Insights into Acts Chapters 24-28 Between newsletters showing the prophetic significance of current events and other Biblical perspectives of interest, we proceed through the scriptures, a book at a time. We are finishing up the book of Acts and will start on another book in a few days. We learned from the first Insights on Acts that the book of Acts starts off where the book of Luke ended and covers approximately 30 years of the early church. The book of Acts is also a model for us today. It lays out general patterns, principles, and precepts for us to follow to spread the Gospel and is divided into two sections: - Chapters 1-12 show the works of the Holy Spirit through Peter to the Jews.
- Chapters 13-28 show the works of the Holy Spirit through Paul to the Gentiles.
As we finish the book of Acts, please reference those chapters in your Bible covered as this email will not repeat the text but add the context and historical setting, and other significant meanings of the passages outlining key points. It is recommended that you follow along with the most accurate Greek to English extraction today, The Pure Word, but please feel free to use your preferred version of the Scriptures as well. We recently finished the books of Matthew, John, Romans, and James. If you missed any, send us an email at update@onepathpublishing.com, and we'll be happy to send the insight outlines to you via email attachments. Our response time is usually under 8 hours. Acts Chapter 24 v. 1-21: Ananias the high priest, with the elders and the orator Tertullus, came to accuse Paul of causing uprisings and profaning the temple, but they did not have any witnesses that would corroborate their accusations. Paul starts his defense by telling Felix that twelve days prior to the time of their accusations, he arrived in Jerusalem to worship and bring alms and offerings, and that he was never found disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, and that these accusers cannot prove anything of which they accuse him. Paul said that there would be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. In Revelation, we see that there will be two resurrections, one for the just (rapture) and one for the unjust (judgement seat), and there will be approximately 1,000 years between the two. v. 22-27: After Felix heard Paul, and desiring to have a more accurate knowledge of “the Way”, he dismissed the proceedings and said that when Lysias the commander comes he would make a decision. Felix’s weakness was always procrastinating. The term “the Way” was the term the early church used to describe themselves as Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Paul stayed there for two years when Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. During this time, Felix expected a bribe from Paul so he might be released. Felix’s wife, Drusilla (a Jew), was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, who beheaded James (brother of John) and intended to have Peter put into prison; and whose body was eaten by worms (Acts 12:18-25). Acts Chapter 25 v. 1-12: The new high priest still wanted to have Paul killed and asked Festus to have Paul released to him in Jerusalem, but Festus refused and told them to come to him in Caesarea. Paul reiterated that he had done no wrong and then appealed his case to Caesar. v. 13-27: King Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II) and Bernice (his sister, as recorded by historian Josephus and the Roman poet Juvenal, documenting their incestuous relationship) came to Caesarea to greet Festus. [His great-grandfather Herod, ordered the death of the children in Bethlehem. His great uncle Herod had ordered the death of John the Baptist, and his father Herod Agrippa I, ordered the death of James.] After a few days, Festus brought up the topic of Paul’s case to King Agrippa. Herod Agrippa II was a student of the Jewish customs and was interested in what Paul had to say. Festus knows that in order to send Paul to Rome to Augustus Caesar, he needs to have charges sent with him and asks King Agrippa to hear Paul so that he can ascertain what the charges should be, as it was clear that Paul was being held without violating any Roman laws. Acts Chapter 26 v. 1-23: Paul addresses King Herod Agrippa II, starting by saying that he was a Pharisee and that he hoped for the promises made by God to our fathers (King Agrippa II apparently already knew of these promises). Paul’s defense has the purpose of converting King Agrippa II. Paul explains how he persecuted the early Christians and was converted on the road to Damascus, and was commanded to go to the gentiles that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting of repentance. Paul explains how God has been with him and helped him when the Jews seized him and tried to kill him. Paul is giving the credit to God when the Roman soldiers came and rescued him from the mob. He testifies that Christ suffered, died, and was raised from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the gentiles. v. 24-32: Festus interrupts Paul and says all his learning has made him mad. Paul kindly lets Festus know that he is not mad but speaks the truth. Paul knew that King Agrippa already knew everything that Paul spoke about and asked him if he believed the prophets. Agrippa doesn’t answer Paul’s question but says that he was almost convinced to be a Christian. After Paul finished, King Agrippa took Festus aside and said that Paul was not guilty of death or even of anything that would require that he be jailed, and King Agrippa would have been set free except Paul had appealed to Caesar. Acts Chapter 27 v. 1-20: Paul was delivered to Julius, a centurion, to sail to Italy. The next day, they landed at Sidon, and Julius permitted Paul to visit his friends there. Eventually, they sailed to Fair Havens at the southern tip of Greece in late October, and Paul advised them to stay. The ship owner decided to sail to Phoenix (a harbor of Crete) to winter there, and while traveling there, a huge storm arose for many days, and they had to cast everything off the ship to lighten it so they didn’t run aground, and the storm did not let up. v. 21-44: Paul stood up and told them that they should have listened to him and stayed in Crete, but there would be no loss of life among them, but only the ship would be lost, as an angel of God told him the night before. On the 14th day of the storm, Paul encouraged them to eat, and Paul gave thanks to God, and all 276 people ate. Afterwards, they lightened the ship and threw the wheat into the sea (This was an Egyptian cargo ship. Egypt was the breadbasket for Rome). After intentionally trying to beach the ship, it hit the rocks, and the back half broke away. The centurion saved the prisoners' lives by unchaining them and commanded that anyone who could swim to shore was to do so, and he prevented the soldiers from killing them. Acts Chapter 28 v. 1-10: They were shipwrecked on the island of Malta, and the natives were very kind to them and made a fire for them because of the rain and cold. Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper, so initially they thought he was a bad person and deserved to die, but when he didn’t die, they then thought he must be a god. They were very superstitious and fickle people, as many people are today. Publius, one of the leading citizens of the island, lodged them courteously for three days. Publius’ father was sick, and Paul prayed for him and laid his hands on him, and he was healed. The rest of the island brought their sick to be healed by Paul, and after three months, when they departed, the islanders provided necessities for the trip. v. 11-16: Catching another grain ship from Alexandria to Rome, which had wintered at the island, they journeyed to Rome, meeting brethren at Puteoli (major cargo port from the East to Rome), Appii Forum (43 miles from Rome), and Three Inns (33 miles from Rome) on the way. When they arrived at Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, and he permitted Paul to dwell in a house by himself with a soldier who guarded him (always chained to a soldier). v. 17-31: Paul called the chief of the Jews in Rome together and talked to them about his charges, but they did not know why Paul was there, as they didn’t receive any letters. Paul talked to them concerning Jesus, and some believed and some did not. Because many would not believe Paul, he quotes Isaiah 6:9-10, saying that they hear but don’t understand, and tells them that salvation has also been sent to the Gentiles, but they will hear and understand. Paul dwelt two years in his own rented house and received all those who came to him preaching (to convert) the kingdom of God and teaching (the newly converted) the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence. During these two years, Paul wrote the epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, and to the Philippians. Why two years? We are not sure but it’s possible that, according to Roman law, if a person is not charged within two years, they can no longer be held captive, or he was released by Nero after his first appearance before him, or it’s was possible that there was no one to charge Paul because the original letters from the Jews were lost in the shipwreck and never made it to Rome. The book of Acts closes about 63AD with Paul in Rome, and Paul writes 2 Timothy around 66AD after his first appearance to Nero. Luke may have ended the writing at this time because the gospel had now been spread throughout the world at that time, fulfilling Jesus’ great commission. The world continues to grow and expand, and as of the end of 2025, we now have over 8.2 billion people on Earth and nearly 3.15 billion are considered “unreached” as they have little to no access to the gospel and there is no Christian presence in their communities. The great commission that Jesus gave applies to us more than ever. “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt 28:18-20). This is not optional, but we are required to (1) read God’s Word, (2) apply what we’ve read to our life, (3) obey God’s Word, and (4) tell others. Paul NEVER gave up and endured to the end, knowing that “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matt 24:13). Paul likened his life as running a race and near the end of his life writes to Timmothy, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Tim 4:7-8). Likewise, I pray that everyone who reads this continues to run the race, fights the good fight, finishes the course, and keeps the faith so that you also will go to heaven and be given a crown of righteousness. Do you Want to Know God More? We Must Read His Word. God tells us “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). We must study God’s Word for ourselves. A serious problem in trying to understand God’s Word is that mankind has created more than 450 different English translations which have thousands of differences between each translation. So, which of the 450 translations should you be studying if they are all saying different things? The correct answer is "reading any translation is better than reading no translation" and follow the Holy Spirit; in addition ... The Pure Word is a Resource All Christians Must Have! How much easier would it be to study God’s Word if an English translation existed that took each of the original Greek words and applied the original meaning along with the original parsing assigned to each word, and then NOT allow anyone to alter a single verse? The Pure Word is a New Testament reference which took 22 years to create and did just that! The Pure Word is NOT a translation but is a word-for-word extraction from the Textus Receptus Koine Greek to English. 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