argument turned into a fight and the commander was afraid that Jews would tear Paul to pieces. So he told the soldier to go down and take Paul away from these Jews and put him in the army building. So we see that the command attempt was not very successful. So he took Paul before the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, the seduces, the high priest. So Ananias, there's another person. So don't confuse Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5. Ananias Acts 9 goes and prays for Paul and there's another Ananias. This is the high priest. So the high priest brings Paul and when Paul is saying that he lived a life which is good before God and man, he gets very offended. He's like, why would you be an offender standing? Why would you be a prisoner standing before us if your life was so right? So he asks somebody to strike Paul on his face. So when Paul is hit, he immediately rebukes the high priest and he says something like whitewashed wall. So at that point, Paul is revealed to Paul that this person is actually the high priest. So look at the humility of Paul that he wants to do what is right by the word of God. He did it by mistake so he admits his mistake. He says, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you're the high priest because this is what we have been commanded that we must not speak anything evil against God's people. So Paul is doing his best to do what is right by the law, to do what is right by the word of God, the scriptures and also the Jewish customs. So this is how his ministry is. He's trying his best to do what is right but understanding that it may not help, this audience may not help resolve the matter. He uses his wisdom, just the way even Jesus used his wisdom when he knew that the Pharisees and the Sadducees are there together. He knew that there is a bone of contention and that is resurrection. So he brings up that matter, he brings up the topic of resurrection and the audience is divided. The Pharisees are saying there's nothing wrong with this man while the Sadducees are saying no, he is an offender. And more than solving the problem, it caused chaos, it caused a fight to break out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Remember, the commanders never wanted that to happen. So you don't want any chaos because it was dangerous in the Roman context. So immediately the commanded things, it's better we get this guy out of this place because if we don't, he will be pulled to pieces. Verse 10 says, so they took him away. Now we'll just read the next passage here and probably stop till there. So this is from verse 11 to verse 22. We would need another person to kindly read this. But by the following night, the Lord stood by him and said, Be a good cheerful for you have testified for me in Jerusalem. So you must also bear witness at Rome. And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under North saying that they would need to eat or drink till they had killed Paul. Now they were more than 40 who had formed this conspiracy. They came to the chief priests and elders and said, We have bound ourselves under great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now you therefore together with the council suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow as though you are going to make further inquiries concerning him. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near. So when Paul's sister son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, Take this young man to the commander for he has something to tell him. So we took him and brought him to the commander and said, Paul, the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you. Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside and asked privately, What is it that you have to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow as though they are going to inquire more fully about him. And do not yield to them for more than 40 of them lying wait for him. Men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will need to eat no drink till they have killed him. And now they're ready waiting for the promise from you to the commander let the young man depart and commanded him. Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me. All right. So what we will do is because we've run out of time. Thank you, Christopher, for reading it. We will just pick up from here. I will explain this and continue on. Yeah, please bear with me. I know we're reading quite a bit, but then we will give us a better understanding. I know I summarized it and that in some way is sufficient. However, we'll just go through we'll just read through until chapter 28. We should be done by next class hopefully. And then you know I'll give you some highlights about Paul's life. I'm trying to wrap up our sessions in the next week. But if it doesn't happen, it may spill over to the following week as well. So anyway, let's pray and close because you have another class to catch. Sudhaan, can you lead us in prayer? Let's pray. Mother, we thank you for this time for the class, for all the teaching, for the life of a Pushkar Paul. Thank you, Lord, for the faith and encouraging us from your word. We thank you for all things, Lord. Let your word teach us and build us. We surrender to the word in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Sudhaan. Thank you, everyone. God bless you. Your assignment will be up soon. And yeah, before the next class, you will get your answer sheets, your marks as well. So have a good weekend. We will connect next week. Thank you. Bye for now.