For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
For these causes the Jews seized Paul in the Jerusalem temple and tried to kill him. He spoke these words in his defense before King Agrippa while in custody awaiting transfer to Rome. Jewish leaders had accused him before Roman officials, but the dispute centered on religious questions and on Jesus, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
The immediate account of that hearing does not explain the temple seizure or the attempt to kill him. The cause was his obedience to the command received at the gate of Damascus to proclaim a risen Saviour. He had truly seen and heard that Saviour as surely as Cephas, James, John and the other disciples had, the same Jesus who walked in Jerusalem, died on Calvary, broke the bands of death and ascended to heaven.
In obedience he bore witness in Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and in regions afar off that all people, Jews and Gentiles, should repent and turn to God and do works fitting repentance. He preached repentance toward God with faith in Christ and a life consistent with that faith. He declared forgiveness and salvation through the risen Jesus in fulfillment of Moses and the prophets, that Christ would suffer, rise from the dead and bring light to Jews and Gentiles.
His testimony about Jesus was in harmony with Moses and the prophets, not blasphemy or apostasy. The Lord delivered him from danger. By God's help he continued to witness to people of every rank.
His resulting bonds, trials and imprisonment for the gospel became a means to testify about Jesus before kings, governors, rulers and nobles. The gospel that led to his imprisonment was thus brought before the princes and nobles of the imperial city, and the knowledge of Christ was spread. His speech before Agrippa, given amid persecution and opposition from his accusers, shows that he answered rulers with dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence.
For these causes the Jews seized Paul in the Jerusalem temple and tried to kill him. He spoke these words in his defense before King Agrippa while in custody awaiting transfer to Rome. Jewish leaders had accused him before Roman officials, but the dispute centered on religious questions and on Jesus, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
The immediate account of that hearing does not explain the temple seizure or the attempt to kill him. The cause was his obedience to the command received at the gate of Damascus to proclaim a risen Saviour. He had truly seen and heard that Saviour as surely as Cephas, James, John and the other disciples had, the same Jesus who walked in Jerusalem, died on Calvary, broke the bands of death and ascended to heaven.
In obedience he bore witness in Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and in regions afar off that all people, Jews and Gentiles, should repent and turn to God and do works fitting repentance. He preached repentance toward God with faith in Christ and a life consistent with that faith. He declared forgiveness and salvation through the risen Jesus in fulfillment of Moses and the prophets, that Christ would suffer, rise from the dead and bring light to Jews and Gentiles.
His testimony about Jesus was in harmony with Moses and the prophets, not blasphemy or apostasy. The Lord delivered him from danger. By God's help he continued to witness to people of every rank.
His resulting bonds, trials and imprisonment for the gospel became a means to testify about Jesus before kings, governors, rulers and nobles. The gospel that led to his imprisonment was thus brought before the princes and nobles of the imperial city, and the knowledge of Christ was spread. His speech before Agrippa, given amid persecution and opposition from his accusers, shows that he answered rulers with dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence.