The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com

Presents 
The

Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 22

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

 and now edited by people at
 
The American Wisdom Series  

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

 Now here is our revised study of:

The

Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 22

"Paul's Imprisonment, and Defense in Jerusalem, and the Events Following."

Acts 22:1 "Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I made now unto you."

So we see that Paul was delivered up, and for the past year Paul was on the vow to deliver up his message to the mob that is gathered in Jerusalem. Remember that the whole purpose for this book of Acts is to let Christians know how the Apostles got around and through the problems of this life, while delivering the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God.

Paul is now ready to deliver that message, and he is addressing his fellow Israelites, those brethren of the tribe of Judah, in the court yard of the temple. God's Word prepares us for the unknown things that may arise, and helps us overcome those difficulties. Though these men had never accepted the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, they still held to every letter of the law. There was an exception to this, in that James and the other Apostles had decided that the Gentiles did not need to follow the laws that pertained to the blood sacrifices, and those laws also included Circumcision.

In the last chapter we saw that this mob was stirred up by some Kenites from Asia, and as this mob pulled Paul from the temple and started beating on him, the Roman guards saw what was happening, and had come to put down the actions of the mob. As they were taking Paul up the steps in bonds and chains, Paul asked the guards if he could speak to the crowd, and they allowed him to do so. So Paul is facing this mob of people, and they quited down when Paul started to speak to them in pure Hebrew. It was a surprise for them to hear Paul speaking in Hebrew. Paul spoke many languages beside the Hebrew and the Greek, and he spoke more tongues then most could speak. So Paul was up on the stairway, and the mob below.

It is written in Mark 13, and Matthew 24 that this is an example of what we can expect in our generation. There will be some Christains that will be delivered up before Satan, when he comes to earth as the false-christ, and his religious leaders, and they also will be expected to give answer for their beliefs. They will be asked why they refuse to accept and worship the "instead of Christ" [Satan] and the image of his religious system. At that time it will be the Holy Spirit that will protect and speak through them, as recorded in Mark 13:11. This will be done so that the message of the Gospel will go out before the world from the synagogue of Satan.

So this is a type of what will happen, and it is ordered and controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. Paul is on trial, and he is speaking on his own defense in Jerusalem.

Acts 22:2 "(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)"

When the people heard this defense coming out of Paul's mouth that was suppose to be destroying the law, it took them by surprise. By Paul defending himself in the pure Hebrew tongue meant that Paul was one of their own.

Acts 22:3 "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilcia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day."

Lets make it very clear that Paul was from Judea, thou not of the tribe of Judah, but of Benjamin. Paul makes this clear in Romans 11:1; "I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." But the term "Jew" as used here is "ioudaus" which means "from the land of Judea". He was born in Tarsus, in what would be Turkey of today, however Paul attended school in the city of Jerusalem as a youth, and resided there.

We remember Gamaliel from Acts 5:34, when he gave his warning to the Sanhedrin when they wanted to kill Peter. Gamaliel stood up an spoke on Peters behalf. "Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;" In this action by Gamaliel, Peter's life was spared.

Now Paul lets it be know some twenty years after that speech given to the Sanhedrin that he was educated under Gamaliel in the law of Moses. Paul is telling these men hearing him that he was once sold out to the cause just like they are this day.

Acts 22:4 "And I persucuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women."

Paul is telling them that he knew the law of the torah, and when people violated that law I went after them. The "way" spoken of here is the "Christian way". I went to get those Christians, men and women alike and persecuted them to their death. If you think you're bad sinner, Paul is standing before these men and confessing that he took part in murdering Christians. In the beginning of Paul's young life there were none worse, yet God changed his entire life. Paul's free will was to kill Christians, but as one of God's elect, the Spirit of God placed God's love in him and he now preached with the same determination. This confession is what is getting the crowds attention for it is the intent of the Kenites among them  to also murder Christians.

Acts 22:5 "As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished."

Paul is telling them, you go over there to the high priest's office and you will find in the records that I was once a champion of the people in binding Christians and bringing them to trial in Jerusalem. There wasn't one elder that did not know me, and I carried letters to brethren in Damascus authorizing me to bring back Christians from there.

Editor's Note: As Jesus told us in John chapter 8, the elders of the church at that time were really Kenites [descendants of Cain], not descendants of Judah or Benjamin or Levi, therefore they were not even Israelites. Here is a Live Link to- John chapter 8. Please read it all, but pay special attention to verse 44.

Acts 22:6 "And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me."

Acts 22:7 "And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?' "

Paul was knocked to the ground by this light from Jesus Christ. Paul persecuted Jesus Christ every time he touched a Christian. When you touch another Christian, you touch Christ. IT WOULD BE A STRETCH TO CALL WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, AN ALTER CALL FROM GOD. But, when He blinded Paul right there on the road it sure got Paul's attention! What was Paul's free will? Did Paul say I'm all for you Jesus? No, Paul said I want to kill those Christians.

Editor's Note: Most people say Paul's free will, PRIOR TO HIS DAMASCUS ROAD EXPERIENCE, WAS TO KILL CHRISTIANS,  I have trouble can't buying that! I believe Paul had already used used his free will in the first earth age remaining faithful to our Lord at Lucifer's rebellion. That is why God chose to predestine him for a special task in this earth age. As part of God's his special task, I believe Paul persecuted Christians by God's will. I think it was all part of God's salvation plan. I could wrong! Just ask my wife!

Yet when the Lord was done with Paul, there on the road to Damascus, Paul makes a complete turn around and he ends up writing most of the New Testament.

God has a destiny for some of us, because of what happened at Satan's fall in the first earth age. There were some of us that stood firm against the Lucifer, and God destined them, in this flesh age, to do a service for Him. This is why Paul stated in Ephesians 1:4 "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." The foundation of this earth age started at the fall of Lucifer/Satan, when God destroyed this earth and all life forms in it with  world wide flood. This is not the flood of Noah's time, but the ruin that occured between Genesis 1:1, and 1:2. It was then that God's elect were chosen.

Live Link to-Lucifer's Flood
Live Link to-Noah's Flood

Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will." The souls of the elect of God were predestinated for an purpose way back then, before the waters were parted and flesh man ever came into existance. Those souls of the elect were adopted by God back then, and set apart for God's purposes. Though all souls of mankind have free will, some like Paul, and possible you, are part of God's elect, having already chosen to remain loyal to God in the first earth age..

Remember what God said of Paul in Acts 9:15? "But the Lord said unto him, go thy way for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Paul didn't volunteer for this job, until after God struck him down. Sometime if one of you end up somewhere and you don't know how you ended up there doing whatever, maybe, God also has His hand on you.

Acts 22:8 "And I answered, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said unto me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, Whom thou persecutest.' "

In the Greek, Paul answered, Who are you sir?

Acts 22:9 "And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him That spake to me."

You may think there is a conflict between this verse and Acts 9:7, but in the Greek there is no controversy. Acts 9:7 states "And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man." So we must go back to the Greek to get the original meaning. The word "hearing" in verse 9:7 in the Greek is "phone" and this is expressed by the word "voice". The Greek word phone is in the genitive case here, and in the accusative case in Acts 9:4. In other words it was just a noise like a voice that could not be understood, but they could see the light. What ever it was, it was a divine intervention.

Acts 22:10 "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said unto me, `Arise and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.'"

This was Jesus Christ Himself speaking. There are some that are predestined to do a certain mission for God, and on the other end, there are many that have free will to follow Him of their own choice. However there are some that do not even know what to pray for in God's over all plan, therefore God says, I intercede in your life. Romans 8:27 "And He That searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. That is what happened here, for Christ interceded in the life of Paul, and Paul had no choise in the matter, because Paul was a chosen vessel.

Acts 22:11 "And when I could not see for the glory of the light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus."

Paul was blinded from the bright light, and had to be led into Damascus by the hand.

Acts 22:12 "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,"

This was the second man in the book of Acts named Ananias. Remember the first Ananias and his wife Sapphira were struck dead for lying to the Spirit of God, and trying to deceive Him as we read in Acts 5:5 "And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost:". This second Anaias was a man that knew the law and followed it well, and was well as being known even to those living in Judea. The name "Ananias" means "whom God has graciously given", and this shows in the Hebrew that God has given certain ones to serve. That right has been earned in the first earth age. All souls come from God, and entered the embryo in the womb at conception. They were not manufactured then, but God created each soul at some point in time before the beginning of this earth age.

Acts 22:13 "Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, `Brother Saul, receive thy sight.' And the same hour I looked up upon him."

This is Ananias speaking to Paul.

Acts 22:14 "And he said, `The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth."

Paul did not volunteer of what God had for him to do, God had chosen Paul to know the will of the Father, and to see and hear the voice of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the "Just One". Paul did hear the voice of Jesus in a very striking way.

Acts 22:15 "For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."

Paul was not only a witness to those he saw and preached to face to face, but through his writings in his letters to the different churches, Paul is also a witness to us today. He is witnessing to us through Romans and both Corinthians letters, through Ephesians and all the other books, as the Holy Spirit of Christ reveals those written words to our understanding.

Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' "

Acts 22:17 "And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;"

During prayer time in the temple, Paul had a vision. God was dealing with Paul.

Acts 22:18 "And saw Him saying unto me, `Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me.' "

Of course the religious leaders in Jerusalem had refused the teachings of Jesus Christ in person, and they would not receive the words of Paul concering Jesus Christ either. We see here the start of Paul's destiny, to carry the message of the Gospel [good news] of Jesus Christ to the rest of the children of Israel [the ten tribes of the house of Israel] as well as to the kings, and the Gentiles nations.

Acts 22:19 "And I said, `Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee:"

Paul was telling God here, You want me to go and teach the Christians, and I have a reputation in all areas of persecuting them. Even though Paul killed and bound Christians Christ still sent Paul to teach.

The message within this verse is that God can change and use any person that He choses. God can change the heart and mind of a man or woman. This is comforting to remember as we pray for one of our loved ones that is living in sin, and set in their ways. God can change people's lives, but it is for you to set the example.

Acts 22:20 "And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the rainment of them that slew him.' "
Remember that Paul is standing on the stairway, looking down on a mob of people that want his blood and his life. He is talking in the pure Hebrew tongue and giving the account of his transformation from a killer, into a servent of God. Paul is reminding those people of that story of the sermon and death of Stephen that we read of in Acts 7. Paul is letting them know that I was one of those that took part in the stoning of that great man of God, Stephen.

Acts 22:21 "And He said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.'

This statement takes all the doubt out of your faith. Paul knew that he was chosen by God, and sent to far lands to preach and teach the Word of God. Paul was preaching and teaching the early Christians from the Word of God, and that Word is what you and I call the Old Testament. As Paul taught and set up churches, many times Paul had to send letters back to those early Christians to correct errors of understanding, and those letters were kept, and given to other churches. Those many letters formed into what we use today as our study guide even in this generation. We call that collection of letters of instruction the New Testament. The works of Paul has guided the world in all generation for the past two thousand years.

Acts 22:22 "And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live."

In the Greek, it reads, "They gave him audience until this word." When Paul said the word "Gentiles", things started happening, and the crowd became a mob again. This is the polite way of saying, "kill him". Here Paul gave this great testimony, and the crowd is screaming for Paul's life. It doesn't matter how great the sermon was, if the Kenites don't believe in Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter what is said, they wanted his blood.

Acts 22:23 "And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,"

This is the sign of a true mob as they demonstrate their anger and frustration as the rip off their clothes and throw dirt into the air.

Acts 22:24 "The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him."

As the mob started to riot the chief captain of the Roman guards demanded that Paul be brought into the castle immediately, to the north west corner. What was being said by Paul was stated in the Hebrew, and the Romans did not understand the Hebrew tongue. This captian was going to get to the bottom of this even if it meant scorging Paul. The Romans were going to beat the truth out of Paul to find out what has caused these religious leaders and others to become so insanely mad. When Paul opened his mouth those Kenite Jews went crazy and these Romans felt that Paul must have done something wrong.

Acts 22:25 "And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?"

Now pay attention to what Paul is saying here. As they are tying Paul up to the scourging rack with the thongs, Paul looked over to the centurian that was incharge of the beating, and said; "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" Paul is telling them, I am a Roman citizen and I haven't been tried yet, and you are tying and binding me to this rack.

Roman law forbidded a Roman citizen to be bound and beaten, and that authority could only be given by Caesar himself. This was a terrible thing for an officer to do to a Roman citizen, and the Officer knew that he was in trouble. Paul was a Roman citizen through his father, and his mother was a hellenist. We will see in verse 28 that Paul didn't buy his citizenship, but that he was "free born", which meant that he was a full fledged Roman that that could not be removed from him.

The moral to this is that biblically, you should know who your are. You should also know the people around you and what their faiths are.

Acts 22:26 "When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, "Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman."

This centurian is reminding his superior officer that he has already given an order, and watch out what you are going to do, for this man is a Roman. These officers know the Roman law, and what it meant to beat a Roman citizen without a trial. A man could lose his commission, and be jailed for doing such a thing.

Acts 22:27 "Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, "Tell me, art thou a Roman?" He said, "Yea". "

Acts 22:28 "And the chief captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "But I was free born." "

After the chief captain asked Paul if he was a Roman and Paul answered yes, the captain told Paul of the great sum of money that he had paid to obtain his citizenship. Paul answered the captain, "But I was free born." This made it all the worse for this captain, though he paid a great sum for his citizenship, and his command, he could lose it all should Paul's binding come before the proper authorities.

Acts 22:29 "Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him."

Immediately this chief captain left Paul, and went to his superior officer with the news. This man knew that what he had done was against the Roman law that he was to uphold, and he was rightly afraid.

Why is it important that you know who you are? Because at the appearance of Satan, the "instead of Christ" [Antichrist], God's final instructions given to Satan is found in Revelation 9:4 "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, niether any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."

Your brain is in your forehead, and the seal of God is His Word, so to have the seal of God in your forehead is to have all the promises of God's holy Word in your mind. In verse one, Satan [the star that fell] is given the key, or authority to go to the bottomless pit and release all the fallen angels, and Satan shall come to the earth with them, in our generation. We are living in the final generation, and upon his arrival the only way that you will not be deceived and take Satan's mark, is by having the seal of God in your mind.

God's Word instructs us that He has instructed Satan to leave God's sealed elect alone. This is why we can be assured, as it is written in Luke 21:18 "But there shall not an hair of your head perish." You are given power over Satan and all his realm, and it doesn't matter what is happening around you, that protection by the Holy Spirit of God is there, but you are expected to know that authority and use it when it becomes necessary.

Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:and nothing by any means hurt you."

Luke 10:20 "Notwithstanding in this in this rejoice not, that the sprits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

The "serpents" are the Kenites, the offspring on earth, through Satan's son Cain, while the "scorpions" are are the fallen angels, whether in spirit form now, or visible upon the sounding of the fifth trumpet, as recorded in Revelation 9. God has given you authority over all of these demonic forces, however what good is power if you don't know how to use it?

Paul knew the power that he had in the Roman law, and that the forces that would harm him were subject to certain limits. Paul then reminded those forces of the laws that they were bound to, and their fear of that law gave Paul protection. God has warned Satan, the Kenites, and the fallen angels that certain people were off limits to their deception, and stinging, and when you have the seal of God in your mind, that gives you the power when they come against you. The only tool that Satan has anyway is deception, and his lying wonders, however when someone has God's Word sealed in their mind, Satan can't deceive them anyway.

That is why it is important for you to know who you are during this time of deliverence at the last hour. That hour is upon us now, and that hour has been shortened from three and a half YEARS to a five month period of time, as recorded in Revelation 9:5, 10.

LET'S TAKE A LITTLE SIDE TRIP
FROM OUR STUDY OF ACTS 22
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TIME OF
THE DECEPTION OF MANKIND
BY SATAN AND HIS LOCUST ARMY.
 

Revelation 9:5-10

Let's pick it up with verse 5 in chapter 9 of Revelation concerning the locusts:

Rev. 9:5
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
The locust army is NOT PERMITTED to kill people. They do not have "first death" rights to kill flesh. Again, this is spiritual warfare and swarming locusts are not going to eat people.

Now LOOK! Did you notice there is something in tomorrow's newsreel that is very revealing (what a great title for this book)? Did you notice how long the locust army has to do its thing? Five Months!

Remember in Mark 13:20 and Matthew 24:22 concerning this tribulation period that Jesus said He was going to shortened the length of time, otherwise no flesh would be saved?

Mark 13:20
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Well, by taking the time to read the future's news events in the Book of the Uncovering, we have just learned the length of time Jesus has shortened the great tribulation to! Five months!

Even more remarkable is that the season of actual locusts is always from May to September. Five months! Let's see, that would be from Passover to the Feast of Tabernacles. Hmmmm! Did you know that Jesus Christ was born on the 1st day of the Feast of Tabernacles? (If not, read appendix 179 in the Companion Bible if you are blessed to have one.) Do you think His second advent will be in like manner?

Verse 6:

Rev. 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
This verse carries forward to just before the day of wrath when Christ returns. Remember we read of this in the sixth seal?
Rev. 6:15-17
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
It is for the unbearable "shame" they will have knowing that they worshipped the wrong Jesus, who was actually the son of perdition standing in the holy place claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2). They believed him! Boom!
Rev. 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
Another of the characteristics of the locusts is that they are powerful, like horses prepared unto battle. We learned in the first four seals (chapter 6) when we discussed the Four Horses that "horses" are symbolic of power. These locusts are powerful men who appear as royalty, Christ's own ministers. And they wear crowns LIKE gold, i.e. they are imitators. Let's call it "fool's gold" for only fools will believe it's real gold, because fools don't care to read the Word of God.
[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
Picture in your mind a beautiful woman with long flowing hair. She looks lovely and oh so gentle and sweet. But when you go to kiss her she opens her mouth and shows a set of chompers that would scare Dracula himself! And when she takes those lion's teeth and bites your face, she'll rip and tear and shred you to pieces like lions do to their prey. Get the PICTURE of what's happening to the "inner man"?

Nice folk, these gentle looking liars of Satan's own, wouldn't you say?

This description tends to make the expression "A wolf in sheep's clothing" seem like a desirable alternative.

[9] And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
What's with the breastplates? Well, as we've discussed many times before, if you've read the rest of the books of the Bible before you get to Revelation then this verse is easy. Go back and read Exodus 28 and the description of the breastplates that were worn by the PRIESTS. These dudes of the locust army will appear as Priests of God, i.e. royalty as we learned in the prior verse. Want documentation that Satan's ministers will appear disguised as Christ's ministers? Paul, tell 'em!
2 Cor. 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The word "transformed" means "disguised".

And by the way, the breastplates that the Levitical Priests wore were made of precious materials with gold rings and chains and inlaid with the 12 precious gems of the 12 Tribes of Israel. The breastplates worn by Satan's priests are made of iron, figuratively of course. You get the contrasting Pictures?

One more thing in Rev. 9:9. If you are familiar with the Book of Ezekiel, especially chapters 1, 9 & 10, you'll will know that these "locusts" also have very high-tech transportation. The "world" calls them UFO's because they haven't studied God's Word to learn their identity. Those who have studied Ezekiel call them IFO's, Identified Flying Objects.

Rev. 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
Notice again that they can "hurt", albeit spiritually, and not "kill". They can sting for five months the minds of those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads and inject into their victims their deadly poisonous venom.
[11] And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
Everybody knows that actual locusts don't have kings! It is even written in the Proverbs:
Proverbs 30:27
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
Of course these aren't really locusts, are they? They are men and they have the fallen angel as their king, the one who has fallen even to where the bottomless pit ends, at eternal death. And they march to the command of their king, the rider of the first white horse, who leads the assault on our peoples.

Let's next look up in Strong's Concordance the names Satan is given here.

Abaddon, Greek #3; of Hebrew origin [#11 abaddown]; a destroying angel - Abaddon.

Apollyon, Greek #623; active participle of Greek #622 (appolumi); a destroyer (i.e. Satan) - Appollyon.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Satan is the "Death Angel", the "Destroyer", the "Desolator".

Here's another interesting fact for those who really want to study in depth. There is an advantage in understanding scripture if you are familiar with the original languages, Hebrew, Greek and Chaldean. That doesn't mean that you need to speak them, but to become familiar with them and how to "break back" the English with a Strong's Concordance. Here's an example why as we look at two more words from two of the most commonly quoted verses in scripture:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The word "perish" is Greek #622 appolumi, which means to "destroy fully". It is the root of Apollyon, i.e. the very base of Satan's name.
2 Thes. 2:3-4
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.


The word "perdition" is Greek #684; also a derivative of #622 appolumi, and means destruction, die, perdition. Don't ever let someone tell you the son of perdition is Judas or anyone else other than Satan himself! Satan is the son who will perish! It is his name!

[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Woe, Woe, Woe! Wow, Wow, Wow! Spiritual warfare! If you have not the seal of God in your forehead it's your worst nightmare!

The 5th Trumpet has sounded and one Woe is past! There are still two to go. And remember, these three Woe Trumps are "Woes" to the inhabiters of the earth. Why? The answer is real simple: Because the final generation will confront the "supernatural" face to face. Satan, in person, who was in the garden of Eden and seduced mother Eve, along with his angels who came to earth in Genesis chapter six and seduced the daughters of Adam, are all coming to this generation to "seduce" the entire world. And what a spiritual orgy it will be! The whole world, with few exceptions, will marry the wrong Jesus! Woe to the inhabiters of the earth!



To learn about the seven trumpets of Revelation read all of Revelation  8- 11 by clicking unto the live link below.   OK, the angels are ready, everything is set to go with the famous 7 Trumpets of Revelation. If you are a student of God's Word, and if you understand the 7 Seals which we've  covered in Revelation 4-7, then these trumpets will make a lot of sense.
If not, I hope you like scary movies!

Live Link to-Revelation 8 through 11

If you missed the seven seal of Revelation use the following
Live Link To-
Revelation 4 through 7

To study of 
Live Link ToRevelation table of contents.
Christian this is must read info!

Now back to Acts 22

Acts 22:30 "On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them."

It is Roman law that Paul had to be tried by his own peers, that is to say those making the accusation. It had to be a fair trial. This Chief Captain is responsible for keeping the peace in and around the temple. This peace is shattered when those of the temple want this man's blood. This captain wants to find out for certain, what that reason is, so he sends Paul down to be tried. Not only will Paul be on trial here, but he will be tried in a higher court later.

It is important of understand Paul's defense that is given in the next chapter.

        


                        
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.  We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


The American Wisdom Series

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

 "The Two Sowers of Seed", both the Good (Adam's sons) and the Tares (Satan's sons) in one Combined  Pamphlet #7000/7007  (Jesus Christ told His disciples (which means you if you are one) that unless they understood the "Parable of the Sower" they would not be able to understand any of His parables.) You can't understand "The Parable of the Tares" until you understand "The Parable of the Sower" and you will be lost comprehending "The Parable of the Fig Tree" until you know who both sowers were and their deeds.
You must understand  "The Parable of the Sower" Click this link to open Pamphlet 7000
in order to understand "The Parable of the Tares" Click this link to open Pamphlet 7007
in order to understand "The Parable of the Fig Tree" Click this link to open Pamphlet 1031
Jesus said Learn it! Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree;...'

Click this link to openThe Parable of the FigTree


Here at the American Wisdom Series our goal is to make you think about and question the wisdom of the current:

doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a  White Horse)

political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
and teachings of our schools and media. (The Man on a Pale Horse)

The Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?
Click #1848, &#1011 or #1012 to learn more.