May 23 & 24 - Chapter 23 & 24

Sorry I missed one day! I have never been this stressed for an exam before. It's Medicinal Chemistry tomorrow!

Chapter 23  highlights: 

Vv 1-10 Paul spoke in front of the Sadducees and Pharisees and caused a major disagreement between them regarding the resurrection. There was so much dissension that the commander took Paul away for fear of him getting hurt.

Vv 11-22 Some 40+ Jews plotted to kill Paul but failed. Paul's nephew overheard them, approached Paul and told the commander about it.   

Vv 23-35 Lysias wrote a letter to the governor, Felix and handed over Paul to him. Paul had a great number of escort out of the city. In Caesarea, he stayed, waited for the hearing and was kept in Herod's Praetorium. 

Chapter 24 highlights: 

Vv 1-9 Ananias, the chief priest and the elders came to the hearing and a spokesperson called Tertullus accused Paul of sedition.

Vv 10-20 Paul's defense.

Vv 21-27 Felix procrastinated on Paul's case and left him where he were for two years!

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All I can say is, I am very tired. But it's always great to read the bible... it never fails to give that inner peace and calm that we need.

Today I am going to rant a bit about the governor. Felix was just a wasteman, excuse my slang but I think that's the perfect description for him. He literally wasted Paul's valuable time. Paul could have been to places teaching and preaching the gospel but no, he remained in Caesarea for TWO YEARS! TWO YEARS! Because of that governor who only wanted to please the Jews. 

Have you ever intentionally done something bad to please people or to make a good impression about yourself (or so you think)? I am guilty. For so many times. I even lost count. As a Christian I reaped the consequences of my wrong actions/decisions in so many painful ways. But, I know that God has forgiven me for my mishaps and I remain thankful to Him because I have learnt my lesson/s and have refrained from doing the same things again.

We have to be constantly reminded that we are called to be NOT of this world. It was probably not appropriate for me to compare ourselves to Felix because, come on, what did he know? However, sometimes we have to look at a non-believer's perspective to realise that, yes, we do have to live holy lives. 

Now I leave you with this, Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Alas! Paul wrote the book of Romans. I have such high regard for him. I believe we can be like Paul too, or even better, BE LIKE CHRIST!

*taken from my Facebook notes