 Okay, welcome back class, we are in class 23. We've seen so far that Paul is brought to Caesarea under Governor Felix. There is an accusation against him that two things, one is that he caused dissension among the people in Jerusalem, the Jews particularly and also that he filed the temple and then you had the difference of all where he described his work as you know a work which he is doing for God and he's just being faithful to what the scriptures have said about you know the hope that we have God and you know the reality of resurrection. So now for the people who were listening to him, even High Priest, the resurrection of the dead was not a foreign God because even if you go back to the earliest book of the Bible, Job in chronology when you read, Job did say you know at one point that one day I'm going to stand before God, one day I will I will face my God. So even Job, you see how powerful this is, the Spirit of God had given him a revelation about resurrection and even in the book of Job there is this belief that one day we are going to rise from the dead. So keeping all this in mind, bearing this in mind and knowing that his audience which would be the High Priest, the elders and he also had faith, they all knew about this. So Paul's simple issue was like what is wrong, don't we all believe this and that's what I'm saying, I believe in resurrection and I didn't cause any dissension among the Jews. So if the governor was sincere man, this would have been sufficient to end the trial of Paul, you know, telling them and Paul could have gone on on his missionary journey. So where are we as far as time is concerned, we said that Paul completed his third missionary journey around 58 AD. So 58 AD is when this whole issue happens in Jerusalem, the temple area of Jerusalem and he's brought to Caesarea. So he is with Felix right now and at 58 AD, you know, this should have ended, the trial should have ended but because Felix was not a sincere and a faithful officer, it just drags. So we'll notice that it goes on to about 60 AD, two years under the custody of Felix. Felix is sitting on the fence, not making a decision. Even earlier, he did not want to make a decision. So that's why he said, oh, you are from Cilicia. So why did he say you're from Cilicia? That comes under the governance of Felix. Now if Paul was from another city, Felix would have said, this is not part of my duty. I will just wait for another leader to come and judge the case. But because Felix had to oversee this case and Paul was from Cilicia, he just went with the motions and did some activities but he never really intended to bring a resolution for this matter. So we are at verse 22 of Acts 24. So can we have a volunteer verse 22 to verse 27? When Felix heard these things having more accurate knowledge of the way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, when Lysius, the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case. So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and let him have liberty and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. And after some days when Felix came with his wife, Cilia, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, go away for now when I have convenient time to recall for you. Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore, he sent for him more often and conversed with him. But after two years, Osius Fescus succeeded Felix and Felix wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. Thank you, Christopher. Thank you for reading. As we look at what is happening, it is really a fulfillment of God's promise to Paul because I think it was in Acts chapter 9 and verse 15, could somebody read what God had commissioned him to do? Acts 9 verse 15. But the Lord said to him, go for, he is a chosen vessel for mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you Abishak. So we see that God had a purpose and as Paul is joining with the direction of the Holy Spirit, the purpose is being fulfilled. We must recognize that all this is not happening outside of the great plan of God for Paul's life and ministry. It's quite clear, isn't it? What did God say? He is my chosen vessel. He is my chosen vessel to the Gentiles. He is my chosen vessel to minister before kings. That's exactly what's happening. Okay. So Felix, he is a Gentile governor. Why, how do we know that he is Gentile governor? Because in this passage, we saw that he after some days brings his wife to Silla who was Jewish. So he was not Jewish. His wife was Jewish and since Paul is, you know, still hanging around and Felix has not made a decision, he just brings Drusilla to, you know, like, okay, meet this person, Paul and all his strange teachings and all that. So he brings her over. But Paul never misses an opportunity. See, he's in the prison. Yes, he definitely in the prison, but prison is an opportunity. Jerusalem, the conflict, the mob violence is an opportunity. Everything is an opportunity for the one who is called. So even now, he can minister to Felix and Drusilla. He already shared, you know, about the hope which he has in God earlier. He addresses some other issues or matters when Felix has made Drusilla come. What are these? Verse 25 says he reads about righteousness, self-control and judgment to come. Why did he pick these three subjects to talk to Felix and Drusilla? Why not other subjects, right, about salvation? The context is something like Drusilla was somebody else's wife and Felix had sort of, you know, enticed her and all that and she had come away from her husband. So she was not officially, she was still officially married while Felix decided to, you know, have her and he married her. And so it was not a morally right thing which Felix did and Paul having this in his mind knew that Felix needed to repent of many things, of his corruption, of, you know, his insincerity as an authority figure. But in addition to that, his relationship with Drusilla and so that's why he talks about righteousness, self-control, judgment to come. He's being very clear, you know, as far as the gospel is concerned, as far as, you know, God's holiness is concerned and walk of righteousness is concerned and Felix doesn't like it. So we are told in verse 25 itself Felix was afraid and answered, go away for now. When I have a convenient time, I will call for you. You know, the Bible very beautifully puts it even when you look at Hebrews, it says, today is the day of salvation. You know, salvation is never something which we should put away as far as possible. You know, if we are able to bring people to that place of decision and when I say bring people, I'm not saying hook or crook, led by the Holy Spirit, you know, like for example Paul preached, sorry, Peter preached on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out and 3000 people got saved the very same day. You know, they asked, okay, what should we do? And he led them to salvation. They were baptized on the same day. So when we share the gospel of the Lord Jesus, we must expect that today people will turn to Christ. Don't wait for tomorrow. Look at Felix, how sad to hear what he said. When I have a convenient time, what is a convenient time to respond to the truth of the gospel? Do we need a convenient time to respond to the truth of the gospel? So, you know, as a minister of God, I'm sure Paul did his best to share the gospel as clearly with conviction as possible. And it was Felix's turn and his choice to respond to it. But unfortunately, though Paul did his part speaking to Kings, God had said, so Governor Felix, he had the opportunity to share and his wife, but Felix was the one and his response was very cold, maybe not cold, but he was just afraid and convicted that what he had done was not right in the first place. Okay. And so Felix never made a decision for Christ. He just said, when I have a convenient time, I will call you. And verse 26, meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul. Remember, I mentioned this to us, he was corrupt. So that's why he's dragging the issue that he might release him. Therefore, he sent for him more often and conversed with him. So Felix was talking to him on and off, not with the intention of knowing about God, but more with the intention of, okay, if I keep chatting with this person, maybe he will give me some money. And with that, I can, I can let him go. So it wasn't a pleasant thing that was going on. But the beauty of this is that Paul being under custody verse 23 says, Felix knew that he's an innocent man. And that is why he had told the Centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. So our understanding is Paul is in the prison. He is under pressure because he's going through a trial, but active ministry would have been happening even in the prison of Caesarea. Okay. Obviously, because Paul had the liberty. Yeah, he's not traveling here and there, but I'm sure his friends, many friends would have come. He would have taught the Bible, taught the word of God and equip will continue to serve in the, in the ministry of God, but not physically exerting himself the way he exerted in the first three missionary journeys. So the last verse of this chapter says, after two years, Porsche's Festus succeeded Felix. So now there was an automatic change of authority. So from Felix, another Gentile ruler or governor was put in place by the name of Festus. Okay. And Felix, when he left, he knew Paul was innocent. So that's why he could have taken the money and let him go. But since Paul did not pay him, he thought, okay, I might as well do the Jews a favor. The Jews hated Paul, right? They just hated him. And so he thought, if I keep him in prison, I'll have a good name among the Jews. And that's what he did. He left him under custody. So let's jump now to Acts 25 and see what happens under Festus. Okay. So Abishek, would you be able to read from verse one to 12? Yes, sure, Pastor. Yeah, go ahead. Chapter 25. Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief man of the Jews informed him against Paul and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him that he would summon him to Jerusalem while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself was going there shortly. Therefore, he said, let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man to see if there is any fault in him. And when he had remained among them more than 10 days, he went down to Caesarea and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. And when he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove while he answered for himself, neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar. Have I offended in anything at all? But Festus wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judge before me concerning this thing? So Paul said, I stand at Caesar judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews, I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing in this thing of which this man accused me, no can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council answer, you have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar, you shall go. Amen. Thank you, Abhishek for reading that. So once again, Paul's trial continues. So who is Festus? I mentioned he is again a Gentile governor. And he seems to be a very proactive, energetic governor and likely to be a sincere personality as well. So as soon as he became the governor, what did he do? After three days, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. So he's quite enthusiastic about his tasks and assignments. He wants to bring a conclusion to this matter of Paul's accusation. So he goes to Jerusalem. Over there, he finds that even after two years, can you imagine two years have passed by and we would think that in two years, people will calm down, isn't it? They hated Paul, but in two years, maybe they will not react with the kind of fury that they had two years ago. But somehow the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul and they petitioned him. So they never forgot about Paul and the entire time they are waiting to get him. So as soon as the leadership changed, they thought, okay, let's get favor from Festus and we'll even kill him. We'll figure out a way. We'll tell him you bring this man, Paul, to Jerusalem and on the way, let's just kill Paul and we are done with Paul. But maybe it was intuition or his sincerity to his conscience, you could say, because we don't know what kind of faith he had. Maybe just his conscience that he wanted to do the right thing and he figured out that something is off. If I bring Paul here, I don't know what's going to happen to him. So how about calling these leaders to Caesarea and let's talk, let's discuss and conclude about Paul. So he invites them, he says that those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man to see if there is any fault in him. So that's what he does. He comes to Caesarea after 10 days. So this is all like quickly, quickly he's trying to do it. He's not dragging like Felix. So after 10 days, he comes, he's on the judgment seat and he asks, okay, what are the accusations against Paul and they start charging him. Serious complaints, none of which they could actually prove. It really challenges us as believers. It challenges us as ministers of God that having so many people in authority, what are they all doing for two years plus trying to search. Okay, what did this guy do that we can nail him with that but they're not finding anything. So how did he live his life? It's amazing. It's amazing. No wonder he stated my conscience is clear. It's clear before God. It's clear before man. So he did the best he knew to walk in the righteous path and how boldly, I don't know how many people could claim what Paul actually said. I'll just read out his statement verse eight. He says, neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, by offended in anything at all. So he says to the religious people or to the law holders of the land, nobody, I've done nothing. I'm not offended anyone. So I don't know what all this is about. So anyway, Festus with his intention to solve the problem, he's like, okay, whatever it is, we've got to figure this out. It's dragging too long. So he gives him an option and he says, are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judge before me concerning these things? So he was like, okay, why not try what the Jews suggested? Let's all go to Jerusalem. And at that moment, Paul knew that you see how he's trying to escape death. It's just wisdom. If we can avoid persecution and opposition and, you know, death due to persecution, why not avoid it? So he's trying to avoid it. He's not walking into the mouth of the lion anywhere, isn't it? So that's also something we can keep in mind when we serve God, when we do ministry, we work in such a way that we don't bring, we don't raise opposition against us. That is one. If we can escape the opposition, why not? So he's trying to escape it. If I go to Jerusalem, definitely, it's going to be a bad scene. So his wisdom, of course, he's a learned man, right? He knows the law of the land. So he says, you know what, just stop your discussions and your effort to solve the matter. How about, you know, I go straight to Caesar. Now, this is again, really amazing. See, we've got to know the laws of the land. Paul knew it. He knew, okay, what does, what does do the laws offer me? And he makes use of it. For a Roman citizen, if a case was not decided among the leaders, he could directly appeal to the highest authority, you know, something like today, we would equate it to the Supreme Court of our nation. So he thought, okay, let's just go to Caesar. Enough is enough. And he appeals to Caesar. And the moment he appeals to Caesar, him being a Roman citizen, Pester says, okay, you have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar, you shall go. The decision is made. Pester is not going to preside over this case. Okay, so we'll lead on from verse 13 and see who else comes to visit Paul. But in the meantime, I think Shri Kuppar has a question. Yes, Pastor. I want to know, as you said, Paul was trying to use his wisdom to avoid the death. Now, he could have stopped himself when the prophets are so many times prophesied, you know, prophesied, this is going to happen. So that time itself, he could have took a wise decision rather than getting into such a big problem and trying to escape. So that was my question. Why, what was the reason behind it? Why then the Paul, Paul could have taken that step when two, three times, even if somebody says the prophets comes and says to someone, especially today, that there is a danger if you go ahead and you know, you will take a decision immediately. But rather than he just moved ahead and, you know, he took all the decisions and now why he wants to escape from the dead. Thank you, Pastor. That's good. Sure. Thank you, Shri Kumar. A very, you know, interesting question. Knowing what is coming your way, why couldn't have Paul have escaped it initially then? So, see, we have to weigh between the assignment and the trials. Okay. So in this situation, yes, there were trials and if Paul really wanted, he could have escaped them. But he also has to look at his future with his assignment in mind. God had an assignment for him, right? We saw, like how Acts 915 said that he is my chosen vessel. He is going to stand, he is going to minister to the gentiles, you know, to people in authority. God had already spoken that over his life. So, Paul while weighing the fact that there will be trials and there will also be my assignments, he recognized that in the trial is also my assignment. I will have opportunities to preach Christ. Remember, he preached Christ to the Sanhedrin, at least, you know, began to the Sanhedrin and then Felix and Rusila and now Festus and then you'll have other people as audience and now he's saying, I want to go to Caesar. So, these people, it's so interesting that Jesus died in that region, you know, roughly about 30 years ago. They have no idea who this Jesus is. So, there is a world that did not know Christ and God was giving opportunity to Paul to share Christ. That he did not want to miss. Okay, so, Shikuma doesn't make sense. Like, we've got to look at the assignment and opportunity and move with that. And if trials come along, those are kind of unavoidable. But then, if there are trials outside of our kind of, you know, direct opportunity and assignment, yes, we can always take a detour and keep ourselves safe. So, that's what I would say. And to support this, I'm able to think of one scripture, I think it's Philippines 312 where, you know, Paul says that I'm living for that, for which Christ Jesus has taken a hold of me. So, there is a reason or an assignment for which, life assignment for which Christ Jesus called Paul. How can you abandon that to be safe? And what's the fun, you know, being saved when you're not living why you were created? Thank you, Pastor. Thank you. You're right, actually. Thank you. Oh, sure. Thank you. Any other comments from others? Okay. So, maybe something for us to think about. Wherever possible, Paul did consciously avoid persecution. Let's read now from verse 30. We could read all the way till verse 27. So, anyone else also ready to do this marathon reading? Okay, any takers? Plaster from where to where? Okay. Yeah. So, the passage is from Acts 25, verses 13 through 27. Shikumar, can we let Susan read it? Because I think you read one section. Yeah. Susan, you could go, please. Okay, man. Yeah. And after certain days, King Agrippa and Bernice came into Caesarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Phoenix, about whom? When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priest and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. To whom I answered, it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die. Before that, he which is accused, have the accusers face to face and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Therefore, when they will come there, when they will come here without any delay on the moral moral, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought forth against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed, but had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Jesus, which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem and there he judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, you shall hear him. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come and bedridden with great pomp and was entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city at Festus commandment, Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa and all men which are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me both in Jerusalem and also here crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he himself had appealed to Augustus that I have determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my Lord. Therefore, I have brought him forth before you and specially before you, O King Agrippa, that after examination had I might have somewhat to write for it seems to me unreasonable to send the prisoner and not indicate the crimes laid against him. Thank you, Susan. Thank you for reading that rather long section there. So, here we have the introduction of another individual. This is Agrippa and King Agrippa. So, they were governors, but they were also kings over regions. The important thing about Agrippa is, Agrippa is part of the family of Herod. So, there was a relationship that the Herod family had with Jesus and the believers, his great grandfather, Agrippa's great grandfather was the one who had the three of all like the two-year-old male children to be killed. So, that was his great grandfather. His grandfather was the one who asked for the head of John the Baptist. And his father was the one at 12. We remember that he killed James the then leader of the church. So, he's coming from that dynasty. What can you expect? What decision can you expect from Agrippa II? Agrippa II is the king that we're talking about. So, since he was visiting Caesarea while Festus was there, this was the issue that Festus had. Nothing concrete in this case. There is the accusation of the Jews without any evidence. Paul is saying, no, I am innocent. And Paul has now appealed to Caesar. How do we send him to Caesar without even mentioning what the matter is? Because you see, it's dragged for two years, procrastinating on the decision. Festus is trying to resolve it in a matter of days. But there's nothing to resolve. So, it's kind of shameful. What will the higher authorities think about Festus? If he says, okay, here is the person and there is no charge against him, but he's in prison. Do something. That sounds very unreasonable. And so, he thought, okay, since Agrippa is visiting us, why not present Paul to Agrippa and let's see, let him bring forth the matter and let Agrippa, who's the king, who probably has many cases, give us a judgment. We can go into the letter that we write to Caesar before we send Paul. So, here is the written about Agrippa. So, they decide all this and they say, okay, come on, it's a meet the next day. And he comes with Bernice. Now, there isn't much that Luke is writing about. He didn't write about Brusilla or about Bernice. But here, what's happening is, even Agrippa, he was not upholding the laws of morality in his own community. So, there are rumors that Bernice was his sister. So, it was a sexually immoral relationship. And it was what you call as an incestuous relationship which Agrippa had with Bernice. But since he was the king, everyone was, what can you do? And this was out there in the open and things were just going on as it is. But these were all serious matters. These were all serious matters. However, because of his position, he says, okay, let's meet with Paul. And the next day, we are told that they plan for a gathering in the auditorium. They use words like great pomp. When Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and had entered the auditorium of 23 with the commanders and the prominent men of the city at Festus' Samar, Paul was brought. So, similar, just in time with what Shri Kumar asked us, he said, there are dangers to Paul's life, what is happening. But do you realize that as Paul is going to speak now, he has the audience of two gentile authority figures. There is Governor Festus, King Agrippa, and you also have many other commanders and prominent men of the city. So, it is a fulfillment of what God had promised and said that Paul, he is going to stand before kings and people of authority to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's like God is giving him the setting. He does not have to go looking for it or searching for it. But the audience is there now. In the auditorium, they're all there. He just has to speak and hopefully through that message, people will turn to Christ. So, that's what happened. And Festus presents the case. He says, King Agrippa in verse 24, and all the men who are here, present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, but both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. So, in his own words, it's sort of contradictory prisoner, but Festus is saying, I didn't find anything wrong with him. Worthy of death. Then later on, he goes to explain that because my examination has not unearthed charges. How about Agrippa hearing him out? And let's see if we have some charges. With those charges, we are going to send Paul. So, this is like a moment Paul is waiting for. He always loves audience. So, he now will take the opportunity to share the Gospel with the people and also recognize that Acts chapter 9, Acts chapter 21 and Acts chapter 26 are passages where we are able to construct the information about this man called Paul. So, many other small details he's going to share here. So, we can sort of concentrate on that as well. So, we need another reader, Acts 26 verses 1 through 11 who would be willing to read the section. Okay. Yes. Okay, Asha, please. So, Agrippa said to Paul, you have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. I consider myself fortunate that it is to be for you. King Agrippa, I'm going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore, I thank you to listen to me patiently. My manner of life from my youth is spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem. It is known by all the Jews that they have known for a long time that they are willing to testify that going to defense strictest party of religion, I have lived as a Pharisee. And I stand here on trial because of my home and the promise made by God to our fathers to which our 12 tribes hoped to obtain as they earnestly worshiped in 1998. And for this hope, I'm accused by Jews. Okay. Why is it thought incredibly by any of you that God praises the dead? I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in the prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme and and raising fury against them. I persecuted them even to foreign cities upon life there for us. He says that from the youth, he spent the manner of life that he had, he wants to share it with the people beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. So how come he's saying Jerusalem when he's actually from Darces of Cilicia? Because as a religious person, he would have come very often to the city of Jerusalem and the other Jews also were aware of who he is. Then he makes a statement like, according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee, that is to tell us that every small thing he could think of in the traditions and the practices, the beliefs of the Pharisees, he had kept it. He had kept it. So he was a very, very pious and a devoted Pharisee. And he says that now he's being judged. He's also trying to say that what I am working in right now is a fulfillment of what was introduced to me as a Jew and a Pharisee. So that's what he's saying. As he goes on verse 7, he says to this promise, what is this promise? What God had promised to the Jewish people, he is actually working in those things, but yet he is accused, he is accused of believing in something like resurrection. So in verse 8, he says, why shouldn't we be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? Because he knows that though Ephesus and King Agrippa are from a Gentile background, they are familiar with the beliefs of the Jews and the fact that God is able and God is greater and he's a razor of the dead as well. So he describes himself all these ways and basically he has opposition and then we've understood these things. He's going to recount his conversion. He's going to recount his conversion. What we'll do is instead of me trying to explain it, we'll just give the read. I think that in itself will help us understand, fall back. So from verse 12 to verse 23, another person. Still read, Pastor? Yes, brother. Well, while this occupied, I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. At midday oaking, around the road, I saw a light. I saw a light from heaven, brighter than sun, shining around me and those and then we all had fallen to the ground. I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in people's language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the ghost. So I said, who are you love? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But raise and stand on your feet for I appear to you on this purpose to make you a minister and witness both of the things of which you have seen and the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I know sending to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified and pray to me. Thank you, brother. Brother, you can also continue. You can read from verse 19 to verse 23. Therefore, King of the report, I was not disobedient to the holy heavenly vision but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent, turn to God and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons, the Jews see me in the temple and try to fill me, therefore having obtained help from God to this day I stand, witnessing both the small and great, saying no other things than those things which prophets, which prophets and Moses said would come and Christ would suffer and he would be, he would be the first to rise from the bed and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles. Okay, thank you. So, of course, it's explicitly there, Paul talking about his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and he makes it very clear, isn't it? So, he makes it very clear that he heard a voice and now he is actually following the instructions of that voice and the vision that he got. Verse 19 is a very key verse for us where it says, therefore King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. So, you see his commitment, it's not easy what Paul is doing, being a witness to so many different people but it's all about his commitment. He has given his life for the call, he's given his life for the heavenly vision and he says, I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision and then he goes on to describe about how his message is regarding repentance, living in people too, repentance. So, we can stop here and I think it's best to just do the remaining chapters in a proper way and you know, close it off in a proper way. We have two and a half chapters left which definitely we can complete. So, let's pray now and I would like to request anyone in the batch to please pray. And we pray, this is Charles. Yes, yes Charles, please. Please pray, Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for what you are teaching us. Lord, we pray that you will continue to give us the ability to put in practice but also to continue to depend on you for any other further explanation where you might have not understood that in the coming days we will be able to radiate your glory as your name is glorified on earth for our good. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you Charles. Thank you everyone. God bless you. We shall meet again next week. So, please do join us. See you next week.