Jean Ann Williams | Author

“And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: ‘Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with […]

“Then he [the tribune] called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor’” (Acts 23:23, 24 ESV). Father, Paul […]

“They [Jews] went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more […]

“When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy” (Acts 23:12, 13 ESV).  Father, why did the Jews not believe Paul’s righteous intentions? Why do we at times not believe Yours? Please […]

“And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them [some of the crowd of Jews], commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, […]

“And when he [Paul] had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and […]

“Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial’” (Acts 23:6 ESV).  Father, help us to perceive situations in […]

“And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck’” (Acts 23:2, 3 ESV)?  […]

“But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he [Paul] was being accused by the Jews, he [tribune] unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.  And looking intently at the council, Paul said, ‘Brothers, I […]

“So the tribune came and said to him [Paul], ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The tribune answered, ‘I bought this citizenship for a large sum.’ Paul said, ‘But I am a citizen by birth.’ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was […]