Now, according to the schedule, it is time to return to the book of Acts 20, picking up where we left off. I read this last evening.
This chapter devotes itself to Paul's travels. If interested one could consult a biblical Atlas and followed his route back towards Jerusalem. Or like me, trust Acts to have recorded it properly. Although he did not visit Ephesus, he invited some of the elders of the church of Ephesus to meet with him on his route. He realizes although they don't that they will never see him again and he talks to them about his mission with them and his hopes for them.
An amusing thing happens in this chapter of Acts - Paul is preaching in an upper room – on the third floor of a building. He speaks so long that a young man sitting on a windowsill falls asleep
and falls to the ground. The first people to reach him declared him to be dead, but Paul detects the breath of life. The unconscious man is carried back inside and Paul continues his worship service with the Last Supper.
Suggestion: prepare a banner and have it ready to display the next time your minister runs the sermon too long – "Acts 20:7 – 12".
Paul, and those accompanying him, continued their journey now by sea towards Jerusalem. They land the port of Caesarea where they stay with Philip (a believer who, we are told, had four daughters who were prophets. He is warned not to go to Jerusalem; his life would be in danger there. He answers that he is willing to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (GeoFee, this may be the answer to your question – yes he had been in prison several times, but he choose the hill that he would be willing to die on.)
When Paul reached Jerusalem, he met with James and the other brothers who told him the charges against him. He defended himself and told them what he was doing which they found acceptable. However some Jews from out-of-town saw Paul in the temple and stirred up the people accusing him of disrespecting the temple and breaking the Jewish laws. Seizing Paul they dragged him from the temple and tried to kill him. Paul was rescued and arrested by the Romans. He was treated well when they discovered that he spoke several languages, including Greek, and was a Roman citizen.
The Roman authorities permit Jesus to speak to the crowds. He explains that he is a Jew and tells of his conversion experience when he was changed from persecuting the followers of the Way to being a believer and a missionary.
When Paul confessed to being present and approving of the murder of Stephen, crowds again rose up against him and again the Romans protected him.
Next Paul is tried before the Sanhedrin. He claims to be a Pharisee and an argument breaks out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Again Paul is rescued by the
Romans. The following day, for his own protection, Paul was transferred to Caesarea.
In chapter 24, Paul is tried again – this time in Caesarea in a Roman court with the high priest from the Temple in Jerusalem bringing charges that he is a troublemaker and Paul offering his defence.
The Romans see this as a religious dispute within the Jewish community. Not wanting to interfere, they keep Paul under arrest but permit him some freedom for several years.
