The Jewish roots of Christianity

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Bible teaching with an emphasis on Israel, prophecy and the Jewish roots of Christianity

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Episode: “Arrest and Appeal to Rome for Trial”
Paul’s arrest, his transport to a Caesarean prison, and his appeal to Rome where he is eventually sent for trial.
Series: “In The Footsteps of The Rabbi From Tarsus”
In this twelve-part TV series, Dr. Jeffrey Seif sheds light on the Apostle Paul, his movements, and his message. After examining Paul’s travels throughout the Roman Empire, Jeff analyzes Paul’s divinely inspired letters to early Church congregations, preserved in the New Testament.

Note: A newer version of this series is available.

Caption transcript for In The Footsteps of The Rabbi From Tarsus: “Arrest and Appeal to Rome for Trial” (5/12)

  • 00:03 WITH DR. JEFFERY SEIF AND SANDRA LEVITT.
  • 01:00 A HEARTY SHALOM TO ALL OF YOU.
  • 01:03 JEFFERY SEIF HERE
  • 01:04 WITH MY FRIEND SANDRA LEVITT.
  • 01:06 SHALOM
  • 01:07 WELCOME TO ZOLA LEVITT PRESENTS,
  • 01:08 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 01:11 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAUL.
  • 01:13 AND THIS WEEK JEFF, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PAUL
  • 01:15 BEING ARRESTED IN JERUSALEM, GOING TO TRIAL.
  • 01:17 BUT I AM SO STRUCK BY HIS TENACITY, HIS FAITH.
  • 01:23 I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH HIS FAITH.
  • 01:26 IN FACT, IN ACTS CHAPTER 21, VERSE 5 IT SAYS,
  • 01:28 "BEFORE THEY LEFT EPHESUS, THEY PRAYED,
  • 01:38 BEFORE HE MOVED ONE INCH, HE'D PRAY WHERE HE WAS GOING.
  • 01:41 HE WAS WARNED THAT HE WAS GONNA BE ARRESTED.
  • 01:44 THEY TOLD HIM HE WAS GOING INTO PERIL.
  • 01:46 HE DIDN'T CARE, HE WAS GOING ON.
  • 01:48 YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT POINT.
  • 01:50 HE REMINDS ME OF THE LORD, WHEN HE PRAYED AND SAID,
  • 01:53 "LORD I DON'T PRAY SAVE ME FROM THIS HOUR,
  • 01:55 FOR THIS HOUR I HAVE COME. >>RIGHT
  • 01:57 PAUL KNEW HE HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY
  • 02:01 AND HE FACED IT WITH VERVE, VISION, AND FAITH.
  • 02:03 IT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD DO IT.
  • 02:04 HERE'S JEFF ON LOCATION.
  • 02:18 I'M SURE THAT PAUL WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS MOOD WHEN HE SET HIS SIGHTS ON JERUSALEM.
  • 02:23 IN FACT, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION HE WAS WARNED THAT BAD THINGS WHERE TO COME,
  • 02:29 BUT HE WAS NOT TO BE DISSUADED FROM HIS TASK.
  • 02:31 AND WHAT WAS HIS TASK?
  • 02:32 HIS TASK WAS TO MAKE THE LORD KNOWN AND TO FULFILL HIS DESTINY.
  • 02:36 THE EPHESIANS ELDERS CAME OUT AND THEY SAID, "PAUL THERE'S A BAD MOON RISING."
  • 02:41 HE WAS NOT TO BE DISSUADED.
  • 02:43 HE SET SAIL FOR JERUSALEM, FINISHING UP HIS 3RD MISSIONARY JOURNEY.
  • 02:48 AND HE THEN STARTS IN CAESAREA, CAESAREA MARITIME, WAS A MAJOR PORT CITY.
  • 02:55 IT WAS A ROMAN HOME AWAY FROM HOME, SPORTING A GRAND THEATRE, SPORTING A HERODIAN PALACE.
  • 03:02 PAUL LANDS THERE AND HE SPENDS TIME, NOT IN THE PALACE,
  • 03:06 HE DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY RICH FRIENDS, BUT PHILIP THE EVANGELIST TOOK HIM IN.
  • 03:10 HE HAD DAUGHTERS THAT MINISTERED AND PROPHESIED.
  • 03:12 AND A PROPHET CAME WHO PARTICULARLY SPOKE TO PAUL AND SAID,
  • 03:16 "LISTEN YOU WILL BE BOUND IF YOU GO TO JERUSALEM."
  • 03:19 PAUL HAS HEARD THAT ON MORE ONE OCCASION, BUT IN EFFECT IT MEANS NOTHING TO HIM,
  • 03:23 BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT HIS MISSION, NOT ABOUT HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.
  • 03:26 AND OFF TO JERUSALEM HE GOES.
  • 03:41 LUKE TOLD US THAT WHEN PAUL WENT UP TO JERUSALEM
  • 03:44 THAT THE QUOTE "BRETHREN"
  • 03:46 "RECEIVED US GLADLY"
  • 03:48 BUT IT'S WHAT HE SAID AFTER THAT, THAT'S PARTICULARLY REVEALING.
  • 03:51 LUKE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SOME ANGST ABOUT PAUL'S PRESENCE THERE.
  • 03:54 WHY IS THAT?
  • 03:56 BECAUSE, SOME OF THE JEWISH BRETHREN IN JUDEA
  • 03:58 UNDERSTOOD PAUL TO BE ADVOCATING THAT JEWS ROUND ABOUT THE WORLD FORSAKE MOSES
  • 04:03 IN ORDER TO FOLLOW JESUS.
  • 04:06 NOW THAT WAS NOT PAUL'S MESSAGE.
  • 04:09 PAUL'S MESSAGE WAS THAT WOMEN AND MEN OF NON JEWISH EXTRACT,
  • 04:13 NEEDN'T EMBRACE THINGS JEWISH IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
  • 04:17 IT WASN'T THAT PEOPLE OF JEWISH EXTRACT
  • 04:19 NEED TO FORSAKE THINGS JEWISH IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN.
  • 04:22 WELL, THEY WANTED PAUL TO PROVE UP THE POINT, SO HE WENT INTO THE TEMPLE TO MAKE SOME VOWS,
  • 04:27 AND TO TEND TO SOME JEWISH BUSINESS THAT WOULD THEN EVIDENCE
  • 04:31 THAT HE WAS STILL FAITHFUL TO THE ANCESTRAL RELIGION.
  • 04:34 BUT WHEN HE GOT THERE, LUKE TELLS US,
  • 04:37 THAT SOME JEWISH FOLK FROM ASIA MINOR STIRRED UP THE CROWD.
  • 04:42 WITH THE NET RESULT THAT SOMETHING OF A RIOT ENSUES.
  • 04:45 AND PAUL'S GONNA WIND UP GETTING ARRESTED.
  • 04:48 IT'S REALLY GOING TO GET HEATED.
  • 04:50 AND SO PAUL'S GONNA FIND HIMSELF THROWN IN A DUNGEON FOR A SEASON UNTIL THEY SORT OUT WHAT TO DO.
  • 05:06 THERE WAS TENSION IN THE AIR.
  • 05:09 LUKE TELLS US THAT THEY HAD TO SNEAK HIM OUTTA TOWN.
  • 05:13 BUT NOT JUST STEALTHILY, AND THEY DID TAKE HIM OUT STEALTHILY,
  • 05:17 BUT HOW CAN THEY HIDE HUNDREDS OF SPEAR MEN AND REGULAR INFANTRY,
  • 05:23 NOT TO MENTION 70 HORSES?
  • 05:25 GOODNESS THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENDITURE OF MILITARY ENERGY JUST TO GET HIM OUT OF TOWN.
  • 05:31 WHY?
  • 05:32 BECAUSE THE TENSION WAS HIGH IN JERUSALEM.
  • 05:36 THIS CRIMINAL, THIS ALLEGED CRIMINAL WAS THEN SENT TO CAESAREA
  • 05:41 WHERE HE WILL STAND BEFORE THE GOVERNOR AND GIVE AN ACCOUNTING FOR HIS MISDEEDS,
  • 05:49 HIS ALLEGED MISDEEDS.
  • 05:51 THE STATE PRESENTS ITS CASE FIRST.
  • 05:55 LUKE HERE HAS THE STATE'S WITNESSES SPEAKING.
  • 05:59 IF YOU LOOK IN CHAPTER 24, VERSE 5,
  • 06:06 WELL, THAT'S NOT EVIDENCE, THAT'S SENTIMENT.
  • 06:17 THAT'S HYPERBOLE, THAT'S OVER STATEMENT, BUT IT'S NOT JUST MYTH.
  • 06:21 THERE'S SOME REALITY THAT, HE SAYS,
  • 06:29 HE WILL GO ON AND PRESENT HIS CASE, PAUL WILL RESPOND IN KIND AND IN EFFECT SAY, "NON-SENSE."
  • 06:36 LET ME DISPEL SOME NONSENSE.
  • 06:39 TYPICALLY, JEWS WERE CONSTRUED AS SAYING, "THUMBS DOWN ON JESUS," IN THE WAKE OF WHICH,
  • 06:45 GOD IS PERCEIVED AS SAYING, "THUMBS DOWN ON THE JEWS AND LET'S GO WITH THE GENTILES."
  • 06:51 AND THE JEWS HAVING REJECTED JESUS EN TOTO
  • 06:55 ARE THEN LEFT TO THE BACK WATERS OF GOD'S ATTENTION AND EXPERIENCE.
  • 06:59 THAT IS A MYTHIC TELLING.
  • 07:02 THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
  • 07:06 WHEN PAUL IS BROUGHT UP ON CHARGES, THE STATEMENT IS THAT
  • 07:11 THERE'S DIVISION AMONGST THE JEWS ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT PAUL HAS ADVOCATED.
  • 07:18 PAUL'S TALKING ABOUT JESUS TO JEWISH PEOPLE.
  • 07:21 SOME SAY, "YEH," SOME SAY, "NAY," AND IT'S TENSE.
  • 07:25 THERE'S A RIFT TO BE SURE.
  • 07:27 WHEN I LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT I SEE A RIFT AMONGST JEWS.
  • 07:31 SOME JEWS WEIGHING IN POSITIVELY, SOME JEWS WEIGHING IN NEGATIVELY,
  • 07:35 BUT IT'S A JEWISH STORY.
  • 07:37 IN FACT, THE ACCUSATION GOES ON TO READ
  • 07:40 THAT THIS PAUL IS A RINGLEADER OF THIS SECT OF JEWISH FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.
  • 07:46 LET ME SAY THIS FORCEFULLY.
  • 07:49 THE RABBI FROM TARSUS WAS NOT AN EX-JEW,
  • 07:53 HE WAS A JEW WHO BELIEVED THAT HE MESSIAH HAD COME, AND THAT HIS NAME WAS YESHUA.
  • 07:58 AND HE WAS BENT ON ADVOCATING FOR THIS MESSIANIC VISION BEYOND ISRAEL'S BORDERS.
  • 08:06 HE WAS CREATIVE, HE WAS INNOVATIVE.
  • 08:10 AND THE UPSHOT OF IT ALL IS THAT HE EVOKED SOME IRE.
  • 08:24 HOPE YOU'RE LEARNING A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PAUL.
  • 08:27 I'D LIKE YOU TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT US.
  • 08:31 AND I'D LIKE TO GET TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU.
  • 08:34 IF YOU'LL PICK UP A PEN AND RIGHT DOWN THE NUMBER:
  • 08:38 THEN WHAT YOU CAN DO IS TAP INTO OUR FREE MAGAZINE,
  • 08:41 YOU CAN RECEIVE IT.
  • 08:43 YOU CAN READ THE ARTICLES AND RESPOND IN WRITING TO US.
  • 08:45 WE CAN GET SOME INTERACTION GOING.
  • 08:47 AND TALK ABOUT GOING.
  • 08:48 IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO WITH ZOLA LEVITT MINISTRIES
  • 08:51 TO THE BIBLE LANDS,
  • 08:52 PRINCIPALLY ISRAEL, EXCURSIONS IN GREECE AND ELSEWHERE.
  • 08:55 DO LET US KNOW, 1-800-WONDERS.
  • 08:58 THAT'S THE CONNECT NUMBER.
  • 09:00 GIVE US A CALL:
  • 09:04 GREECE IS A FASCINATING PLACE.
  • 09:06 AND I LOVE SEEING THE PLACES THAT PAUL WALKED.
  • 09:09 BUT ISRAEL ALSO IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO ME.
  • 09:13 WE SEE CAESAREA, WE SEE JERUSALEM.
  • 09:15 JERUSALEM, THE HEART OF JUDAISM.
  • 09:18 JEFF WE SEE IT, WE GO THERE.
  • 09:20 PAUL WAS A JEW.
  • 09:22 AT THE END OF THE DAY ISRAEL IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF BIBLICAL RELIGION.
  • 09:28 IT'S THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE JESUS STORY. >>ABSOLUTELY.
  • 09:32 CALVARY. >>BUT IT'S MY HEART AND IT'S YOUR HEART TOO.
  • 09:35 I KNOW WHEN I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD,
  • 09:36 ISRAEL IS WHERE I WANNA BE.
  • 09:38 YESHUA, JESUS KNEW WHEN HE WENT TO JERUSALEM
  • 09:41 THAT HE WAS FACING THE COUNTDOWN TO HIS PRIVATE ARMAGEDDON. >>RIGHT.
  • 09:44 PAUL KNEW IT AS YOU ALLUDED TO IN THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT,
  • 09:47 FOR YOU, THAT HE KNELT AND PRAYED
  • 09:49 AND HE KNEW HE HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIS FUTURE. >>HE KNEW.
  • 09:53 BUT HE WAS STILL GOING ON.
  • 09:54 AND THAT TO ME IS HUMBLING.
  • 09:56 AND IT IS ENCOURAGING ALSO TO KNOW THAT FAITH REALLY DOES WORK.
  • 10:01 YES AND WE NEED SOMETHING IN LIFE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR LIFE.
  • 10:05 AND OFF WE GO WITH THE RABBI FROM TARSUS,
  • 10:07 AS HE GETS ON WITH HIS JOURNEY AS HE FOLLOWS GOD.
  • 10:14 THE WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN HERE ARE CALM.
  • 10:17 BUT THAT'S BEEN KNOWN TO CHANGE ON OCCASION.
  • 10:20 IN FACT, THE MEDITERRANEAN BECOMES SO PRECARIOUS THAT SHIPPING STOPS IN THE WINTER.
  • 10:25 NO ONE DARES TRAVERSE THESE WATERS.
  • 10:28 PAUL MADE A TRIP OF A LIFETIME, ONE HE WOULDN'T REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF HIS SHORT LIFETIME,
  • 10:35 LIVE THERE AND AFTER WHEN HE LEFT CAESAREA MARITIME, CAESAREA
  • 10:39 IN THE WAKE OF HIS APPEAL TO ROME.
  • 10:42 AND OFF TO ROME HE GOES ONLY TO, AMIDST THE PRECARIOUSNESS OF IT ALL,
  • 10:48 BE WAYLAID ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA IN THE WAKE OF A HORRIFIC SHIPWRECK.
  • 10:53 THINGS START OFF RATHER TUMULTUOUS AS YOU MIGHT RECALL PAUL IS IN JERUSALEM.
  • 10:59 AND A RIOT ENSUES AS JUDEANS FROM ASIA MINOR RECOGNIZED PAUL THERE AND THEY STIR IT UP.
  • 11:08 PAUL IS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN THE WAKE OF A RIOT.
  • 11:11 LUKE TELLS US A CENTURION WAS KINDLY DISPOSED TOWARD PAUL.
  • 11:17 SEEING A RUCKUS HE PULLS HIM OUT OF THE FRAY.
  • 11:20 LEARNING THROUGH ONE OF PAUL'S RELATIVES THAT SOME WERE OUT TO KILL HIM THEN,
  • 11:25 HE WILL GET A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS, A FEW CENTURIONS ACTUALLY,
  • 11:30 TO ESCORT PAUL BY NIGHT TO CAESAREA.
  • 11:32 AND THERE IN CAESAREA HE WILL GO BEFORE FELIX WHO WILL PROCRASTINATE.
  • 11:40 AND THEN FESTUS WHO'S MINDED TO DO MUCH THE SAME.
  • 11:43 FINALLY IT'S WHEN HE IS GETTING A HEARING BEFORE FESTUS IN CAESAREA MARITIME,
  • 11:49 WHICH BY THE WAY WAS THE ANCIENT ROMAN HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
  • 11:53 IT WAS WHERE THE ROMAN OCCUPIERS WERE HEADQUARTERED.
  • 11:56 IT WAS THERE WHERE REALIZING THAT HE WAS NOT GONNA GET A FAIR TRIAL IN JERUSALEM,
  • 12:02 BECAUSE THERE WERE TOO MAN OF THE POWERS THAT BE THAT WERE GIVEN TO HIS DEMISE UNFAIRLY.
  • 12:07 PAUL THEN MAKES HIS APPEAL TO CAESAR IN RESPONSE WHICH THE NARRATIVE GOES IN LUKE,
  • 12:19 FINALLY AT THE APPOINTED TIME PAUL BOARDS A SHIP.
  • 12:23 THERE'S A CENTURION THAT'S GUARDING HIM.
  • 12:25 THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THAT SHIP.
  • 12:27 AND OFF THEY GO TOWARD ROME ONLY TO THEN GET CAUGHT UP IN PRECARIOUS WATERS.
  • 12:33 THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF CARGO.
  • 12:34 EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GONNA LOOSE THE BOAT, BUT WILL SUFFER NO LOSS OF LIFE.
  • 12:39 AND EVEN AMIDST IT ALL, PAUL EMERGES AS SOMETHING OF A HEROIC FIGURE,
  • 12:43 BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT'S GIVEN INSIGHT MAGNIFICENTLY SO,
  • 12:50 THE LORD JUST ENDUES HIM WITH UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE JOURNEY,
  • 12:54 HE PRESAGES THEY'LL BE NO LOSS OF LIFE.
  • 12:57 AND HE ENDEARS HIMSELF TO SOME.
  • 12:59 THE NET RESULT IS THAT PAUL WILL DO JUST THAT.
  • 13:02 HE WILL GIVE VOICE TO THESE PROPHETIC WORDS.
  • 13:05 THE BOAT WILL BE SHIPWRECKED ON MALTA.
  • 13:08 AND THERE PAUL WILL SPEND A SEASON.
  • 13:10 AND THAT MALTA STORY WE'LL GET TO IN A SECOND AS WE CONTINUE.
  • 13:20 THE RABBI FROM TARSUS WAS FAR AWAY FROM HOME ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA.
  • 13:26 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WHERE HE WAS SHIPWRECKED.
  • 13:29 I'D LIKE YOU TO OPEN UP YOUR BIBLES PLEASE
  • 13:31 AND LOOK AND SEE WITH ME WHAT LUKE TELLS OF HIS EXPERIENCE THERE.
  • 13:36 I THINK IT'S RATHER REVEALING FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
  • 13:39 IF YOU'LL LOOK IN THE 28TH CHAPTER, WE'RE TOLD THAT THE NATIVES ON THE ISLAND,
  • 13:46 TO USE THE LANGUAGE OF THE TEXT IN VERSE 2,
  • 13:53 IT SEEMS THAT WE CAN FIND OURSELVES PRESSED AMIDST THE TURBULENCE OF TRYING TIMES.
  • 13:58 AND THE LORD SENDS PEOPLE TO SHOW UNUSUAL KINDNESS.
  • 14:04 BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING AS THE STORY CONTINUES TO UNFOLD,
  • 14:09 THAT PAUL IS THERE, THE WEATHER IS RAINY, THEY BUILT A FIRE,
  • 14:17 THEY'RE WARMING THEMSELVES AND A VIPER ATTACHES ITSELF TO PAUL'S HAND.
  • 14:22 IN RESPONSE TO WHICH THOSE WHO IN ONE MINUTE WERE INCLINED TO SHOW GREAT
  • 14:27 AND UNUSUAL KINDNESS LOOK AT PAUL AND CONSTRUED HIM AS SOME HEINOUS FIGURE, SOME MURDER,
  • 14:35 WHO THOUGH HE HAS FORTUNATELY ESCAPED THE SEA, HE CAN'T ESCAPE PROVIDENCE.
  • 14:40 AND SO IT IS THAT GOD IS JUDGING HIM BY SLAYING HIM BY THE VIPER.
  • 14:46 WHAT HAPPENS THEN, HOWEVER, IT'S RATHER INTERESTING IS THAT, HIS HAND DOESN'T SWELL,
  • 14:51 HE DOESN'T DIE, HE SHAKES THE VIPER OFF,
  • 14:54 IN THE WAKE OF WHICH PEOPLE THEN BEGIN TO CONSTRUE HIM AS A GOD.
  • 15:00 THE NATURE OF THIS STORY IS FASCINATING FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
  • 15:05 IT SHOWS HOW PRECARIOUS, NOT JUST THE SEA IS,
  • 15:08 BUT HOW PRECARIOUS PEOPLE ON LAND CAN BE.
  • 15:11 IT CAN BE STORMY ON LAND JUST AS ON SEA AS PEOPLE MOODS AND THOUGHTS
  • 15:16 AND FEELINGS TOWARD US CAN SHIFT SO DRAMATICALLY IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
  • 15:23 PASTORAL MINISTRY HAS ALWAYS STRUCK ME LIKE THIS.
  • 15:26 THAT IS TO SAY AS A MINISTER, ONE MINUTE THEY THINK YOU'RE A GOD,
  • 15:31 ANOTHER MINUTE THEY THINK YOU'RE A DEVIL.
  • 15:33 I CONSTRUE US AS JUST PEOPLE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO SERVE A GOD WHO'S PERFECT
  • 15:39 AND GREATER THAN ALL OF US.
  • 15:40 BUT THOSE OF US WHO STEP UP TO DO IT ARE IMPERFECT
  • 15:43 AND IT SEEMS THAT WE ABSORB A LOT OF TENSION AND A LOT OF UNREASONABLE CRITIQUE
  • 15:48 AND EXPECTATION AS IS THE CASE WITH THE APOSTLE HERE.
  • 15:52 WELL LUKE GOES ON TO NOTE THIS STORY, BUT THEN HE SAYS,
  • 15:58 AND HERE HE SAYS IN VERSE 7,
  • 16:03 I LIKE THE WAY LUKE UNDERSCORES
  • 16:05 THE WAY DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO PAUL.
  • 16:07 UNREASONABLE KINDNESS, HE'S A MURDERER, A DEMONIC TYPE FIGURE, HE'S A GOD,
  • 16:13 NOW SOMEONE HERE IS SHOWING A GENTEEL KIND OF COURTEOUSNESS
  • 16:17 IN RESPONSE TO WHICH THEN PAUL RETURNS THE FAVOR IN KIND.
  • 16:22 YOU MIGHT RECALL ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE TEMPLE ENVIRONS
  • 16:26 APOSTLES WERE WALKING AND THERE WAS A LAME MAN BEGGING AND THE APOSTLE SAID,
  • 16:40 AND THIS PERSON WAS HEALED.
  • 16:42 WELL PAUL DIDN'T HAVE 2 NICKELS TO RUB TOGETHER, THAT I KNOW OF,
  • 16:45 BUT THIS FELLOW HERE WHOSE KINDLY DISPOSED TOWARD PAUL,
  • 16:48 PAUL RETURNS THE FAVOR IN KIND BY LAYING HANDS ON HIM. THERE'S SOME SICKNESS THERE
  • 16:52 AND THERE'S A HEALING, WHICH THEN THE NEWS SPREADS OUT AND PEOPLE COME TO BE HEALED.
  • 16:57 THE NET RESULT OF IT ALL IS THAT PEOPLE ARE BLESSED BY VIRTUE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE
  • 17:03 WITH THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 17:06 LET ME CLOSE OUT THIS SEGMENT BY UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE
  • 17:10 OF BEING KINDLY DISPOSED TO THOSE THAT ARE LOOKING TO WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS.
  • 17:16 MINISTRY IS EXTREMELY PRECARIOUS, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS UP AND DOWN.
  • 17:20 LET'S GET BEHIND AND SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH
  • 17:25 AND VIRTUE OUT HERE IN A WORLD WHERE VIRTUE IS IN VERY HIGH DEMAND,
  • 17:30 BUT VERY SHORT SUPPLY.
  • 17:33 THIS IS THE LESSON THAT I LEARNED
  • 17:34 AS I EXAMINED THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 17:57 WHEN I THINK OF RABBI PAUL, I'M REMINDED OF THE FACT
  • 18:01 THAT WE DO WELL TO NOT BE TOO CIRCUMSTANCE DEPENDENT.
  • 18:06 AND I THINK WE ARE.
  • 18:07 WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL WE'RE HAPPY, GOD IS MOVING.
  • 18:11 WHEN THINGS ARE GOING POOR IN LIFE, WE FEEL GOD HAS ABANDONED.
  • 18:15 PAUL'S WORLD WAS SO PRECARIOUS AND HE HAD A SOURCE OF STRENGTH
  • 18:20 THAT ENABLED HIM TO GET PAST ABYSMAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
  • 18:24 AND GET ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF WALKING THE PATH THAT GOD HAD FOR HIM.
  • 18:28 WOULD THAT WE ALL WERE THUS MINDED.
  • 18:30 LOOK WHAT HE'D BEEN THROUGH,
  • 18:32 SHIPWRECKS
  • 18:33 AND LANDS ON THIS ISLAND,
  • 18:34 AND THEN THIS SNAKE BITES HIM,
  • 18:35 AND THEN THEY THINK HE'S EVIL,
  • 18:36 AND THEN HE'S NOT
  • 18:38 THEN HE SHAKES THE SNAKE OFF AND NOW HE'S A GOD.
  • 18:39 IT GOES FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER.
  • 18:42 PEOPLE MARKET THE GOSPEL TODAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ENOUGH PAIN IN THE WORLD,
  • 18:46 "OH, COME TO JESUS,"
  • 18:47 AND YOUR PROBLEMS ARE OVER AND THEN PEOPLE COME TO JESUS >>YEAH.
  • 18:49 AND THEY REALIZE THE PROBLEMS AREN'T OVER,
  • 18:51 SO THEY FIGURE I MUST HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE WRONG ENTERPRISE.
  • 18:54 AND WHERE DOES IT SAY,THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS.
  • 18:55 RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT READING THE BIBLE.
  • 18:57 IT'S SOME FALSE PROSPERITY MESSAGE THAT DOESN'T DOVETAIL WITH THE TEXT
  • 19:00 OR THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RABBI FROM TARSUS.
  • 19:02 NO, WE'RE SUPPOSE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.
  • 19:04 AND HOW WE FACE THOSE PROBLEMS,
  • 19:05 IT'S HOW WE FACE THEM,
  • 19:07 HOW GOD GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO DO IT.
  • 19:09 THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO PAUL.
  • 19:10 HE IS FACING HIS TRIALS
  • 19:12 AND TRIBULATIONS WITH STRENGTH.
  • 19:14 I LOOK AT TRIALS AS OPPORTUNITIES WITH WORK CLOTHES ON, >>ABSOLUTELY.
  • 19:17 WE GROW THROUGH THEM.
  • 19:18 WE PRESS ON AND GET STRONG.
  • 19:20 WE TALKED TO DR. FISCHER, ALSO JEFF, ABOUT STEPHEN'S TRIALS
  • 19:23 AND THE TRIAL THAT HE FACED BEING STONED.
  • 19:26 BUT LOOKING UP AND KNOWING THAT HE KNOWS WHERE HE'S GOING, WHERE HIS MESSIAH IS.
  • 19:31 HERE IS DR. FISCHER.
  • 19:39 WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT PAUL AND THE PERILS OF PAUL
  • 19:42 AND HIS ARREST, HIS TRIALS.
  • 19:44 HIS SPEECH THAT HE GIVES IS ALMOST
  • 19:47 IDENTICAL TO STEPHEN'S.
  • 19:48 AND YET IT'S NOT.
  • 19:51 IT'S A WHOLE HEARTFELT THING THAT HE DOES.
  • 19:53 OH, YEAH, DEFINITELY.
  • 19:54 HE OBVIOUSLY LISTENED TO STEPHEN
  • 19:57 AND GOT THE POINT.
  • 19:58 WELL, IT'S A POINT
  • 19:59 THAT OBVIOUSLY GOES BACK TO YESHUA
  • 20:00 AND IT'S FOUND IN THE GOSPEL WRITERS AS WELL.
  • 20:02 THAT THIS MESSAGE THAT WE'RE NOW HEARING,
  • 20:04 THAT WE NOW CALL MESSIANIC MESSAGE,
  • 20:05 IS A MESSAGE THAT'S INTRICATELY TIED BACK
  • 20:08 INTO ALL JUDAISM IN ITS HISTORY
  • 20:10 NOT JUST IN ITS TEXT, IN THE OLDER TESTAMENT,
  • 20:13 BUT THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY AS IT DEVELOPED
  • 20:16 THERE ARE POINTS THAT TOUCH WITH THE MACCABEES
  • 20:17 AND THE TIME OF HANUKKAH.
  • 20:19 SO THIS IS A WHOLE PIECE OF CLOTH THAT HE'S CONNECTING WITH,
  • 20:21 SO HE'S TRYING TO WEAVE JUST ANOTHER STRAND
  • 20:24 INTO THIS WHOLE WONDERFUL FABRIC
  • 20:26 OR TAPESTRY OF GOD'S MESSIANIC PLAN FOR THE AGES, SO TO SPEAK.
  • 20:30 RIGHT AND HE'S NOT JUST TAKING IT FROM CURRENT,
  • 20:33 HE'S GOING ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE PROPHETS AND TO THE LAW.
  • 20:38 HE'S LETTING THEM KNOW THAT HE KNOWS THIS REALLY IS THE MESSIAH
  • 20:42 AND THEY NEED TO GET ON BOARD WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.
  • 20:44 OH, OBVIOUSLY.
  • 20:45 BUT LOOK, HE'S A RABBI >>RIGHT
  • 20:47 HE LEARNED AT THE FEET OF SOME OF THE BEST RABBIS,
  • 20:50 LEARNED IN SOME OF THE BEST RABBINIC SCHOOLS.
  • 20:51 HE'S CONTINUING THAT WHOLE RABBINIC STORY TELLING MODE,
  • 20:54 WHERE YOU HAVE TO TIE EVERYTHING.
  • 20:55 IT ALL GOES BACK TO TORAH.
  • 20:57 AS TORAH IS UNFOLDED BY THE PROPHETS,
  • 20:59 AS IT IS ELABORATED ON BY THE WRITINGS, AS IT IS SPELLED OUT NOW BY YESHUA IN THE GOSPELS,
  • 21:03 HE'S DOING THAT SAME KIND OF UNFOLDING.
  • 21:06 IN JUDAISM OFTEN WE DESCRIBE THIS KIND OF UNFOLDING, MIDRASHIC KIND OF UNFOLDING.
  • 21:12 YOU FILL IN THE STORY LINE.
  • 21:13 NOT IN THE SENSE THAT YOU CREATE A STORY, BUT YOU ARE TELLING THE STORY.
  • 21:18 AND HE'S TELLING THE STORY IN A WONDERFUL FASHION.
  • 21:20 BUT IT'S ALWAYS A JEWISH STORY THAT HE'S TELLING. >>RIGHT.
  • 21:22 SO WHEN HE...JUST BEFORE HE GETS ARRESTED HERE IN THIS SEGMENT,
  • 21:27 HE'S MET BY YESHUA'S BROTHER JAMES OR YA'KOV.
  • 21:31 AND WHAT'S PRECEDED IN THERE, HE SAID,
  • 21:34 "NOW, WE'VE HEARD YOUR REPUTATION,
  • 21:36 THAT YOU'RE A PERSON THAT FOLLOWS THE TORAH,
  • 21:38 BUT THERE'S A RUMOR THAT YOU'RE TEACHING OTHERS NOT TO FOLLOW TORAH."
  • 21:42 AND SO NOW YA'KOV, JAMES,
  • 21:44 "LOOK, SO YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR JEWISHNESS,
  • 21:47 YOU GO WITH THESE NAZARITES, MAKE A VOW,
  • 21:48 BRING THE APPROPRIATE SACRIFICE,
  • 21:50 THEN EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU'RE STILL A GOOD JEWISH BOY,
  • 21:52 TEACHING OTHERS TO BE GOOD JEWISH BOYS."
  • 21:54 AND WHAT I ALWAYS FOUND INTERESTING IS HE DOESN'T SAY TO YA'KOV, JAMES,
  • 21:58 HEY DID YOU READ GALATIANS BY ANY CHANCE?
  • 22:00 THIS STUFF IS DONE WITH?
  • 22:02 NO, HE DOES EXACTLY WHAT JAMES SUGGESTS TO DO,
  • 22:05 TO DEMONSTRATE EXACTLY WHAT JAMES SUGGESTED IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE,
  • 22:08 THAT HE'S LIVING WITHIN THE STREAM OF JUDAISM
  • 22:11 AND HE'S TEACHING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME THING.
  • 22:13 IT'S STILL A JEWISH STORY FROM BEGINNING TO END THAT HE'S TELLING.
  • 22:16 IT'S AN AMAZING STORY. >>RIGHT, IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY.
  • 22:17 AND IT IS.
  • 22:18 I KNOW WE KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT IT REALLY IS
  • 22:20 TO THINK ABOUT A MAN WHO HATED SO MUCH
  • 22:23 AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE FLIPS
  • 22:25 AND GOES THE OTHER WAY,
  • 22:27 BECOMES A MISSIONARY,
  • 22:28 TRAVELS HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF MILES.
  • 22:30 AND IT'S JUST A GREAT STORY.
  • 22:33 OH, IT'S A WONDERFUL STORY.
  • 22:35 AND ITS OBVIOUSLY HE HAD EXPERIENCED A REALITY OF THIS ONE
  • 22:39 THAT HE HAD BEEN EXPECTING,
  • 22:41 AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN HE DISCOVERS IT. >>RIGHT.
  • 22:43 CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW EXCITED HE MUST HAVE BEEN?
  • 22:45 REALLY EXCITED.
  • 22:46 THE ENTHUSIASTIC JEW.
  • 22:48 YEAH.
  • 22:49 THANK YOU.
  • 22:50 YOU'RE WELCOME.
  • 23:03 ♪(Orchestra Playing)♪
  • 24:13 DR. FISCHER, I'VE ENJOYED TALKING TO HIM, ABOUT HIM, THROUGH HIM.
  • 24:18 HE HAS SOME WONDERFUL INSIGHTS ABOUT
  • 24:21 HOW WE ARE TO ENDURE,
  • 24:23 HOW WE ARE TO GO ON THROUGH TRIALS,
  • 24:25 HOW WE ARE STARTING WHERE WE START WHEN THE TRIAL COMES AND WE GO AND WORK THROUGH IT.
  • 24:30 HE REALLY WAS ENCOURAGING ME AND I ENJOYED HIM.
  • 24:32 YES, HE TALKED ABOUT STEPHEN WHO HAD A TRIAL.
  • 24:34 WE TALK ABOUT TRIALS NOW AS JUST FEELINGS, BUT TRUTH BE KNOWN,
  • 24:38 PROCARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES BESET PEOPLE THAT WALK WITH GOD.
  • 24:43 WELL WE EXPECT IT TO BE OVER IN 30 MINUTES.
  • 24:45 IT'S LIKE A TV SITCOM,
  • 24:47 WE THINK THE PROBLEM COMES IN FIRST
  • 24:49 AND WE CAN DEAL WITH IT IN 30 MINUTES.
  • 24:51 LIFE IS NOT THAT WAY.
  • 24:52 IT'S HOW WE PICK UP THOSE PROBLEMS AND GO FORWARD.
  • 24:54 I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME ON THE HEELS OF THIS, AND SANDRA'S EXHORTATION,
  • 24:59 THAT I BELIEVE WE DO WELL TO TAKE OUR CUES FROM THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE,
  • 25:03 NOT POPULAR SENTIMENTALITY.
  • 25:04 THEREIN YOU MIGHT RECALL IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK,
  • 25:08 JESUS, YESHUA ASKED THE QUESTION "WHO DO FOLKS SAY THAT I AM?"
  • 25:11 IN RESPONSE TO WHICH HEARING, "YOU ARE THE CHRIST."
  • 25:14 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT PETER IS INFORMED AND THE REST BY ASSOCIATION.
  • 25:18 HE SAYS
  • 25:27 I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT THE FIRST GOSPEL UTTERANCE
  • 25:30 OF SOMEONE COMING TO TERMS WITH WHO JESUS IS,
  • 25:33 THAT FIRST UTTERANCE THEN IS COMPLIMENTED BY A STORY OF THE CROSS.
  • 25:37 AND I BELIEVE THAT WE DO WELL TO TALK CROSS TALK,
  • 25:40 BUT MANY DON'T WANNA HEAR IT.
  • 25:42 IT'S TOO MUCH PAIN INVOLVED IN ALL THAT.
  • 25:43 WHO WANTS PAIN?
  • 25:44 WHO WANTS SUFFERING?
  • 25:45 WHO WANTS TO GROW?
  • 25:46 NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.
  • 25:48 YEAH, I WANT YOU HEAR ME ON THIS AS WELL, ON THE HEELS OF THAT,
  • 25:50 THAT MANY WATCH TELEVISION TO GET THEIR MIND OFF THEIR TROUBLES.
  • 25:53 AND SO IT IS, IT'S NICE TO HEAR JUST ROSES BEING PIPED INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM.
  • 25:57 ABOUT HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN, ISN'T GOD GOOD?
  • 26:00 LISTEN, WHEN PEOPLE JUST TELL YOU THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
  • 26:02 IS ALL ABOUT PROSPERITY AND BLESSING, I WANT YOU TO KNOW
  • 26:05 THAT I DON'T TRUST THEM ANY FURTHER THAN I CAN THROW THEM.
  • 26:08 AND THE REASON IS,
  • 26:09 IS I WANNA TAKE CUES FROM THE BIBLICAL TEXT.
  • 26:11 AND I BELIEVE LIFE COMES WITH DIFFICULTIES,
  • 26:14 BUT GOD LEADS US TO AND THROUGH THOSE.
  • 26:17 THANKS BE TO GOD, SAYS PAUL, WHO ALWAYS LEADS US IN TRIUMPH.
  • 26:21 WELL, NOT ONLY THAT,
  • 26:22 PAUL SAYS, "I AM NOT ONLY WILLING TO BE BOUND,
  • 26:24 I'M WILLING TO DIE FOR MESSIAH."
  • 26:27 THIS IS A GREAT STORY.
  • 26:29 WE'RE GOING TO ROME NEXT WEEK.
  • 26:31 STAY WITH US.
  • 26:32 AND SHA'ALU SHALOM YERUSHALAYIM
  • 26:34 PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

Episodes in this series

  1. First Steps Toward Christ
  2. First “Official” Ministry Journey
  3. Apostolic Ordination and Subsequent Missionary Journey
  4. Second and Third Missionary Journeys
  5. Arrest and Appeal to Rome for Trial
  6. Roman Imprisonment, Release, Travels, and Death
  7. Paul’s Earliest Writings: Galatians and 1 Thessalonians
  8. Follow-up to the Thessalonians, and 1 Corinthians
  9. Reconciliation with the Corinthians, and Roman Correspondence
  10. Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians
  11. Letters to the Philippians and Timothy
  12. Final Steps and Farewell Letters to Titus and Timothy

Guest organizations and links

Bonus Material