I N D E X
5
were often his protectors. Proceeding from this statement, the
apostle leads on to the verse cited at the head of this study.
We must remember, in reading this passage, that Paul is a
bondman, that he has appealed unto Caesar, and that the only
reason for this special hearing before Agrippa, is that Festus, the
new Roman Governor, is in a predicament -for, he says: `It
seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to
signify the crimes laid against him' (Acts 25:27).  Paul,
therefore, has to offer a defence, and, knowing that the Jewish
religion, with its temple worship and sacred books, is a religion
sanctioned by Roman authority, his defence is that he has not
gone outside the teaching of the law and the prophets, and so has
committed no crime against the laws of Rome.
With regard to his first ministry which he had fulfilled, the
apostle says:
`... I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto
them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of
Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance' (Acts 26:19,20).
This  is  reminiscent
of
the
apostle's
words
to
the
Thessalonians:
`... Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to
wait for His Son from heaven' (1 Thess. 1:9,10).
Returning to Acts 26, we read:
`For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill
me' (verse 21).
The Jews did not accuse Paul of denying the teaching of the
law and the prophets.  They unjustly charged him with