Acts 25:13 After some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were staying on there for some time, Festus had the opportunity to acquaint the king with Sha’ul’s situation. “There is a man here,” he said, “who was left behind in custody by Felix. 15 When I was in Yerushalayim, the head cohanim and the elders of the Judeans informed me about him and asked me to pronounce judgment against him. 16 My answer to them was that it is not the custom with Romans to give up an accused man just to grant a favor, before he has met his accusers face to face and had the opportunity to defend himself against the charge. 17 So when they arrived here with me, I did not delay, but took my seat in court the next day and ordered the man brought in.
18 “When the accusers stood up, instead of charging him with some serious crime as I had expected, 19 they disputed with him about certain points of their own religion, and particularly about somebody called Yeshua, who had died, but who Sha’ul claimed was alive. 20 Being at a loss as to how to investigate such questions, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Yerushalayim and be tried on these matters there. 21 But since Sha’ul appealed to be kept in custody and have his case decided by His Imperial Majesty, I ordered him held until I could send him to the Emperor.”
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself have been wanting to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “You will hear him.”-------
King Herod Agrippa was the last of the evil Herodian line so prominent during the life of Jesus and the early church. While visiting Festus, the local governor, Agrippa was presented with the opportunity to hear about the apostle Paul’s situation. Although Herod was curious, he was not ready to truly listen and learn about the Jesus whom Paul represented. Agrippa’s heart was not open to hear the good news story. Festus discerned the disdain of the Jewish religious teachers for Paul’s story. He even understood it was about the resurrection: “About a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive” (Acts 25:19b).The resurrection story of Jesus is the story we must tell those around us. As we share our faith in Christ, we will also discover many who are not ready to hear. They want to hear about Jesus, but they do not want to hear the resurrection story and receive new life in Christ.
Keep telling the resurrection story as well as your own resurrection story! This is our privilege, to pray that their hearts will be open to hear and believe the resurrection story of Jesus.
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"I Love to Tell the Story" by Katherine Hankey
1. I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
2. I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
3. I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
4. I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
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Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who, in keeping with his great mercy, has caused us, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead, to be born again to a living hope, [1 Peter 1:3]
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Please pray:
that many young people in Peru will be called into Christian ministry.
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