Five days after Paul's transfer to Caesarea under Roman military escort, the high priest Ananias arrives with elders and a professional orator named Tertullus to formally present charges against Paul before Governor Felix. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem following accusations that he defiled the temple by bringing Greeks into its inner courts, though Roman soldiers rescued him from a mob. After discovering a plot by more than forty Jews who vowed to kill Paul, the Roman commander Claudius Lysias sent him to Caesarea with a letter explaining the situation. Felix has kept Paul in custody at Herod's palace, awaiting this formal hearing where the Jewish leaders will present their case and Paul will have opportunity to defend himself against the accusations. Tertullus is addressing Governor Felix on behalf of the Jewish delegation.
[1] Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
[2] And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, [3] we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. [4] Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. [5] For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. [6] He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. [7] But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, [8] commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” [9] And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
[10] Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, [11] because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. [12] And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. [13] Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. [14] But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. [15] I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. [16] This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
[17] “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, [18] in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. [19] They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. [20] Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, [21] unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
[22] But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” [23] So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
[24] And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. [25] Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” [26] Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
During Jesus's final week in Jerusalem, He enters the temple and begins teaching the people and preaching the gospel. His actions in recently cleansing the temple by driving out the merchants have intensified opposition from the religious establishment. The chief priests, scribes, and elders now seek to challenge His authority and find grounds to arrest Him. These leaders represent the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish governing body, and they are deeply troubled by Jesus's growing influence among the people and His bold actions in the sacred temple courts. The religious authorities approach Jesus while He teaches in the temple. The chief priests, scribes, and elders are addressing Jesus.
[1] Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him [2] and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
[3] But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: [4] The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
[5] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ [6] But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” [7] So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
[8] And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The apostle John writes this letter late in the first century, likely from Ephesus, during a time when the early church faces significant challenges from false teachers who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. These deceivers, influenced by early Gnostic ideas, are traveling among Christian communities and threatening the doctrinal purity of believers. John has already addressed similar concerns in his first epistle, emphasizing the importance of truth, love, and discernment. Now he writes to a specific church, referred to symbolically as "the elect lady and her children," to warn them about these dangerous teachers and to encourage them to remain steadfast in the apostolic teaching they have received from the beginning. John is addressing a local congregation and its members.
[1] The Elder,
To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, [2] because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
[3] Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
[4] I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. [5] And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. [6] This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
[7] For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. [8] Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
[9] Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. [10] If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; [11] for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
[12] Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
[13] The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Jesus has entered Jerusalem to great acclaim, with crowds welcoming Him as a king. Some Greeks approach Philip requesting to see Jesus, and after Philip and Andrew relay this to Him, Jesus responds by speaking about His approaching hour of glorification. He explains that His death will bring forth much fruit, contrasting it with a grain of wheat that remains alone unless it dies. Jesus is addressing His disciples and the crowd gathered around Him, including the Greeks who had come seeking an audience.
[24] Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. [25] He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Early in the morning, Jesus returns to Jerusalem from Bethany, where he had spent the night after his triumphal entry into the city and his dramatic cleansing of the temple the previous day. The temple cleansing had provoked the chief priests and scribes, who witnessed Jesus healing the blind and lame while children shouted praises to him. After cursing a fig tree for its lack of fruit, Jesus enters the temple courts where the chief priests and elders of the people confront him about the authority by which he performs these actions. Jesus responds by posing a question about John the Baptist's authority, which traps the religious leaders in a dilemma they cannot answer without either angering the crowds or condemning themselves. Jesus is addressing the chief priests and elders of the people.
[18] Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. [19] And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.
[20] And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?”
[21] So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. [22] And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
[23] Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
[24] But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: [25] The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ [26] But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” [27] So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
[28] “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ [29] He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. [30] Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. [31] Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
The day before, Jesus entered Jerusalem in what is now called the Triumphal Entry, riding on a donkey while crowds spread cloaks and branches on the road, shouting "Hosanna." He went to the temple, looked around at everything, and then returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples as evening came. This marked the beginning of Jesus's final week in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The city was filled with Passover pilgrims, and tensions between Jesus and the religious authorities were mounting. Jesus had been teaching and performing miracles throughout his ministry in Galilee and Judea, and now he arrived in Jerusalem where the religious establishment held power. The previous evening's visit to the temple set the stage for his actions the following morning, as he prepared to confront the corruption he observed there.
[12] Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. [13] And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. [14] In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
And His disciples heard it.
[15] So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. [16] And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. [17] Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
[18] And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. [19] When evening had come, He went out of the city.
[20] Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. [21] And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
[22] So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. [23] For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. [24] Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
[25] “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. [26] But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”