Paul has been arrested. Paul asks to speak to the crowd. The tribune, the commander, thinks that he is an Egyptian who has been stirring up trouble recently. Josephus, a Jewish historian, also mentions this Egyptian. I mention this to show that the Bible accurately records history. There are other non-biblical sources that mention the same events and people. Pretty awesome.
Paul is given permission to speak, so he gives his testimony. The people listen, but they continue to reject him because he is preaching to the Gentiles. The tribune decides to appease the people and have Paul flogged, but Paul reveals that he is a Roman citizen. Therefore, he cannot be flogged without a trial.
We are going to stop here for today, but I want us to examine our hearts. Do we ever treat people unfairly before we know the facts? Do we listen to gossip and rumor? Do we judge people by their appearance or by there actions? Do we give people a chance to explain themselves? People usually act with reason. They all have a story. Take the time to listen to their story and understand their motivations.
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