WEBVTT

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 Good morning. Turning your Bibles to Acts 23.

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 We are moving ever closer to finishing the book of Acts.

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! We've been going through for quite a while now.

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!

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 I don't want you to think that this is really just for me.

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 I really think that real students of the Scripture,

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 if you ever really want to be a serious Bible student

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 and really dive into the world,

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 you have to dive into the world of the Bible.

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 You have to stop and consider the context in which you're reading

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 because this was written a long time ago

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 and things are made a lot more clear and vivid

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 when you actually understand the world that you're reading about.

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 A lot of just historical context all through the book of Acts

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 in the first century.

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 And today, when I was thinking about this,

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 I thought, I don't think there's another text in the Scripture

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 that talks more about Rome than the text that we're looking at today.

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 And so I really, a lot of people just don't know much about

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 Rome in Judea in the first century.

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 Now, of course, I'm going to spare you

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 because I understand that there's a whole range of people here

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 from people who love history to people who hate it.

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 And so I'm going to try to go in the middle somewhere.

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 But I just kind of want to give you an introduction

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 just to get you into the world of what we're reading about right now.

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 And so maybe it becomes more vivid to you.

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 You'll understand it a little better.

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 And then we will unpack our text with this kind of stuff in our heads, I hope,

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 that will become a little more real to you.

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 And so there's a lot of great books out there

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 to help you dive into the world of the Bible,

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 the culture, the language, the geography.

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 All that kind of stuff matters in a lot of ways.

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 Now, I do agree that I can nerd out a little too much this morning,

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 so I'm going to try not to do that.

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 So I'm going to try to go in the middle, like I said a minute ago.

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 But I guess before we do that,

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 I would just like to pray for our time.

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 Then we'll give an intro, and then we'll dive into our text today.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord, we do gather this morning as your people to worship you

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 as those that have been saved and redeemed.

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 And God, I just ask during this time,

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 you would help us to forget about things that are going on in our lives

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 that we'll be thinking and doing after the service.

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 You allow us to be completely here,

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 giving us eyes to see, Lord, and ears to hear your word.

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 Lord, help us to not blaspheme your word by walking away

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 and forgetting it so easily.

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 So help us to remember this morning,

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 work in your people, Lord, by your spirit.

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 In Christ's name, amen.

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 So I actually have visual aids for you today.

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 So yeah, we'll go to the first slide.

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 So there's a whole history of Rome in Judea.

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 And I could definitely nerd out on this,

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 but just read Josephus, read Tacitus,

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 some of the ancient writers,

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 and they'll paint this really, really awesome, an awesome way.

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 You'll see how the Bible parallels ancient history a lot.

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 So, but let's just kind of hone in on this.

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 Go to the next slide.

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 You're good.

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 So how did Rome even end up in Judea?

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 Like how did they actually conquer Judea?

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 Well, as you know,

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 there was a period between when the Old Testament ended

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 and when the New Testament starts.

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 And in between that time,

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 Judea went under a lot of different conquerors

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 that ruled over them.

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 But the Seleucid Empire,

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 312 BC to 63 BC,

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 was like the Hellenistic Empire

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 that basically was the result of Alexander's Empire breaking up.

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 And a section of that was in Judea.

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 And then eventually the Roman Republic,

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 around 63 BC,

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 conquered the Seleucid Empire.

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 And so Judea became like a client state of Rome,

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 of the Republic.

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 But as you know,

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 Judea has always wanted to go back

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 to being his own power,

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 his own state.

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 So they definitely kind of revolted

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 when the power shift came.

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 And there was a bloody,

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 bloody subduing of Judea.

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 A lot of you have heard of the Roman General Pompey,

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 Pompey the Great.

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 He was the one who initially came back

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 and conquered Judea,

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 besieged Jerusalem,

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 and like just nasty, awful slaughter.

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 And so the Jews learned very,

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 very quickly

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 that Rome was unlike any other conqueror

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 they ever had before.

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 In terms of military might,

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 wealth,

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 education,

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 literature,

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 political stability,

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 they had never seen anything like this before.

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 And as you can see,

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 Judea kind of in the right lower corner of the map there.

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 But eventually Rome conquered

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 the whole Mediterranean world.

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 And so,

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 yeah,

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 that was how they got into Judea.

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 But they were definitely like

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 one of the most advanced civilizations

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 in the ancient world.

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 They,

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 around the first centuries,

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 in our context,

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 the empire stretched basically

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 from England to Africa,

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 from Syria to Spain,

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 and a quarter of the people on earth

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 lived under the rule of the Caesars.

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 So a huge,

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 huge empire.

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 empire.

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 So the Roman Republic

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 that existed all the way up to Julius Caesar

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 was basically the empire being run by the Senate.

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 But Caesar,

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 Julius Caesar that is,

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 kind of switched it

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 and brought about more of an empire idea

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 with an emperor ruling over the peoples

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 with the Senate kind of playing

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 underneath that,

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 underneath the emperor.

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 emperor.

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 And so,

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 I'm not going to give you a long history

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 on all the emperors,

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 but I have some slides on them.

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 Go ahead.

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 So you have to start

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 with Julius Caesar.

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 I'm only going to go through the emperors

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 that basically are in the New Testament period.

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 Okay?

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 But I'm not going to,

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 so if you're curious about this,

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 Julius Caesar,

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 but when he was assassinated

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 by the Senate,

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 his nephew,

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 which is Octavius,

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 took the throne,

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 Augustus Caesar.

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 He had one of the longest reigns

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 of all the emperors.

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 And this was a dynasty

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 called the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

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 So direct descendants

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 of Julius Caesar.

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 And if you know your Bible,

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 Christ was born

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 under the reign of Caesar Augustus.

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 So that's when things kind of start.

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 So go ahead.

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 Next slide.

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 Tiberius,

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 son of Octavius.

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 He,

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 again,

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 if you know your Bible,

00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:38.639
 New Testament,

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 Luke,

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 ringing out in your head.

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 Christ started his ministry

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 underneath the reign of Tiberius.

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 Kind of an okay ruler,

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 not really great.

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 And then,

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 the whack job

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 of the whole dynasty,

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 Caligula.

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 Crazy stories about this guy.

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 I mean,

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 just look at him,

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 number one.

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 But,

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 talk about insanity.

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 Like this man,

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 two of his most incredible feasts

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 was he,

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 he came to the Roman Senate

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 and he says,

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 I'm going to appoint my horse

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 to be a part of this Senate.

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 And he was serious.

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 So he appointed a horse

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 to be a senator.

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 But also,

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 very terrifying.

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 He had like just fits of rage

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 that he would go

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 and just kill

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 and slaughter.

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 He kicked his own wife to death

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 when she was pregnant.

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 But definitely a whack job.

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 And,

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 eventually,

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 the people around him

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 said,

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 this isn't a good idea.

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 We need to end his life.

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 So,

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 they did.

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 Go to the next slide.

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 And,

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 during the slaughter

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 of taking Caligula down,

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 they made Claudius,

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 who was of the royal line,

00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:49.719
 really timid,

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 shy,

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 did not want to be emperor.

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 You can even see it in his face.

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 Like,

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 they made him the emperor

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 and he was always

00:08:56.479 --> 00:08:58.179
 trying to measure up,

00:08:58.439 --> 00:09:00.319
 always failing to measure up.

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 But,

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 as you,

00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.679
 as you read in Acts,

00:09:03.419 --> 00:09:04.259
 Claudius' name

00:09:04.259 --> 00:09:05.519
 has come up a couple of times.

00:09:05.599 --> 00:09:06.479
 He was the one who,

00:09:06.979 --> 00:09:08.019
 who basically expelled

00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:09.179
 all the Jews from Rome.

00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.159
 Um,

00:09:10.779 --> 00:09:11.079
 but,

00:09:11.719 --> 00:09:12.319
 unfortunately,

00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:13.239
 poor Claudius.

00:09:13.339 --> 00:09:14.620
 If you ever felt bad for an emperor,

00:09:14.739 --> 00:09:15.539
 you feel bad for him,

00:09:15.959 --> 00:09:17.019
 the whole time there was people

00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:18.479
 conspiring behind him

00:09:18.479 --> 00:09:20.199
 to overthrow him.

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 And,

00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:21.599
 eventually,

00:09:21.739 --> 00:09:22.279
 it did happen.

00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:23.559
 Um,

00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:25.259
 his wife was named Agrippina.

00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:26.539
 And,

00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:27.019
 eventually,

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.159
 she conspired to put her son,

00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:30.000
 Nero,

00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:31.620
 on the throne.

00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.500
 Second whack job

00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:34.279
 of the dynasty.

00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:35.360
 Um,

00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:36.580
 I think he was probably right,

00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.600
 barely behind Caligula.

00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:39.639
 I would probably give Caligula

00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:40.779
 first place for crazy.

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 But,

00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:42.700
 you see the neared

00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:44.240
 on Nero.

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 Um,

00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:45.279
 so,

00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:46.419
 bad,

00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:46.639
 uh,

00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.679
 that's something you just don't

00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:48.120
 want to emulate,

00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:48.559
 guys.

00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:49.639
 If you can't grow a full beard,

00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:50.399
 just don't try.

00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:51.919
 If it doesn't come up,

00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.100
 just don't grow the neared.

00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:53.620
 So,

00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:55.419
 but as we know,

00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:57.700
 as we know,

00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:58.279
 Nero,

00:09:59.179 --> 00:10:00.039
 he loved theater,

00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:00.899
 he loved art,

00:10:01.019 --> 00:10:02.340
 he loved to think of himself

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 as like a dramatic

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 performer.

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 Um,

00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:07.720
 the people,

00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:08.360
 like on,

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 you know,

00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:09.840
 American Idol and stuff,

00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.139
 if they tried to criticize him,

00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:12.379
 he would just kill them all.

00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:13.539
 He was not good,

00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:13.779
 though,

00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:14.340
 at all.

00:10:15.299 --> 00:10:15.620
 And,

00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:16.179
 but,

00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:16.460
 uh,

00:10:16.460 --> 00:10:17.480
 not much of a ruler,

00:10:18.180 --> 00:10:18.539
 but,

00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:20.759
 several uprisings happened

00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:22.080
 towards the end of his reign.

00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:22.160
 And,

00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.759
 the Jewish revolt,

00:10:24.420 --> 00:10:26.280
 which eventually led to Judea

00:10:26.280 --> 00:10:27.500
 being destroyed utterly,

00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:29.320
 and the temple being destroyed,

00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:32.580
 and the rebellion in Britain as well.

00:10:33.379 --> 00:10:33.600
 But,

00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:34.100
 eventually,

00:10:34.540 --> 00:10:34.840
 Nero,

00:10:35.620 --> 00:10:36.100
 his own,

00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.800
 his own guard turned against him,

00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:39.620
 and they were hunting him down,

00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:41.600
 and he kind of had a servant with him,

00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:42.680
 and he,

00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:44.460
 he took the knife and put it to his throat,

00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:44.700
 and he,

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.080
 and he,

00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:47.259
 he died the dramatic death

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.440
 that he always wanted to die.

00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:49.220
 He saw himself,

00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:49.760
 like,

00:10:49.800 --> 00:10:51.140
 as like in a play of like,

00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:51.420
 you know,

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:51.940
 tragedy,

00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:52.240
 like,

00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:52.620
 I'm the,

00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:54.060
 I'm the victim here,

00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.760
 and I'm going to die.

00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:56.600
 But,

00:10:56.660 --> 00:10:57.520
 his last words,

00:10:57.740 --> 00:10:58.200
 supposedly,

00:10:58.360 --> 00:10:58.480
 were,

00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:00.300
 one artist dies in me.

00:11:01.260 --> 00:11:01.660
 And,

00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:02.620
 that was his last,

00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.200
 famous words.

00:11:05.420 --> 00:11:05.680
 Um,

00:11:05.680 --> 00:11:05.860
 so,

00:11:05.900 --> 00:11:06.700
 after he died,

00:11:07.580 --> 00:11:10.620
 there was no direct descendants of,

00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.820
 of Caesar anymore.

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:12.960
 So,

00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:14.740
 the empire's top generals,

00:11:15.020 --> 00:11:15.500
 three of them,

00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.759
 started fighting each other,

00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:18.440
 in a Roman civil war,

00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:21.080
 to basically take the,

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:22.860
 take the throne by force.

00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.259
 So,

00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.620
 while those generals,

00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.159
 fought it out,

00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.659
 this guy,

00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:29.419
 Vespasian,

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:32.620
 he was the general sent by Nero to Judea,

00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.440
 to subdue Judea.

00:11:35.399 --> 00:11:35.919
 And,

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.700
 he kind of just hung out,

00:11:37.820 --> 00:11:37.940
 and,

00:11:37.940 --> 00:11:39.220
 and watched everybody kind of,

00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:40.600
 fight each other.

00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:41.500
 But,

00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:42.759
 there was so much chaos,

00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:43.460
 within the empire,

00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.700
 they all eventually looked,

00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:46.020
 to Vespasian,

00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:47.240
 to restore the order.

00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:47.600
 Like,

00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:48.140
 come back,

00:11:48.640 --> 00:11:49.200
 we all,

00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:50.420
 like you,

00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:51.320
 and you're going to be our guy.

00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:51.520
 So,

00:11:51.580 --> 00:11:52.900
 he became the next emperor.

00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:53.759
 And,

00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:54.560
 if you just look at him,

00:11:54.600 --> 00:11:55.660
 he looks like a soldier.

00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.160
 He's,

00:11:57.160 --> 00:11:57.980
 he was very,

00:11:58.060 --> 00:12:00.259
 calm and cool,

00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:01.580
 under stressful situations,

00:12:01.740 --> 00:12:02.440
 a great ruler.

00:12:03.280 --> 00:12:03.720
 But,

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.800
 as with Rome,

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:05.420
 you see like,

00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:05.780
 both,

00:12:06.220 --> 00:12:07.140
 sophistication,

00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:07.540
 and,

00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:07.860
 and,

00:12:08.520 --> 00:12:09.600
 a civilized society,

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.400
 but then you also see,

00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.600
 extreme brutality.

00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:12.800
 And,

00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:13.100
 he,

00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.860
 he brought like,

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:15.879
 a reign of terror,

00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.220
 on the Jewish people.

00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:19.139
 The first parts,

00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:19.920
 of his conquest,

00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:20.420
 were,

00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:22.580
 kill every single man,

00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:24.340
 that has an ability,

00:12:24.420 --> 00:12:24.800
 to fight.

00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:26.300
 And,

00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.500
 then enslave every,

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:27.980
 man,

00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:28.659
 older man,

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:28.899
 woman,

00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.399
 and child.

00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:30.720
 That was his policy.

00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:31.879
 He might burn their villages,

00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.720
 and destroy their crops.

00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.080
 Like,

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:34.980
 make them fear,

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:36.300
 Rome.

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:37.680
 So,

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.800
 when he took the throne,

00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.240
 Judea,

00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.039
 had a little bit,

00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:41.899
 of a reprieve.

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:43.519
 But,

00:12:43.560 --> 00:12:44.519
 after he became emperor,

00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.320
 he sent his son,

00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:45.879
 Titus,

00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:47.299
 you can kind of see,

00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:47.580
 some,

00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.759
 something of a resemblance,

00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.539
 back to Judea.

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.519
 And,

00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:52.659
 Titus finished the job,

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.779
 besieging Jerusalem,

00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:56.519
 then eventually destroying the temple,

00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:57.500
 by accident,

00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:58.019
 actually.

00:12:58.860 --> 00:12:59.299
 So,

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.659
 you can read more about that,

00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:02.100
 in the writings of Josephus,

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.200
 called the Jewish Wars.

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:04.399
 So,

00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.779
 that was a,

00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:06.840
 that's basically,

00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:07.840
 probably where you can stop,

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:08.680
 when you're thinking about,

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.600
 first century,

00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:11.379
 Judea,

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:12.580
 and their relationship,

00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:13.540
 with the Roman Empire.

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:15.120
 So,

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.920
 go on to the next slide.

00:13:18.300 --> 00:13:18.540
 So,

00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:19.660
 most of you have heard,

00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:20.360
 of the infamous,

00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:21.360
 Roman legion.

00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:22.899
 This is a picture,

00:13:23.040 --> 00:13:23.720
 of a Roman legion,

00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:24.600
 in the first century.

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:25.639
 So,

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.519
 the size of it,

00:13:27.280 --> 00:13:28.139
 varied throughout,

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:28.820
 Roman history.

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.180
 But,

00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.420
 in the first century,

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:30.980
 this is what,

00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:31.820
 it would have looked like.

00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.540
 And there would be around,

00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.759
 roughly around,

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.660
 5,000,

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.519
 500 soldiers,

00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.980
 in the legion.

00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.000
 It was made up,

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.120
 of 10 cohorts.

00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:44.780
 And the first cohort,

00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:45.220
 as you see,

00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:46.019
 that was a little bigger,

00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:46.899
 on the far left.

00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.480
 That was made up,

00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.639
 of some of the better soldiers,

00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.280
 and they actually,

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:50.800
 were charged,

00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:51.780
 with carrying the eagle,

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.600
 like the standard,

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.100
 of the legion.

00:13:55.220 --> 00:13:55.940
 And then the other,

00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:56.860
 nine cohorts,

00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.639
 kind of busted down.

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.519
 You saw little squares,

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.000
 those are called centuries,

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:04.019
 where you get centurion from.

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.720
 The centurion,

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.519
 commanded each,

00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:06.440
 century.

00:14:06.440 --> 00:14:07.780
 And,

00:14:07.900 --> 00:14:08.920
 the Roman military,

00:14:09.880 --> 00:14:10.960
 unlike any other thing,

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.080
 the ancient world had seen,

00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.540
 some Roman armies,

00:14:14.540 --> 00:14:15.460
 could be up to,

00:14:15.520 --> 00:14:16.380
 eight to ten of these.

00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:17.520
 So,

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.760
 just imagine that mass,

00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.240
 like coming towards you.

00:14:21.140 --> 00:14:21.580
 And unlike,

00:14:21.740 --> 00:14:22.540
 other empires,

00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.140
 before them,

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.660
 they fought,

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.520
 like in a single,

00:14:25.260 --> 00:14:26.220
 a single unit.

00:14:26.880 --> 00:14:27.800
 They didn't just rush you,

00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:28.700
 and try to take you out.

00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:28.880
 So,

00:14:28.920 --> 00:14:29.440
 that's why they,

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.820
 very easily,

00:14:30.820 --> 00:14:32.100
 conquered the ancient world.

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:34.399
 And,

00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.759
 they had vast reserves,

00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.560
 of manpower,

00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.560
 that no other country,

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.940
 could ever dream of.

00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.379
 Example,

00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.019
 when Hannibal,

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.879
 invaded Italy,

00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:44.320
 he destroyed,

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.480
 an entire Roman army,

00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:46.659
 of about 80,000 men,

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.360
 destroyed them,

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.420
 like almost to the man.

00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:49.480
 And then,

00:14:49.540 --> 00:14:50.600
 within a year later,

00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.879
 Rome sent another army,

00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:52.820
 that was just as big.

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.120
 They could not,

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.519
 just pull,

00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.519
 vast reserves,

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.240
 of manpower,

00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:58.080
 throughout the empire.

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.660
 And then,

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:00.920
 each legion,

00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:02.220
 would have a small detachment,

00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:04.200
 of cavalry with it.

00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:05.840
 But the Roman army,

00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:07.100
 wasn't really big on cavalry.

00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:07.580
 They mainly,

00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.700
 wanted to get up on you,

00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.379
 and fight you,

00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:11.220
 face to face,

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:12.200
 with infantry.

00:15:13.060 --> 00:15:13.259
 So,

00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:14.420
 cavalry was mainly for,

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.040
 protecting flanks,

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:17.180
 and then softening up,

00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:17.960
 the enemy,

00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.460
 before the infantry,

00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:20.100
 came in.

00:15:21.160 --> 00:15:21.400
 So,

00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:23.580
 if you look,

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.460
 there are five,

00:15:26.160 --> 00:15:27.740
 lower ranking tribunes,

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.240
 like in,

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:29.900
 sort of the,

00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.980
 lower part of the screen.

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.460
 The tribune,

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.220
 in our text,

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.800
 in Acts,

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.340
 is probably,

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:34.759
 one of these,

00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:35.600
 lower ranking,

00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:36.780
 tribunes.

00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:38.240
 They command,

00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:38.900
 what they would have called,

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.900
 an urban cohort.

00:15:40.780 --> 00:15:41.020
 So,

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:41.680
 that's,

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.220
 he's not a very,

00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:42.900
 high ranking,

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.139
 tribune.

00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:45.960
 You can go on,

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:46.540
 to the next slide.

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.440
 So,

00:15:48.540 --> 00:15:49.460
 that's just a breakdown,

00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:50.840
 of the Roman legion,

00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:51.360
 in the first,

00:15:52.020 --> 00:15:52.800
 first century.

00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:53.280
 I kind of,

00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:54.440
 explained that a little bit.

00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:55.740
 But,

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:57.400
 yeah,

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.259
 if you're taking notes,

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.939
 and interested,

00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.919
 and nerding out.

00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:01.639
 Next slide.

00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:03.279
 So,

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:05.220
 first century,

00:16:05.419 --> 00:16:05.699
 again,

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.319
 this is what,

00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.860
 a Roman legionnaire,

00:16:08.939 --> 00:16:09.639
 would have looked like.

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:10.959
 Had,

00:16:11.059 --> 00:16:11.939
 state of the art,

00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:13.039
 armor,

00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:13.899
 and weapons.

00:16:15.079 --> 00:16:15.699
 And again,

00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:16.399
 as you can see,

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.799
 they fought side by side,

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.840
 so they would just form a wall,

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.259
 and just,

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.279
 push you right over.

00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:21.819
 They were armed,

00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:23.100
 with a large shield,

00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:25.299
 a short stabbing sword,

00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.159
 called the gladius,

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.579
 which is where you get gladiator from.

00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:28.979
 And then,

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:30.379
 they would carry two,

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:32.439
 javelins called pila.

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:32.959
 And the,

00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:33.939
 the point of the javelin,

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.599
 was either to,

00:16:35.099 --> 00:16:36.059
 obviously kill you,

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.939
 but if you had a shield,

00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.120
 it would stick in your shield.

00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.099
 And you see that little skinny point,

00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:40.759
 it would bend.

00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:42.579
 So you'd either have to,

00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:44.379
 you'd have to throw away your shield,

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.240
 if you were the enemy.

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.620
 And then you would be rushing on,

00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:49.099
 and then they would throw the second one at you,

00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:49.959
 when you had no,

00:16:50.299 --> 00:16:50.959
 protection.

00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:51.080
 protection.

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:51.660
 So,

00:16:52.540 --> 00:16:53.800
 very devastating,

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.840
 military force.

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.180
 Go ahead,

00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:57.800
 next slide.

00:16:59.680 --> 00:16:59.960
 I mean,

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.320
 this is a picture of them,

00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:02.040
 how they would fight,

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:02.980
 side by side.

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.460
 They fought,

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:05.799
 and,

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:07.059
 in rows,

00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.079
 and the centurion,

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.100
 would actually be charged,

00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:10.519
 with like,

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.200
 blowing a whistle,

00:17:11.360 --> 00:17:12.360
 or giving some signal,

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.860
 and the guy in the front,

00:17:13.940 --> 00:17:14.819
 every five minutes,

00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:16.120
 the guy in the front,

00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:16.819
 would go back,

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:17.920
 and the next guy,

00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.620
 would step up.

00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:19.000
 So,

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.500
 if you think about that,

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.100
 they only had to fight,

00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.799
 five minutes,

00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.860
 out of 45 minutes,

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.660
 with the exchanging,

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.259
 like that.

00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:27.920
 Next slide.

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.259
 So,

00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:31.120
 in our text today,

00:17:31.180 --> 00:17:32.200
 we also have some,

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.579
 light,

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.519
 lightly Roman,

00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.759
 lightly armored Roman cavalry.

00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.559
 This is definitely,

00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.600
 like what they have looked like,

00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.640
 in the first century.

00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:40.799
 So,

00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.180
 again,

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.519
 not very heavily armed,

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.480
 like knights,

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.259
 but,

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.539
 meant to just kind of,

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.299
 come in really quick,

00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:46.720
 and do,

00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:47.900
 light damage,

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.120
 to the enemy.

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:49.640
 Go ahead.

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.480
 So,

00:17:52.600 --> 00:17:53.500
 in the Roman command,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.640
 in our text,

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.220
 we see,

00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:56.120
 again,

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.680
 like a lower ranking tribune.

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:58.819
 So,

00:17:59.100 --> 00:18:00.360
 this is like,

00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.920
 a picture of a tribune,

00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:03.819
 speaking with the centurion.

00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:05.380
 The centurion,

00:18:05.380 --> 00:18:06.600
 was known by his helmet,

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.819
 and the horse hair,

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.539
 that went over the,

00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.579
 the top,

00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:10.799
 and he carried,

00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.620
 a wooden rod,

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.559
 to kind of symbolize,

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.539
 that he was in control,

00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:15.880
 and he was a,

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:16.740
 career soldier,

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.600
 to the death.

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.740
 And,

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.699
 these were guys,

00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:20.179
 that would like,

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.139
 not back down,

00:18:21.199 --> 00:18:22.079
 and have no mercy.

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:23.279
 They were,

00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:24.599
 they earned that position,

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:25.839
 by being that way.

00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:26.779
 And,

00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:27.839
 they would wear their medals,

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.639
 those are medals,

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.759
 that are on the front of his,

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.119
 his armor there.

00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:32.279
 So,

00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:33.759
 in our text,

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.619
 we have a tribune,

00:18:34.819 --> 00:18:36.039
 a lower ranking tribune.

00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:37.639
 So,

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.679
 I think that's all,

00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.279
 the slides I got.

00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:40.819
 Yeah.

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:42.099
 So,

00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.960
 in our text today,

00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.200
 I mean,

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.119
 I've always wondered,

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.899
 was there a legion,

00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.639
 in Judea,

00:18:47.679 --> 00:18:48.679
 during the first century?

00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:49.700
 And,

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:50.539
 the answer was no.

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.480
 There was no legion,

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.000
 in Judea,

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:54.179
 during the first century.

00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:56.119
 The procurators,

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.460
 that governed Judea,

00:18:58.159 --> 00:18:59.419
 were lower ranking,

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.839
 and they were subordinate,

00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:03.079
 to the senatorial governor,

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.859
 in Syria.

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.240
 And so,

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.039
 the senatorial governors,

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.779
 they were the only ones,

00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.879
 that could command a legion.

00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:11.480
 So,

00:19:11.800 --> 00:19:12.820
 what do we see then,

00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.120
 in our text,

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.700
 is what they would have called,

00:19:15.800 --> 00:19:17.040
 an urban cohort.

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.460
 It had been roughly,

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.620
 around a thousand men,

00:19:20.340 --> 00:19:21.400
 and they would be made up,

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.580
 of auxiliary troops,

00:19:22.760 --> 00:19:23.740
 from Syria,

00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.720
 or even locally recruited,

00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:28.000
 soldiers from Samaria.

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:29.340
 And,

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.440
 so they weren't,

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:32.320
 like your European legionnaire.

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:32.840
 They were,

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.060
 lightly armored,

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.360
 and they were not as well trained,

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:36.180
 but they were still,

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:38.240
 a force to be reckoned with.

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:40.519
 Most Romans,

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.779
 did not like Judea.

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.700
 They saw it as like,

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.359
 the armpit,

00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:44.720
 of the empire.

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.740
 And if you got sent there,

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.319
 it was probably because,

00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:48.299
 the emperor didn't like you.

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:49.059
 And,

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.220
 it was hot,

00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.079
 as you can imagine.

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.039
 Imagine going from like,

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.440
 a nice,

00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.339
 cool,

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:53.880
 temperate,

00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.799
 European weather,

00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.579
 to like a desert,

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.099
 you know.

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:57.759
 And,

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.380
 you got sent there,

00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:00.259
 it was a very troublesome,

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.500
 and uncomfortable place,

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:01.980
 for any,

00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.500
 high-ranking Roman,

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.519
 to be posted.

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:05.859
 And,

00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:08.579
 legions did reappear,

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.740
 again,

00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.960
 like in the Jewish revolt,

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.380
 in 66 AD.

00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:14.660
 Vespasian and Titus,

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:16.000
 brought four legions with them,

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.720
 and they were recruited,

00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.339
 from Italy,

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.579
 Spain,

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.839
 and Greece,

00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:21.660
 and Macedonia.

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.059
 So those were your,

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:24.059
 your bad boys.

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:24.420
 That's,

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.460
 that's who they brought back,

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.240
 to kind of finish,

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.500
 the job.

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.619
 It was a nasty,

00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:29.720
 brutal,

00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.359
 subduing,

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.940
 of Judea,

00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:33.320
 that Judea never,

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.200
 recovered from,

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.100
 ever.

00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.400
 So,

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.860
 just know,

00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.200
 that like in the Roman world,

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.759
 there was no other,

00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:43.759
 you didn't want to mess with them.

00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.279
 Like you,

00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:45.759
 you really just wanted to,

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.960
 thrive under them somehow.

00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.580
 And Judea,

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.460
 had done that.

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.220
 They had,

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:53.180
 thrived under Roman rule,

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.180
 in a sense.

00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:56.039
 They didn't have their own independence,

00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:56.559
 but,

00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.960
 Rome allowed them,

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.880
 to worship,

00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.799
 and allowed them,

00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.019
 to keep their temple traditions.

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.440
 And,

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.900
 as long as they paid homage,

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.220
 to the emperor,

00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:06.559
 but,

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.379
 as we know,

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:07.819
 eventually,

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:08.440
 that,

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.460
 boiled over,

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.240
 and there was a,

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.139
 massive revolt.

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.519
 And today,

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.299
 if you go to,

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.839
 Jerusalem,

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.480
 the only part of,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.879
 the existence of the temple,

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.720
 you see is the,

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.279
 is the western wall.

00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.119
 And,

00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.319
 because Rome tore down,

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.119
 every bit of it,

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.000
 after that happened.

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.420
 So,

00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:27.599
 just keep some of that in mind,

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.039
 I guess,

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:28.460
 as we,

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.539
 look into our text today.

00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.839
 I'll try to give you,

00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:34.019
 like a really brief overview,

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.720
 of where we've been,

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:36.920
 and then dive into it.

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:37.740
 But,

00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.779
 in Acts 23,

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.599
 kind of where we find ourselves today,

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:45.240
 just a little,

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.440
 little reminder,

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:46.940
 like a,

00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:47.779
 of where we've been.

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.799
 Paul came back to Jerusalem,

00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.019
 he was preaching in the temple,

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:54.240
 and he was attacked,

00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:55.539
 and then eventually arrested,

00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:57.519
 by Roman authorities.

00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.420
 He was allowed to speak,

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.259
 to the mob,

00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.819
 and he addressed them,

00:22:02.879 --> 00:22:03.759
 and basically testified,

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.660
 of Christ,

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.319
 and the gospel.

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.980
 They got more,

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.639
 and more angry,

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.579
 and unruly.

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.960
 And,

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.400
 finally,

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.119
 the tribune,

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.720
 brought him,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:13.180
 before,

00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:14.859
 the Jewish council,

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.680
 the Sanhedrin,

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.000
 and they were,

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.019
 not helpful,

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:18.440
 either.

00:22:19.860 --> 00:22:20.240
 So,

00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.840
 this eventually,

00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:21.700
 leads to him,

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.940
 kind of going back,

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.799
 to the drawing board,

00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.180
 and thinking,

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.100
 what do we do next?

00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.500
 Because,

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:26.940
 I don't know what to do,

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.460
 with this guy,

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.840
 Paul.

00:22:28.340 --> 00:22:28.600
 Because,

00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.500
 he's a Roman citizen,

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.140
 and somehow,

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.560
 I have to protect him.

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:32.880
 So,

00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:33.720
 let's just start,

00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.600
 in verse 10,

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.340
 and then we'll read,

00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.300
 all the way through,

00:22:37.600 --> 00:22:38.340
 35.

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.320
 It says,

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:42.200
 And when the dissension,

00:22:42.260 --> 00:22:43.000
 became violent,

00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.540
 this is the Sanhedrin,

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.120
 the tribune,

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.160
 afraid that Paul,

00:22:47.260 --> 00:22:48.320
 be torn to pieces,

00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:48.980
 by them,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.660
 commanded the soldiers,

00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.520
 to go down,

00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:52.980
 and to take him away,

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.680
 from among them,

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.420
 by force,

00:22:54.560 --> 00:22:55.360
 and bring him,

00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.380
 into the barracks.

00:22:57.260 --> 00:22:58.340
 The following night,

00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.920
 this is a key verse,

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.840
 the following night,

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.220
 the Lord stood by him,

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.299
 and said,

00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.140
 Take courage,

00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:06.019
 for as you have testified,

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.019
 to the facts,

00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:08.319
 about me in Jerusalem,

00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.220
 so you must testify,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.640
 also in Rome.

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.839
 And when it was day,

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.100
 the Jews made a plot,

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.720
 and bound themselves,

00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.539
 by an oath,

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.779
 neither to eat,

00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:19.539
 nor drink,

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.380
 till they had killed Paul.

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.720
 There were more than 40,

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:25.660
 who made this conspiracy.

00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:27.839
 They went to the chief priests,

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.299
 and elders,

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:28.860
 and said,

00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:31.180
 We have strictly bound ourselves,

00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.860
 by oath,

00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:33.639
 to taste no food,

00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.359
 till we have killed Paul.

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:36.979
 Now therefore,

00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:37.799
 you,

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.339
 along with the council,

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:41.399
 give notice to the tribune,

00:23:41.479 --> 00:23:42.719
 to bring him down to you,

00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:44.279
 as though you were going,

00:23:44.439 --> 00:23:45.599
 to determine his case,

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.379
 more exactly.

00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:48.079
 And when,

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:49.799
 and when,

00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:51.639
 and we will be ready,

00:23:51.639 --> 00:23:52.259
 to kill him,

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.419
 before he comes near.

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:56.519
 Now the son of Paul's sister,

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.939
 heard of their ambush,

00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.700
 so they went,

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:00.720
 and entered the barracks,

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.480
 and told Paul.

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.080
 Paul called,

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.320
 one of the centurions,

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.460
 and said,

00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.480
 Take this young man,

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.220
 to the tribune,

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.519
 for he has something,

00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:09.380
 to tell him.

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:11.019
 So he took him,

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.480
 and brought him,

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.580
 before the tribune,

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.100
 and said,

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.299
 Paul,

00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.880
 the prisoner,

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.580
 called me,

00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:17.200
 and asked me,

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.380
 to bring this young man,

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:18.819
 to you,

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.220
 and he has something,

00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.940
 to say to you.

00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.299
 And the tribune,

00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:23.380
 took him by the hand,

00:24:24.100 --> 00:24:25.019
 and going aside,

00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.100
 he asked him privately,

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.580
 what is it,

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.580
 that you have to tell me?

00:24:29.340 --> 00:24:29.980
 And he said,

00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.620
 the Jews,

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.400
 have agreed,

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.420
 to ask you,

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.200
 to bring Paul,

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.100
 down to the council,

00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:34.620
 tomorrow,

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.200
 as though they were going,

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.920
 to inquire,

00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.140
 somewhat more closely,

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:38.880
 about him,

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.220
 but do not,

00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.539
 be persuaded by them,

00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:43.080
 for more than 40,

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.680
 of their men,

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.840
 are lying in ambush,

00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:45.279
 for him,

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:47.220
 who have bound themselves,

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:47.980
 by an oath,

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.059
 to neither eat,

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.799
 nor drink,

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.899
 until they have killed him.

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:53.059
 And now they are ready,

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.460
 waiting for your consent.

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.279
 So the tribune,

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.460
 dismissed the young man,

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.740
 charging him,

00:24:58.899 --> 00:24:59.720
 tell no one,

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.379
 that you have informed me,

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.200
 about these things.

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.379
 Then he called two,

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.460
 of the centurions,

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.759
 and said,

00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:08.180
 get ready,

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.460
 two hundred soldiers,

00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:11.059
 seventy horsemen,

00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:12.339
 and two hundred spearmen,

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.819
 to go as far,

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.460
 as Caesarea,

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.279
 at the third hour,

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:16.920
 of the night.

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.400
 Also provide mounts,

00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.039
 for Paul,

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:20.980
 to ride,

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:21.840
 and bring him safely,

00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:22.460
 to Felix,

00:25:22.559 --> 00:25:22.920
 the governor.

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.779
 And he wrote a letter,

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.920
 to this effect,

00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:28.240
 Claudius Lucius,

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.600
 to his excellency,

00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.740
 the governor Felix,

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.319
 greetings.

00:25:33.100 --> 00:25:34.200
 This man was seized,

00:25:34.259 --> 00:25:34.940
 by the Jews,

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.539
 and was about to be killed,

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.100
 by them,

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.680
 when I came upon them,

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.279
 with soldiers,

00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.240
 and rescued him,

00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:41.960
 having learned,

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.240
 that he was a Roman citizen.

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.819
 And desiring,

00:25:44.940 --> 00:25:45.819
 to know the charge,

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.380
 for which they were accusing him,

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.880
 I brought him down,

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.539
 to the council.

00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.880
 I found,

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.039
 that he was being accused,

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:52.880
 about questions,

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.940
 of their law,

00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.180
 but charged,

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.940
 with nothing,

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.859
 deserving death,

00:25:56.900 --> 00:25:57.700
 or imprisonment.

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:58.920
 And,

00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:00.519
 when it was disclosed,

00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:00.940
 to me,

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.579
 that there was a plot,

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.559
 against this man,

00:26:04.120 --> 00:26:05.299
 I sent him at once,

00:26:05.799 --> 00:26:06.579
 to you at once,

00:26:07.099 --> 00:26:08.200
 ordering his accusers,

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.819
 also,

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.940
 to state,

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.819
 before you,

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:12.039
 what they have,

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.759
 against him.

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.579
 So the soldiers,

00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.159
 according to their instructions,

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.579
 took Paul,

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.619
 and brought him back,

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.599
 to Antipas.

00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:22.299
 And on the next day,

00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:22.879
 they returned,

00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.679
 to the barracks,

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.679
 letting the horsemen,

00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.740
 go on with him.

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.480
 And when they had come,

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.099
 to Caesarea,

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.319
 they delivered the letter,

00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.000
 to the governor,

00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:31.799
 and presented Paul,

00:26:31.879 --> 00:26:32.859
 also before him.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.099
 On reading the letter,

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.759
 he asked,

00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.740
 what province,

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.579
 he was,

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.799
 what province,

00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.460
 he was from.

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.099
 And when he learned,

00:26:41.199 --> 00:26:41.740
 that he was from,

00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:42.240
 Cecilia,

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.519
 he said,

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.740
 I will give you a hearing,

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:46.139
 when your accusers,

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.759
 arrive.

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.279
 And he commanded him,

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:48.919
 to be guarded,

00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:50.259
 in Herod's Praetorium.

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.679
 So,

00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:54.359
 there's three things,

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.139
 we're going to just use,

00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:55.679
 to look at,

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.059
 to unpack the narrative.

00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.000
 I know,

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.659
 it was a mouthful,

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.059
 of narrative.

00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.199
 So,

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:01.599
 three things,

00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.339
 and then we'll get into,

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.720
 a little bit of application.

00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:04.259
 But,

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.199
 point number one,

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.440
 is the plot,

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:08.700
 conceived.

00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:09.819
 That's,

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.819
 verses 12,

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.759
 through 15.

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.319
 So,

00:27:13.480 --> 00:27:14.759
 they so hated,

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.720
 Paul's life,

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.480
 and Paul's message,

00:27:17.580 --> 00:27:18.819
 that they had banded together,

00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.039
 40 of these guys,

00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.160
 to,

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.920
 conceive a devious plot,

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.900
 to murder,

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:24.940
 Paul,

00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:25.900
 in cold blood.

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.140
 And,

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.720
 I want you just to think about,

00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.880
 this kind of dark imagery,

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.319
 about sneaking out,

00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.380
 under cover of night,

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.779
 behind closed doors,

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.920
 hidden from,

00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.960
 the public eye,

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:38.860
 and meeting,

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.819
 like a nest,

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.059
 of conspirators,

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:41.440
 to,

00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:43.259
 hatch a devious,

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:43.920
 plan,

00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:44.840
 to,

00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.640
 to kill.

00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:46.660
 It's,

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.240
 it's very,

00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:47.700
 very,

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.440
 very reminiscent,

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.160
 of,

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.160
 what happened,

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.900
 to our Lord,

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.019
 and how it was like,

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:52.880
 in the middle of the night,

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.680
 an unjust,

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.380
 unfair trial,

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.240
 that brought him to,

00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.559
 and,

00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:58.620
 much of the imagery,

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.340
 you would see,

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.440
 in Roman history,

00:28:01.080 --> 00:28:02.059
 of emperors,

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.759
 imperial families,

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.559
 and senators,

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.339
 collaborating,

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.980
 against one another,

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.000
 to overthrow,

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.779
 and to kill,

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.799
 often leading to,

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:12.519
 cold blooded murder,

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.119
 or poison being put,

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:14.740
 in a cup,

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.099
 very,

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.660
 can't trust anyone,

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.819
 just deceiving,

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.720
 this is a picture,

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.839
 of that kind of idea,

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.980
 the same scenario,

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.879
 so Satan here,

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.960
 is trying to work,

00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.400
 through the wicked,

00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.460
 to stop,

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:31.259
 and destroy Paul,

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.539
 by this plotting,

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:33.840
 and,

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:34.819
 these were no,

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.620
 lukewarm,

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.840
 wishy-washy men,

00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.279
 at all,

00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.420
 since they had,

00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:40.680
 strictly bound themselves,

00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.500
 by oath,

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.180
 to taste no food,

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.840
 or drink,

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.960
 until they killed Paul,

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.900
 so the Greek says,

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.440
 they anathomized themselves,

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.340
 meaning that,

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.680
 may God do to us,

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.440
 what we were going to do,

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:53.799
 to Paul,

00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.460
 if we fail,

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.279
 may we die,

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.460
 if we don't,

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:58.039
 may God curse us,

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.159
 if we don't,

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.180
 fulfill this pledge,

00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:01.619
 so they were ready,

00:29:01.659 --> 00:29:02.639
 to do whatever it took,

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.099
 to murder Paul,

00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:05.319
 to kill any Romans,

00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.139
 that were with him,

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:08.480
 so they banded together,

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.139
 to bring about,

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.000
 this assassination,

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:12.740
 and so,

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:15.299
 this nest of vipers,

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:17.119
 came together,

00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.159
 and hatched their plan,

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.839
 and they tried to lure,

00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.839
 Paul out of,

00:29:21.920 --> 00:29:22.980
 the protection of the Romans,

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:23.960
 by saying,

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.200
 hey,

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:26.220
 come back to the council,

00:29:26.379 --> 00:29:26.819
 because,

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.159
 they're going to hear you out more,

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.220
 they're going to,

00:29:29.259 --> 00:29:29.539
 you know,

00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:30.500
 get more exact,

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.939
 like what is actually going on,

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.339
 and,

00:29:33.679 --> 00:29:35.799
 so out of the blue,

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.139
 right,

00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.519
 we have,

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.859
 a young man,

00:29:39.939 --> 00:29:41.200
 who happens to be Paul's nephew,

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:41.700
 kind of,

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.200
 turn up on the scene,

00:29:43.859 --> 00:29:44.379
 but,

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.259
 I don't know,

00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.919
 have any of you,

00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.579
 I doubt it,

00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:46.839
 but,

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.299
 have any of you,

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:49.559
 ever been plotted against,

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:51.460
 I just,

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.299
 I just want you to think about,

00:29:52.419 --> 00:29:53.759
 like how terrifying that is,

00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.379
 just to think that,

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.099
 you can't trust anybody around you,

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:59.000
 that anything you say,

00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.519
 could be,

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.919
 shared with someone,

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.899
 that could do you harm,

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.579
 and just to walk out,

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.059
 every day,

00:30:04.159 --> 00:30:04.700
 thinking that,

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.240
 these people are conspiring,

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.619
 against me,

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.379
 Paul,

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:11.000
 is very aware of this,

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.980
 very reminiscent,

00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.620
 of,

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.059
 even King David,

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:15.940
 when he was fleeing,

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.620
 from Saul,

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.620
 people conspiring,

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.680
 to take his life,

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.140
 and,

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:21.940
 Paul,

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.920
 knowing the,

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.660
 the scriptures very well,

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.980
 would have had a ton,

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.039
 of good things in his head,

00:30:27.079 --> 00:30:27.860
 that David wrote,

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.319
 from,

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.960
 people plotting,

00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.759
 against him,

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.620
 Psalm 31,

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.140
 verse 11 says,

00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:36.799
 because of all my adversaries,

00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.460
 I have become a reproach,

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.259
 and they,

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.860
 they order death,

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.940
 to my acquaintances,

00:30:43.640 --> 00:30:44.640
 those who see me,

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:45.180
 in the street,

00:30:45.299 --> 00:30:46.019
 flee from me,

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.860
 I have been like one,

00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:48.720
 who is forgotten,

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.380
 and dead,

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.339
 I am a broken vessel,

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.779
 for I hear them,

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.360
 whispering,

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:54.799
 terror,

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.940
 on every side,

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.279
 as they scheme,

00:30:57.279 --> 00:30:57.799
 together,

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.660
 against me,

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.839
 as they plot,

00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.460
 to take my life,

00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:03.120
 very,

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.920
 strong words,

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.200
 but,

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.220
 he is aware,

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.319
 that God is with him,

00:31:07.400 --> 00:31:07.960
 he is aware,

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.839
 that Christ said,

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.839
 I will take you,

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.380
 to Rome,

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.819
 this is going to happen,

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.159
 so he is leaning,

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.480
 on that promise,

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.039
 think about,

00:31:16.139 --> 00:31:16.659
 how similar,

00:31:16.899 --> 00:31:17.720
 in a lot of ways,

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.720
 Paul's life was,

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:21.019
 to our Lord's life,

00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.419
 he said,

00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.240
 in Philippians 3,

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:23.579
 10,

00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.700
 like I was to share,

00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.579
 in the sufferings,

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.159
 of Christ,

00:31:26.899 --> 00:31:27.740
 and he had,

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:29.380
 he had been plotted,

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:31.079
 he had stood,

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:32.299
 before an angry mob,

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.039
 he had been,

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.099
 judged,

00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.480
 unjustly,

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:36.799
 by the rulers,

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.819
 and he was a prisoner,

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.140
 in the fortress,

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:39.940
 in Jerusalem,

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.940
 and both being innocent,

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.620
 of the crimes,

00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.460
 they were being,

00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.359
 committed with,

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.440
 so this is,

00:31:46.900 --> 00:31:47.799
 the plot conceived,

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.120
 like let's murder Paul,

00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.559
 in cold blood,

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.500
 and any who stand,

00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.140
 in our way,

00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:53.920
 so that's the plot,

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.519
 conceived,

00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:56.480
 the second point,

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.259
 is the plot,

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:58.900
 unveiled,

00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.960
 this is 16,

00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:01.740
 through 22,

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.279
 in our text,

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.259
 so again,

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.480
 no other reference,

00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:07.000
 in the Bible,

00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:07.980
 to this character,

00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.920
 but says,

00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.319
 the son of Paul's sister,

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.279
 so his nephew,

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.980
 the only reference,

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.740
 to him in the scripture,

00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.039
 we don't know,

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:16.639
 what he was doing,

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.160
 in Jerusalem,

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:18.200
 other than,

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.920
 that's just where he lived,

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.759
 and he somehow,

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:22.700
 snuck his way,

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.639
 into the barracks,

00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:25.020
 and told,

00:32:25.420 --> 00:32:26.540
 told Paul,

00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:27.920
 of the plot,

00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.920
 as a Roman citizen,

00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.759
 Paul had been given,

00:32:30.860 --> 00:32:31.980
 really good visitation,

00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:32.240
 right,

00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:32.560
 so,

00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:33.880
 his nephew,

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.060
 had easy access,

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.420
 and then he said,

00:32:36.540 --> 00:32:36.700
 okay,

00:32:36.780 --> 00:32:37.180
 well let's,

00:32:37.780 --> 00:32:38.720
 go about this the right way,

00:32:38.780 --> 00:32:39.720
 you tell the centurion,

00:32:40.280 --> 00:32:41.520
 and he'll go tell his commander,

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.500
 that's kind of what happened,

00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:45.320
 and I found it,

00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:45.980
 very interesting,

00:32:46.320 --> 00:32:46.600
 that,

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:48.880
 I really think,

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:50.060
 Paul is not really afraid,

00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:50.980
 for his own life,

00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:52.660
 I really think,

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.940
 that he's really concerned,

00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:54.940
 about the Jewish people,

00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:57.180
 because if they carry this out,

00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:57.580
 and,

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.220
 there is an attack,

00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.279
 on Roman soldiers,

00:33:00.860 --> 00:33:02.060
 and Roman soldiers die,

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.600
 there could be,

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.820
 massive repercussions,

00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:05.580
 you know,

00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:06.860
 to come down,

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.980
 on the Jewish people,

00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:09.519
 because of their actions,

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.640
 so,

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:13.000
 to kill a Roman citizen,

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:14.220
 under Roman protection,

00:33:15.220 --> 00:33:15.779
 was a,

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:16.820
 a serious crime,

00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.159
 and,

00:33:18.159 --> 00:33:19.279
 these zealots,

00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.039
 were bold enough,

00:33:20.139 --> 00:33:20.659
 to do that,

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.279
 they were ready,

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:22.879
 to do whatever it took,

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.299
 and,

00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:25.259
 if you picture,

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.079
 his name is,

00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.939
 Claudius Lucius,

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:29.039
 is how you say his name,

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.559
 it's a Greek last name,

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.579
 he shows like a level,

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.439
 of like dignity,

00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.240
 and nobility,

00:33:34.439 --> 00:33:35.759
 that you wouldn't always see,

00:33:35.939 --> 00:33:36.599
 like in the,

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:38.079
 the Roman army,

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.579
 but,

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.599
 it's more of like Maximus,

00:33:41.659 --> 00:33:42.599
 if you've seen Gladiator,

00:33:42.700 --> 00:33:43.319
 he's like a,

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.859
 more of a noble,

00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:46.059
 dignified,

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.500
 Roman commander,

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.639
 if you just,

00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.519
 read the language,

00:33:49.659 --> 00:33:51.000
 it says he took him by the hand,

00:33:51.659 --> 00:33:53.119
 and let him look over to the side,

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.220
 and he says,

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.559
 alright,

00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:56.200
 oh man,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.299
 what is it you have to tell me,

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:57.839
 tell me,

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:58.960
 and,

00:33:59.659 --> 00:34:00.879
 shared the plot with him,

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:02.839
 and then after it was over,

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.299
 he says,

00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:03.539
 okay,

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:03.960
 you know,

00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:04.819
 I've heard you,

00:34:05.439 --> 00:34:06.799
 keep this on the down low,

00:34:07.379 --> 00:34:07.899
 and,

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.779
 and go quickly,

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.719
 be careful as you go,

00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.420
 leave it in my hands,

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.299
 I'll take care of it,

00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:13.680
 you know,

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:15.039
 just a very responsible,

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.440
 honorable,

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.720
 Roman tribune,

00:34:18.680 --> 00:34:19.080
 so,

00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.700
 this plot is unveiled,

00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.280
 they now know what's going on,

00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:23.440
 and,

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.200
 so,

00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:25.660
 this goes into point number three,

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.180
 which is,

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.680
 the plot frustrated,

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.800
 the plot frustrated,

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:32.019
 23 through,

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.700
 35,

00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:34.539
 so,

00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:36.039
 Claudius,

00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.580
 who's the tribune here,

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.860
 he decided to take no chances,

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.880
 he knew,

00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.480
 that,

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:42.940
 at least,

00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.019
 throughout history,

00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:45.539
 a very strong show,

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.320
 of military force,

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.579
 could,

00:34:47.660 --> 00:34:47.900
 like,

00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:48.680
 deter,

00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.599
 a rash action,

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.240
 by rebels,

00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.180
 and,

00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.460
 so,

00:34:53.559 --> 00:34:55.559
 he ordered a large force,

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:57.619
 nearly half,

00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:59.039
 of the men in Jerusalem,

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:00.039
 were,

00:35:00.200 --> 00:35:01.240
 to accompany Paul,

00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:02.139
 so,

00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:02.839
 that shows you,

00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.619
 how seriously,

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.359
 he took this,

00:35:04.439 --> 00:35:05.459
 to protect Paul,

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:07.339
 as a Roman citizen,

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:09.199
 who we saw as innocent,

00:35:09.979 --> 00:35:10.879
 and to possibly,

00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:12.000
 prevent,

00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:13.379
 an uprising,

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:15.019
 for slaughtering,

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.700
 Roman soldiers,

00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:16.920
 so,

00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.700
 he took no chances,

00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.260
 and he sent,

00:35:19.680 --> 00:35:20.260
 an attachment,

00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.599
 of the urban cohort,

00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.360
 auxiliary troops,

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.140
 to go with them,

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.420
 and even gave Paul,

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.400
 a horse to ride,

00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:28.180
 and they slipped out,

00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.960
 onto the cover,

00:35:29.200 --> 00:35:29.680
 of night,

00:35:30.619 --> 00:35:30.820
 so,

00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.980
 I guess the poor conspirators,

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.720
 starved to death,

00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.180
 I don't know,

00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:33.579
 like,

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.900
 I don't know what happened,

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.340
 but,

00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.900
 they didn't get to fulfill,

00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.400
 their oath,

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:39.039
 you can just see them there,

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.920
 clenching their teeth,

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.320
 as like,

00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:41.380
 this massive group,

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:41.980
 of soldiers,

00:35:42.580 --> 00:35:43.420
 walked by,

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.200
 and,

00:35:45.080 --> 00:35:46.760
 just being furious,

00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:47.260
 that Paul,

00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.019
 was getting away,

00:35:49.140 --> 00:35:49.620
 and so,

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:51.740
 as the proper protocol,

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:52.200
 of the day,

00:35:52.340 --> 00:35:53.460
 Claudia sent a letter,

00:35:54.140 --> 00:35:54.700
 to Felix,

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:55.940
 explaining the situation,

00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:57.420
 heads up,

00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:58.380
 this is coming,

00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.940
 get ready for it,

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.580
 and he sent it,

00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:02.320
 to Caesarea,

00:36:03.160 --> 00:36:04.360
 explained the situation,

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:05.820
 and,

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.900
 gave the governor,

00:36:07.120 --> 00:36:08.180
 time to prepare,

00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:10.419
 it also provided,

00:36:10.419 --> 00:36:11.419
 legal documentation,

00:36:11.419 --> 00:36:14.219
 for Paul's case,

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.319
 as a citizen,

00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:16.379
 so,

00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.019
 I just like,

00:36:17.099 --> 00:36:18.259
 how specific Luke is,

00:36:18.319 --> 00:36:18.980
 like he's giving you,

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:19.579
 these details,

00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.679
 to show you,

00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:21.519
 this really happened,

00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:23.079
 and here's how it happened,

00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.619
 so,

00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:26.079
 Paul was finally,

00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.039
 delivered safely,

00:36:27.879 --> 00:36:28.899
 and Felix promised,

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.759
 to give him a hearing,

00:36:29.919 --> 00:36:31.039
 once the Jewish,

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.719
 accusers arrived,

00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:33.940
 and,

00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:35.239
 it was a distance,

00:36:35.339 --> 00:36:35.759
 of about,

00:36:35.899 --> 00:36:37.019
 62 miles,

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:39.099
 that wasn't any big deal,

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.820
 for soldiers to do,

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.179
 in the heat,

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:42.500
 or the cool of the night,

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:43.800
 and so,

00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.440
 that's,

00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:46.079
 just the unpacking,

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.119
 of our story,

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.780
 but what can we learn,

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.719
 from the story,

00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.619
 so,

00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:52.659
 just a few things,

00:36:52.699 --> 00:36:53.300
 to hold on to,

00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:55.460
 and I love this one,

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:55.900
 this is,

00:36:56.139 --> 00:36:57.239
 a great one to start with,

00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:58.000
 some application,

00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.739
 number one,

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:01.900
 God,

00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:02.759
 forwarded,

00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.539
 the plans,

00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.199
 of the wicked,

00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.919
 God,

00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:06.579
 forwarded,

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.199
 the plans,

00:37:07.319 --> 00:37:07.759
 of the wicked,

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.119
 so,

00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:09.779
 in our day,

00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:10.559
 when there seems,

00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:11.460
 to be so much,

00:37:12.059 --> 00:37:13.139
 stuff going on,

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.539
 that the whole world,

00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.799
 seems to be just,

00:37:15.839 --> 00:37:16.659
 coming around us,

00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.539
 and against us,

00:37:18.339 --> 00:37:19.599
 plotting against the gospel,

00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:20.819
 plotting against,

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.879
 the church,

00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.579
 the church having,

00:37:23.879 --> 00:37:24.439
 both enemies,

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.960
 within,

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.719
 and without,

00:37:26.139 --> 00:37:27.359
 to bring it down,

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:29.579
 know that,

00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:31.439
 God is not,

00:37:31.939 --> 00:37:32.399
 subordinate,

00:37:32.399 --> 00:37:33.419
 to their plans,

00:37:33.420 --> 00:37:34.559
 that,

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.159
 he,

00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.480
 sovereignly,

00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:37.059
 as it says,

00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:38.720
 in Psalm 146,

00:37:39.240 --> 00:37:40.000
 he thwarts,

00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.619
 the way,

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:41.320
 of the wicked,

00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:42.940
 and that's the story,

00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:43.460
 of the Bible,

00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.360
 from Joseph,

00:37:44.720 --> 00:37:45.780
 to the death of Christ,

00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.300
 God,

00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:48.720
 is completely sovereign,

00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.680
 and he rules,

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.300
 absolute,

00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:52.599
 and he even uses,

00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:54.059
 the evil actions,

00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:54.920
 of men,

00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.300
 to play into,

00:37:56.460 --> 00:37:57.200
 what he wants,

00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:58.099
 every single time,

00:37:58.760 --> 00:37:59.639
 not plan B,

00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:00.360
 but plan A,

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:02.059
 the death of Christ,

00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.700
 being the ultimate,

00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.559
 example of that,

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:04.919
 crucified,

00:38:04.919 --> 00:38:05.879
 by evil,

00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.679
 wicked men,

00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:07.899
 but yet,

00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:09.079
 little did they know,

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.259
 that they were accomplishing,

00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:11.779
 playing,

00:38:12.319 --> 00:38:13.699
 a part in God's plans,

00:38:13.779 --> 00:38:14.259
 to bring about,

00:38:14.339 --> 00:38:14.759
 redemption,

00:38:15.439 --> 00:38:16.179
 on the cross,

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:18.819
 these Jewish conspirators,

00:38:18.899 --> 00:38:20.099
 fell into their own trap,

00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:21.500
 and,

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.219
 think about,

00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:23.379
 what Job wrote,

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:23.879
 Job,

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:24.859
 said,

00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:25.839
 he frustrates,

00:38:26.279 --> 00:38:27.099
 the devices,

00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:28.079
 of the crafty,

00:38:28.639 --> 00:38:29.699
 so that their hands,

00:38:29.779 --> 00:38:31.099
 achieve no success,

00:38:31.819 --> 00:38:33.079
 he catches the wise,

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:34.399
 in their own craftiness,

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.899
 in the schemes,

00:38:35.899 --> 00:38:37.000
 of the wily,

00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.139
 are brought,

00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:38.960
 to naught,

00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:41.019
 that's Job 5,

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.460
 12,

00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:43.399
 so the plot,

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.139
 the conspirators,

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:44.579
 failed,

00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:46.019
 so know that,

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.800
 God is for you,

00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:49.300
 there is no one,

00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:50.519
 who will stand against you,

00:38:50.660 --> 00:38:51.500
 they cannot stand,

00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:53.420
 God will always,

00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:54.360
 thwart the plans,

00:38:54.460 --> 00:38:54.880
 of the wicked,

00:38:55.579 --> 00:38:55.980
 always,

00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:57.139
 he is in control,

00:38:58.519 --> 00:38:59.000
 secondly,

00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:01.659
 God proved,

00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.480
 his faithfulness,

00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:04.139
 to Paul,

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:06.139
 so when we say,

00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.019
 God is faithful,

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:07.760
 alright,

00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.260
 here's what we mean,

00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:10.920
 it means that,

00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:12.380
 God will always do,

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.320
 what he said,

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:13.960
 he would do,

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.320
 and fulfill,

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:16.019
 his promises,

00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:17.119
 alright,

00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:17.559
 that's,

00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:18.300
 God is true,

00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:19.099
 to himself,

00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.199
 is what we say,

00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:21.159
 when God is faithful,

00:39:21.860 --> 00:39:22.559
 he doesn't forget,

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:24.059
 he doesn't fail,

00:39:24.780 --> 00:39:25.659
 he doesn't falter,

00:39:26.380 --> 00:39:27.159
 to his word,

00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:28.319
 he's always true,

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:29.119
 to his word,

00:39:29.879 --> 00:39:30.420
 and remember,

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.319
 in verse 11,

00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:32.960
 the risen Christ,

00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:33.960
 had promised Paul,

00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:35.539
 you will go to Rome,

00:39:35.619 --> 00:39:36.739
 you are going to go,

00:39:36.899 --> 00:39:37.420
 and testify,

00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:38.659
 to Rome,

00:39:39.739 --> 00:39:40.139
 and so,

00:39:40.219 --> 00:39:40.920
 when these evil men,

00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:41.940
 plotted against him,

00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.059
 Paul knew,

00:39:43.299 --> 00:39:43.839
 like come hell,

00:39:43.899 --> 00:39:44.420
 or high water,

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.179
 I don't know how,

00:39:45.179 --> 00:39:46.239
 I'm going to go to Rome,

00:39:46.359 --> 00:39:46.679
 somehow,

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:48.099
 because God has promised,

00:39:49.059 --> 00:39:50.099
 and here we see,

00:39:50.179 --> 00:39:51.559
 God taking the first step,

00:39:51.619 --> 00:39:51.980
 in that,

00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.940
 by being escorted,

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:56.139
 by none of the Roman soldiers,

00:39:56.319 --> 00:39:57.079
 on his first step,

00:39:57.159 --> 00:39:57.739
 to Rome,

00:39:58.659 --> 00:39:59.139
 and,

00:39:59.420 --> 00:40:00.379
 I just find it,

00:40:00.819 --> 00:40:01.259
 very,

00:40:01.399 --> 00:40:02.099
 very ironic,

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:02.759
 that,

00:40:03.399 --> 00:40:03.739
 again,

00:40:03.839 --> 00:40:04.719
 the point is not to be like,

00:40:04.779 --> 00:40:04.899
 man,

00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:06.460
 the Romans were awesome guys,

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:07.259
 like they were not,

00:40:07.359 --> 00:40:08.480
 they were wicked,

00:40:08.739 --> 00:40:09.099
 cruel,

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.259
 brutal,

00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:10.960
 and pagan,

00:40:11.679 --> 00:40:12.659
 and they have never,

00:40:12.659 --> 00:40:13.739
 been a friend of,

00:40:13.819 --> 00:40:14.440
 of Christ,

00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:14.819
 ever,

00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:16.539
 they were the instrument,

00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:17.539
 that crucified him,

00:40:18.359 --> 00:40:19.440
 Paul has been beaten,

00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:19.940
 and treated,

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.359
 you know,

00:40:20.420 --> 00:40:21.519
 severely by Romans,

00:40:21.619 --> 00:40:21.980
 already,

00:40:22.940 --> 00:40:23.699
 and I just love,

00:40:23.759 --> 00:40:24.279
 how God just,

00:40:24.359 --> 00:40:24.699
 I could just,

00:40:24.799 --> 00:40:25.599
 I'm making this up,

00:40:25.659 --> 00:40:26.359
 I could just see God,

00:40:26.360 --> 00:40:26.559
 just,

00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.000
 hmm,

00:40:28.240 --> 00:40:28.760
 it would be fun,

00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.599
 just to use them,

00:40:29.720 --> 00:40:30.740
 just to manipulate them,

00:40:30.780 --> 00:40:31.300
 because they've been,

00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:31.519
 you know,

00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:32.300
 against my cause,

00:40:32.360 --> 00:40:33.140
 I'm just going to use them,

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:33.860
 right here,

00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:34.980
 to further my cause,

00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:35.980
 and,

00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:36.519
 before,

00:40:37.300 --> 00:40:37.800
 he knew it,

00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:38.740
 he turned,

00:40:38.739 --> 00:40:39.839
 these soldiers,

00:40:39.839 --> 00:40:40.939
 into an armed force,

00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:41.859
 moving Paul,

00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:42.519
 to safety,

00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:43.899
 and,

00:40:43.939 --> 00:40:44.539
 so,

00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:46.699
 God proved,

00:40:46.739 --> 00:40:47.579
 his faithfulness,

00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:48.419
 he worked,

00:40:48.500 --> 00:40:49.179
 and accomplished,

00:40:49.699 --> 00:40:50.459
 what he said,

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.000
 he would do,

00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:51.959
 to the first step,

00:40:52.419 --> 00:40:53.119
 to move Paul,

00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:53.839
 towards Rome,

00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:55.919
 Psalm 36,

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.459
 5,

00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:58.559
 your steadfast love,

00:40:58.679 --> 00:40:59.219
 O Lord,

00:40:59.419 --> 00:41:00.559
 extends to the heavens,

00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:02.099
 and your faithfulness,

00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.319
 to the clouds,

00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:04.780
 so,

00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:05.600
 are you concerned,

00:41:05.780 --> 00:41:06.960
 that God will drop you,

00:41:07.120 --> 00:41:07.840
 that he's not going,

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.480
 to pull through,

00:41:09.160 --> 00:41:09.539
 that,

00:41:10.080 --> 00:41:11.320
 you've been so hated,

00:41:11.580 --> 00:41:11.980
 and so,

00:41:12.300 --> 00:41:13.519
 people have let you down,

00:41:13.600 --> 00:41:13.900
 again,

00:41:13.980 --> 00:41:14.400
 and again,

00:41:15.059 --> 00:41:15.780
 and do you think,

00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.500
 that God somehow,

00:41:16.680 --> 00:41:17.000
 is again,

00:41:17.080 --> 00:41:18.280
 going to just drop you,

00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:18.800
 because,

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:21.140
 he doesn't keep his word,

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:21.460
 either,

00:41:22.600 --> 00:41:23.200
 just,

00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:23.880
 no,

00:41:23.980 --> 00:41:24.740
 he will finish,

00:41:25.100 --> 00:41:25.640
 what,

00:41:25.780 --> 00:41:26.440
 he started,

00:41:27.080 --> 00:41:27.980
 so don't worry,

00:41:28.059 --> 00:41:29.059
 he will deliver you,

00:41:29.140 --> 00:41:30.160
 as he's promised,

00:41:30.159 --> 00:41:31.480
 to believe,

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:33.079
 he is faithful,

00:41:33.719 --> 00:41:34.519
 is faithful,

00:41:35.379 --> 00:41:36.639
 not that he just can be,

00:41:36.699 --> 00:41:38.059
 he is faithful,

00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:39.859
 alright,

00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:40.519
 number three,

00:41:41.819 --> 00:41:42.399
 and this one,

00:41:42.399 --> 00:41:44.399
 is not directly out,

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:45.460
 but sort of implied,

00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.519
 in a metaphorical,

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.319
 sense,

00:41:47.379 --> 00:41:48.339
 I just kind of want to tell you that,

00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:50.460
 just because we want to be,

00:41:50.659 --> 00:41:51.319
 very clear here,

00:41:52.399 --> 00:41:52.679
 but,

00:41:53.779 --> 00:41:54.299
 believers,

00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:56.000
 are in a different military,

00:41:56.719 --> 00:41:57.819
 and in a different war,

00:41:58.179 --> 00:41:58.420
 okay,

00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:00.059
 that's an application,

00:42:00.159 --> 00:42:00.420
 here,

00:42:01.379 --> 00:42:02.799
 Rome had his own agenda,

00:42:03.879 --> 00:42:04.859
 his own agenda,

00:42:05.059 --> 00:42:05.639
 to conquer,

00:42:06.199 --> 00:42:06.920
 and subdue,

00:42:07.019 --> 00:42:07.779
 new territories,

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:09.839
 and the spreading,

00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.839
 of Roman culture,

00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:12.339
 to seeing as a,

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.440
 that they were dominant,

00:42:14.279 --> 00:42:15.199
 through culture,

00:42:15.379 --> 00:42:15.659
 literature,

00:42:15.940 --> 00:42:16.460
 architecture,

00:42:17.339 --> 00:42:18.019
 civilizing,

00:42:18.179 --> 00:42:18.679
 and settling,

00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:21.179
 conquered provinces,

00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:23.659
 it all was for human vanity,

00:42:23.819 --> 00:42:24.679
 and for human glory,

00:42:24.759 --> 00:42:25.219
 all of it,

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:25.859
 right,

00:42:26.879 --> 00:42:27.759
 and,

00:42:27.879 --> 00:42:29.359
 indeed,

00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:30.059
 they succeeded,

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.779
 I mean,

00:42:30.779 --> 00:42:32.019
 look at our western world,

00:42:32.179 --> 00:42:32.619
 look at,

00:42:33.099 --> 00:42:33.420
 even,

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.179
 if you go to,

00:42:34.179 --> 00:42:35.339
 Washington,

00:42:35.519 --> 00:42:36.319
 look at our buildings,

00:42:36.440 --> 00:42:37.739
 look at how we do education,

00:42:37.879 --> 00:42:38.440
 that's all,

00:42:38.920 --> 00:42:39.619
 Greco-Roman,

00:42:39.779 --> 00:42:40.279
 so they have,

00:42:40.779 --> 00:42:42.299
 succeeded in a lot of ways,

00:42:42.300 --> 00:42:43.519
 but,

00:42:43.519 --> 00:42:46.580
 they influence the western world,

00:42:46.580 --> 00:42:47.960
 and it's astounding,

00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:48.800
 right,

00:42:49.240 --> 00:42:50.720
 so wars that Rome fought,

00:42:50.780 --> 00:42:52.160
 were to expand their empire,

00:42:52.380 --> 00:42:54.760
 and to show they were a dominant culture,

00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:57.140
 simply just for temporal gain,

00:42:58.140 --> 00:42:58.519
 all right,

00:42:58.560 --> 00:42:59.480
 so that was Rome's agenda,

00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:01.160
 that's what they're trying to do here,

00:43:01.539 --> 00:43:02.720
 protect their interests,

00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:03.799
 so,

00:43:03.799 --> 00:43:03.839
 so,

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:04.839
 know that Christ,

00:43:05.679 --> 00:43:06.399
 different agenda,

00:43:06.959 --> 00:43:07.179
 right,

00:43:07.659 --> 00:43:09.159
 Christ has his own agenda,

00:43:09.899 --> 00:43:10.959
 never for a minute,

00:43:11.099 --> 00:43:12.839
 did a Caesar rule the world,

00:43:13.119 --> 00:43:15.279
 Christ ruled over the Caesars,

00:43:16.059 --> 00:43:16.679
 it wasn't,

00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:19.279
 Caesar sitting on the Palatine Hill,

00:43:19.399 --> 00:43:20.000
 in Rome,

00:43:20.399 --> 00:43:21.079
 on the throne,

00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:21.860
 when it was Christ,

00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:22.900
 sitting at the right hand,

00:43:22.940 --> 00:43:23.500
 of the Father,

00:43:24.599 --> 00:43:26.259
 it says in Psalm 135,

00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:27.599
 6,

00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:29.380
 whatever the Lord pleases,

00:43:29.559 --> 00:43:30.099
 he does,

00:43:30.860 --> 00:43:31.400
 in heaven,

00:43:31.579 --> 00:43:32.559
 and on the earth,

00:43:33.099 --> 00:43:33.799
 in the seas,

00:43:33.980 --> 00:43:35.199
 and all the deeps,

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:36.860
 that is a definition,

00:43:36.860 --> 00:43:37.519
 of sovereignty,

00:43:37.719 --> 00:43:39.420
 God does what he pleases,

00:43:40.259 --> 00:43:41.659
 whenever he pleases it,

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:43.719
 so it pleased God,

00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.440
 for Rome,

00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:46.219
 to temporarily rule,

00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:47.500
 the Mediterranean world,

00:43:48.099 --> 00:43:49.099
 but I just want to give you,

00:43:49.179 --> 00:43:50.019
 an example of this,

00:43:50.119 --> 00:43:50.880
 and I could get into it,

00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:51.200
 all day,

00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:52.119
 but just an example,

00:43:53.079 --> 00:43:54.300
 that the ancient world,

00:43:54.420 --> 00:43:54.800
 had never,

00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:57.880
 had a way to travel,

00:43:58.420 --> 00:43:59.119
 the way it did,

00:43:59.160 --> 00:44:00.000
 before Rome came,

00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:01.599
 the Roman systems,

00:44:01.700 --> 00:44:02.260
 of roads,

00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:02.920
 that they saw,

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:03.920
 as a way to dominate,

00:44:04.579 --> 00:44:05.619
 became footpaths,

00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.240
 for the gospel,

00:44:06.240 --> 00:44:07.240
 to go all over,

00:44:07.880 --> 00:44:09.079
 the Mediterranean world,

00:44:10.140 --> 00:44:11.340
 so thanks to the Romans,

00:44:11.640 --> 00:44:12.740
 and their system of roads,

00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:14.160
 their trade routes,

00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:15.539
 their engineering,

00:44:15.900 --> 00:44:16.720
 the gospel message,

00:44:16.820 --> 00:44:17.360
 could spread,

00:44:18.019 --> 00:44:18.559
 easily,

00:44:18.720 --> 00:44:19.780
 unlike any other time,

00:44:19.860 --> 00:44:20.300
 previous,

00:44:20.880 --> 00:44:21.640
 very,

00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:23.019
 and so Christ used that,

00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:24.260
 for his own intentions,

00:44:24.260 --> 00:44:26.140
 to spread the gospel,

00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:27.559
 and so,

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:29.180
 we are,

00:44:29.340 --> 00:44:29.820
 right,

00:44:30.579 --> 00:44:31.559
 a part of,

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:32.200
 expanding,

00:44:32.599 --> 00:44:33.740
 God's kingdom,

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:35.220
 and,

00:44:35.900 --> 00:44:36.380
 eventually,

00:44:36.539 --> 00:44:37.180
 we are to,

00:44:37.240 --> 00:44:37.880
 to conquer,

00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:39.059
 this world,

00:44:39.220 --> 00:44:39.760
 for Christ,

00:44:40.740 --> 00:44:41.380
 through the power,

00:44:41.460 --> 00:44:41.940
 of the gospel,

00:44:42.160 --> 00:44:43.559
 through sacrificial love,

00:44:43.619 --> 00:44:44.099
 we are to,

00:44:44.160 --> 00:44:45.160
 to expand,

00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:47.099
 the kingdom of God,

00:44:47.160 --> 00:44:47.900
 to all nations,

00:44:47.900 --> 00:44:49.220
 and we will,

00:44:49.220 --> 00:44:49.780
 succeed,

00:44:49.880 --> 00:44:50.720
 like it will happen,

00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:52.180
 and we will do it,

00:44:52.740 --> 00:44:53.980
 not with natural means,

00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:55.220
 that men wage war,

00:44:55.380 --> 00:44:55.579
 but,

00:44:56.099 --> 00:44:56.820
 by the spirit,

00:44:57.539 --> 00:44:58.559
 and by the word of God,

00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.460
 look at Revelation,

00:45:01.099 --> 00:45:02.099
 12,

00:45:03.099 --> 00:45:04.619
 verse 10,

00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:05.019
 so,

00:45:05.019 --> 00:45:13.039
 so,

00:45:13.039 --> 00:45:13.940
 the apostle John,

00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:14.619
 wrote this,

00:45:14.679 --> 00:45:15.579
 when Rome was,

00:45:15.659 --> 00:45:16.139
 at a very,

00:45:16.219 --> 00:45:17.000
 very high level,

00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:17.480
 of power,

00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:19.719
 and he wrote this,

00:45:19.739 --> 00:45:20.599
 and just think about,

00:45:21.280 --> 00:45:22.159
 what might have been,

00:45:22.199 --> 00:45:22.820
 in his mind,

00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:24.340
 that Christ,

00:45:24.340 --> 00:45:25.219
 was using Rome,

00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:26.280
 for his own purposes,

00:45:26.280 --> 00:45:27.800
 and,

00:45:27.800 --> 00:45:29.100
 slowly,

00:45:29.280 --> 00:45:30.200
 judging the empire,

00:45:30.340 --> 00:45:31.080
 as it decayed,

00:45:31.100 --> 00:45:31.640
 from within,

00:45:32.920 --> 00:45:33.960
 this is a,

00:45:33.960 --> 00:45:35.620
 a word,

00:45:35.720 --> 00:45:36.040
 of saying,

00:45:36.140 --> 00:45:36.940
 that Christ's kingdom,

00:45:37.120 --> 00:45:37.800
 stands forever,

00:45:37.940 --> 00:45:38.620
 and it will rule,

00:45:38.740 --> 00:45:39.960
 over all other,

00:45:39.960 --> 00:45:40.840
 earthly kingdoms,

00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:42.320
 Revelation,

00:45:42.500 --> 00:45:42.720
 12,

00:45:42.780 --> 00:45:43.220
 verse 10,

00:45:44.600 --> 00:45:46.220
 I heard a loud voice,

00:45:46.300 --> 00:45:46.660
 in heaven,

00:45:46.820 --> 00:45:47.200
 saying,

00:45:48.120 --> 00:45:49.200
 now the salvation,

00:45:49.600 --> 00:45:50.200
 and the power,

00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:51.420
 and the kingdom,

00:45:51.560 --> 00:45:52.200
 of our God,

00:45:52.260 --> 00:45:52.960
 and the authority,

00:45:52.960 --> 00:45:53.860
 of his Christ,

00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:54.440
 have come,

00:45:55.200 --> 00:45:56.060
 for the accuser,

00:45:56.059 --> 00:45:56.820
 of the brothers,

00:45:56.960 --> 00:45:58.119
 has been thrown down,

00:45:58.820 --> 00:45:59.860
 he accuses them,

00:45:59.980 --> 00:46:00.639
 day and night,

00:46:00.860 --> 00:46:01.779
 before our God,

00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:04.219
 and they have conquered him,

00:46:04.940 --> 00:46:06.259
 by the blood of the lamb,

00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:07.199
 and by the word,

00:46:07.299 --> 00:46:08.059
 of their testimony,

00:46:08.980 --> 00:46:09.599
 for they love,

00:46:09.679 --> 00:46:10.539
 not their lives,

00:46:10.619 --> 00:46:11.820
 even unto death,

00:46:12.779 --> 00:46:13.579
 we will,

00:46:13.980 --> 00:46:14.779
 conquer guys,

00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:15.679
 like it says,

00:46:15.980 --> 00:46:16.980
 Paul says in Romans 8,

00:46:17.259 --> 00:46:18.259
 we are more than,

00:46:18.380 --> 00:46:18.980
 conquerors,

00:46:19.059 --> 00:46:19.480
 through him,

00:46:19.559 --> 00:46:20.440
 who loved us,

00:46:21.559 --> 00:46:23.320
 there's no surrender,

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.139
 there's no defeat,

00:46:24.259 --> 00:46:25.219
 like we will win,

00:46:25.219 --> 00:46:26.919
 it's a guaranteed thing,

00:46:26.959 --> 00:46:28.219
 because of what Christ has done,

00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:29.359
 his kingdom,

00:46:29.579 --> 00:46:30.099
 will come,

00:46:31.179 --> 00:46:32.559
 and with that in mind,

00:46:32.699 --> 00:46:32.980
 right,

00:46:33.679 --> 00:46:34.939
 don't be impressed,

00:46:35.019 --> 00:46:36.059
 by temporary,

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.919
 worldly victories,

00:46:38.179 --> 00:46:39.339
 that seem to be,

00:46:39.339 --> 00:46:40.319
 overtaking the kingdom,

00:46:40.480 --> 00:46:40.799
 of God,

00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:42.719
 all these things,

00:46:42.779 --> 00:46:43.480
 you're reading about,

00:46:43.980 --> 00:46:44.579
 Rome eventually,

00:46:44.759 --> 00:46:45.419
 came down,

00:46:46.059 --> 00:46:47.299
 over several centuries,

00:46:47.419 --> 00:46:47.980
 came down,

00:46:48.619 --> 00:46:49.259
 and everything,

00:46:49.399 --> 00:46:49.759
 that stands,

00:46:49.799 --> 00:46:50.439
 on our way today,

00:46:50.440 --> 00:46:51.460
 our pagan,

00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:53.039
 humanistic,

00:46:53.720 --> 00:46:55.039
 secular world,

00:46:55.119 --> 00:46:55.619
 in America,

00:46:56.119 --> 00:46:57.079
 it's going to come down,

00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:58.320
 this isn't going to stop,

00:46:58.920 --> 00:46:59.519
 the gospel,

00:47:00.079 --> 00:47:01.539
 the church is going to thrive,

00:47:01.980 --> 00:47:02.740
 and spread,

00:47:02.880 --> 00:47:03.700
 so be bold,

00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:05.139
 be courageous,

00:47:05.599 --> 00:47:06.880
 for Christ,

00:47:07.039 --> 00:47:07.780
 allow him to work,

00:47:07.900 --> 00:47:08.380
 through you,

00:47:09.039 --> 00:47:09.960
 because when man,

00:47:10.139 --> 00:47:11.679
 schemes to stop God,

00:47:11.860 --> 00:47:12.539
 God laughs,

00:47:13.179 --> 00:47:13.800
 he laughs,

00:47:14.420 --> 00:47:15.639
 he knows that,

00:47:16.179 --> 00:47:16.820
 in the end,

00:47:17.640 --> 00:47:18.600
 the kingdom of Christ,

00:47:18.700 --> 00:47:19.200
 will come,

00:47:20.140 --> 00:47:21.280
 he's going to bring it about,

00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:23.300
 and then fourthly,

00:47:24.019 --> 00:47:25.019
 I just kind of want to,

00:47:25.019 --> 00:47:25.860
 close with this,

00:47:26.260 --> 00:47:26.440
 but,

00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:27.820
 remember,

00:47:28.480 --> 00:47:28.900
 fourthly,

00:47:29.539 --> 00:47:30.559
 God will always,

00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:31.539
 deliver his people,

00:47:31.700 --> 00:47:32.160
 from troubles,

00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:32.700
 always,

00:47:33.820 --> 00:47:34.800
 he wants us to bring you,

00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:35.300
 to himself,

00:47:35.420 --> 00:47:35.620
 right,

00:47:36.620 --> 00:47:37.500
 God will always,

00:47:37.580 --> 00:47:38.460
 deliver his people,

00:47:38.640 --> 00:47:39.000
 from troubles,

00:47:39.700 --> 00:47:41.140
 look at Psalm 34,

00:47:41.340 --> 00:47:42.120
 this is what we'll close,

00:47:42.200 --> 00:47:42.880
 close with,

00:47:42.880 --> 00:47:48.740
 Psalm 34,

00:47:49.519 --> 00:47:50.840
 verse 4,

00:47:52.160 --> 00:47:53.380
 so again,

00:47:54.340 --> 00:47:56.079
 this is a Psalm of David,

00:47:56.180 --> 00:47:56.660
 when he was,

00:47:57.200 --> 00:47:57.640
 hiding,

00:47:58.660 --> 00:48:00.140
 and trying to escape,

00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:02.099
 from Saul,

00:48:03.260 --> 00:48:03.599
 but,

00:48:04.360 --> 00:48:06.220
 very much similar,

00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:06.860
 to the way Paul,

00:48:06.940 --> 00:48:07.500
 had been fleeing,

00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:09.559
 but just know,

00:48:09.660 --> 00:48:10.840
 that whatever trouble you're in,

00:48:10.840 --> 00:48:11.720
 God can,

00:48:12.280 --> 00:48:13.039
 deliver you,

00:48:14.240 --> 00:48:15.260
 this is what he says,

00:48:15.320 --> 00:48:16.200
 I sought the Lord,

00:48:16.280 --> 00:48:16.700
 verse 4,

00:48:16.840 --> 00:48:17.840
 I sought the Lord,

00:48:18.480 --> 00:48:19.600
 he answered me,

00:48:19.660 --> 00:48:20.539
 and delivered me,

00:48:20.620 --> 00:48:21.740
 from all my fears,

00:48:22.620 --> 00:48:23.980
 those who look at him,

00:48:24.039 --> 00:48:24.500
 are radiant,

00:48:25.019 --> 00:48:25.720
 and their faces,

00:48:25.920 --> 00:48:27.280
 shall never be ashamed,

00:48:28.240 --> 00:48:29.760
 this poor man cried,

00:48:30.300 --> 00:48:31.500
 and the Lord heard him,

00:48:31.700 --> 00:48:32.420
 and saved him,

00:48:32.780 --> 00:48:34.019
 out of all his troubles,

00:48:34.760 --> 00:48:36.039
 the angel of the Lord,

00:48:36.180 --> 00:48:36.720
 encamps,

00:48:36.840 --> 00:48:38.280
 around those who fear him,

00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:40.079
 and he delivers them,

00:48:40.840 --> 00:48:42.240
 O taste and see,

00:48:42.360 --> 00:48:43.420
 the Lord is good,

00:48:44.300 --> 00:48:45.260
 blessed is the man,

00:48:45.300 --> 00:48:46.220
 who takes refuge,

00:48:46.680 --> 00:48:47.000
 in him,

00:48:48.200 --> 00:48:48.980
 so,

00:48:49.720 --> 00:48:50.760
 with that guys,

00:48:51.120 --> 00:48:52.900
 let's go to prayer,

00:48:53.420 --> 00:48:53.720
 and,

00:48:54.500 --> 00:48:55.579
 thanking God,

00:48:55.700 --> 00:48:56.860
 that he is faithful to us,

00:48:57.420 --> 00:48:58.960
 that he is sovereign,

00:48:59.120 --> 00:49:00.079
 and will thwart the way,

00:49:00.140 --> 00:49:00.539
 of the wicked,

00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:02.079
 and,

00:49:02.160 --> 00:49:03.340
 that he will deliver us,

00:49:03.400 --> 00:49:03.940
 from our troubles,

00:49:04.380 --> 00:49:04.519
 of the wickedness,

00:49:04.519 --> 00:49:05.440
 of the wickedness,

00:49:05.440 --> 00:49:06.059
 of the wickedness,

00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:06.059


00:49:06.059 --> 00:49:07.179
 of the wickedness,

00:49:07.179 --> 00:49:07.179


00:49:07.179 --> 00:49:08.240
 of the wickedness,

00:49:08.240 --> 00:49:08.860
 of the wickedness,

00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:08.860


00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:08.860


00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:08.860


00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:08.860


00:49:08.860 --> 00:49:09.599
 of the wickedness,

00:49:09.599 --> 00:49:10.559
 of the wickedness,

00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:10.559


00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:10.559


00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:10.559


00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:10.559


00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:11.400
 of the wickedness,

00:49:11.400 --> 00:49:11.960
 of the wickedness,

00:49:11.960 --> 00:49:13.039
 of the wickedness,

00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.039


00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.039


00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.039


00:49:13.039 --> 00:49:13.039