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| ACTS |
| Explanatory Footnotes - page 4 |
| profitable businesses dependent on religious pilgrims. The story presents a clear case of mob psychology. Paul started a riot, but he also founded one of his strongest churches, a community that later inspired the book of Ephesians. 20:35 Emotional Farewell Paul had worked in Ephesus longer than any other city. Before leaving on his fateful trip to Jerusalem, he called the elders to Miletus for a final farewell (verse 17). In his speech, he quotes a saying from Jesus - the only New Testament quotation from Jesus not found in the Gospels. 21:28 A Trumped-up Charge Ironically, the arrest that led to Paul's final imprisonment came about because of a misundertanding. He was actually trying to reassure the Jerusalem church of his loyalty by agreeing to take Jewish vows. But a rumor had spread that Paul had illegally taken an "unclean" Gentile into a forbidden part of the temple, and a mob scene ensued. The remainder of Acts reports on various stages of Paul's legal appeals. 23:6 Paul under Attack Under pressure, Paul proved to be a formidable opponent. In this scene, he spoke back to a priest who struck him on the mouth. Using great skill, Paul divided his accusers by exploiting the differences between two Jewish sects, the Pharisees and Sadducees (see note on 4:1). Paul managed to arouse such intense opposition that a group of 40 conspirators vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed him. 24:27 Left in Chains Felix was unpopular with the Jews of Palestine. The brief report in Acts shows him to be shrewd and even corrupt (verse 26). Recalled by Rome because of his troubles with the Jews, Felix left Paul in chains for a period of two years. |