Recap

So far in Acts, we've read through the introduction, the disciples' time in Jerusalem, the church spreading into Samaria, the missionary trips to the ends of the earth, and started Paul's journey to Rome. Acts, a sequel to Luke's gospel, explores the early church's birth and growth. Jesus commissioned his disciples to spread the good news from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

After his ascension, the Holy Spirit came as wind and fire, making believers God's new temples. Empowered to speak in different languages, the disciples amazed the crowd, and Peter led over 3,000 to salvation. The church was born, and believers lived in community, sharing all they had.

Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple, explaining that God’s presence now dwelt in his people. This led to conflict with the priests, who warned them to stop preaching. As struggles arose, the Apostles appointed seven men to manage daily tasks, and the church grew.

Stephen, one of the seven, performed miracles but was murdered for his faith. His death triggered persecution, forcing Christians to spread the gospel to Judea and Samaria.

Meanwhile, Saul, on his way to arrest Christians, was blinded by Jesus, healed by Ananias, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He began preaching immediately, despite opposition. The disciples in Jerusalem were initially wary of Saul, but Barnabas vouched for him.

Peter received a vision that led to him preaching before Gentiles and seeing them saved and baptised in the Spirit. The Gentiles were now included with the believers. A multi-ethnic church was established in Antioch, supported by Saul and Barnabas.

Paul and Barnabas began spreading the gospel in Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to Jews and Gentiles, facing opposition but establishing churches. Returning to Antioch, they reported their success, and the believers praised God.

A group argued that Gentile converts must be circumcised. At a council in Jerusalem, the apostles decided that the Gentiles had already been filled with the Holy Spirit. They didn’t need to adopt Jewish customs as well, but must reject things offensive to God.

After a disagreement over John Mark, Paul and Barnabas took separate missions. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia where he planted churches in Thessalonica, Berea, Atheans, and Corinth. On his third mission, Paul spent two years in Ephesus growing the church, visiting other churches along the way.

Heading back to Jerusalem Paul is warned not to go. Some prophecy that he would be bound and handed to the Gentiles. Paul insisted he was ready to be arrested or even die for Jesus. In Jerusalem, he faced hostility from Jews who believed he was undermining their traditions. To prove his commitment, Paul went to the temple to purify himself, but the crowd still attacked him. Roman soldiers intervened and arrested him. They planned to whip him until Paul revealed his Roman citizenship.

Paul got a chance to defend himself before the religious leaders but they are intent on killing him. The Lord then encourages Paul that he is being sent to Rome to share the gospel.

He was then sent to Governor Felix in Caesarea to escape the Jews planning on killing him. There Paul got to defend himself before Felix, who then kept him in house arrest for two years in the hope that Paul would pay for his freedom. Felix was then replaced by Festus.

Acts 25-26

As the new Governor, Festus travels to Jerusalem where the religious leaders appeal to him to have Paul transferred to them in Jerusalem. Fortunately, Festus pointed out that Paul was based in Caesarea which he himself was going to shortly. He invited the religious leaders to come with him so they can sort it out there.

A few days later they all arrive in Caesarea and the religious leaders make their claims against Paul, none of which they can prove. Paul continues to assert that he has committed no offence against Jewish law, the temple, or the Roman government.

Festus is trying to win favour with the Jews as their new Governor, and so he asks Paul if he would like to have a proper trial in Jerusalem. Instead, Paul points out that he would rather be in the hands of the Roman empire than handed over to these Jews.

We read how the Lord came to Paul to tell him all these events were happening to send him to Rome. Paul now uses this opportunity to request it. His appeal to go to Rome wasn’t just to escape the Jews, but was also to further the mission that God has called him to. Festus agrees to send him.

While preparations are being made, king Agrippa visits. Agrippa was the grandson of king Herod. He was the Roman-appointed king set up over the Jews. His jurisdiction overlaps a lot with Festus, but he would have a much more intimate knowledge of the culture, traditions, and history of the Jews.

While there, Festus explains the situation to Agrippa, who insists on hearing Paul himself. Festus then arranges for Paul to stand before Agrippa. He explains that he wants Agrippa's thoughts as he’s currently at a loss to know what to write when he sends Paul off to Rome.

Paul starts off by pointing to his early life. He groups a Jew amongst his people. He then became a Pharisee and all this the religious leaders know. The very thing these religious leaders are attacking him for is his belief in the resurrection, which is something the Pharisees believe in!

Then Paul concedes that he was once like them. He went around Jerusalem, persecuting those who followed Jesus. He would try to get to them to blaspheme so they could be executed.

But since then, Paul has encountered Jesus himself. He shares his conversion story, which we read about in Acts 9. Now, Jesus has called him to share the good news of the gospel with the Gentiles so they too can know his salvation, which is what Paul has done. Jesus also knew that he would be persecuted like this and would continue to protect him when the Jews and the Gentiles try to stop him.

This is the real reason the Jews now want him dead, because he has taken this good news that was prophesied in scripture and shared it with Gentiles. They are accusing him of departing from their scriptures and causing trouble. But for the first time, he is properly holding to the scriptures.

This idea is too fantastical for Festus. That some Jewish messiah who was crucified has since been resurrected, and came to Paul personally to tell him share this message with other nations. Festus calls Paul insane.

But Paul calmly points out he is very much in his right mind. In fact, everything he is talking about are things that Agrippa would be very much familiar with already. Agrippa immediately sees Paul’s intention. Paul is not just trying to defend himself. He’s trying to put forward and defend the Christian faith in the hope that others might believe.

When Agrippa and Festus convene, they agree that Paul is clearly innocent of the crimes the Jews are claiming. But Paul has asked to be sent to Rome, and so to Rome he will go.

At any point, Festus could have declared Paul innocent and had the case thrown out. But through it all, Festus positioned himself as a man with his hands tied, unable to do anything.

Yet in the midst of this incompetent and lazy leadership, God is still achieving his will and mission by leading Paul to Rome.

Psalm 129

This psalm isn’t attributed to anyone in particular and is named as a psalm of ascent. These psalms were sung by worshippers as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Festival of Weeks, and Festival of Tabernacles) or possibly by the Levites as they ascended the steps of the Temple. Psalm 120-134 are all psalms of ascent.

Psalm 129:1-3 - I was oppressed

Psalm 129:4-8 - May God defeat the oppressor

In this ascent journey we’ve gone from being far from God's presence (Psalm 120), to seeking God’s presence (Psalm 121), and then to reaching God’s presence (Psalm 122). From there, the psalmist has asked the Lord for help (Psalm 123) and then praised the Lord for his protection (Psalm 124).

From within Jerusalem, they reflected on the nature of righteousness and wickedness (Psalm 125). They thanked God for how he has restored his city, but also ask for more (Psalm 126). This leads the psalmist to reflect on the importance of God being first and foremost in our live (Psalm 127) and fearing God (Psalm 128).

Having focused on God’s authority and power, the psalmist then reflects on how God rescued them and Israel from oppressors (Psalm 129).

The psalmist reflects on how, in their youth, they had been attacked oppressed. But in this they see parallels between the nation’s experiences with oppression, most likely the exile, hence they encourage Israel to say the same.

But despite this, the Lord is the one that defeats the wicked and breaks their control and rescued them. So the psalmist asks that going forward, the Lord continues to keep them from oppression. May all those who hate Jerusalem be put to shame. Let them wither and achieve nothing so that all people might see that the Lord’s favour is on his people.

In short, the psalmist is making the case that we’ve experienced oppression and struggles in the past and we may do so again. But the Lord was the one that rescued us before, so may he also do so again.