Acts 25:8 Cross References

Acts 25:8

8: Paul denied the charges. "I am not guilty," he said. "I have committed no crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government."

I didn't argue with anyone in the Temple, nor did I incite a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.

Three days after Paul's arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, "Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.

My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."

"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ritual. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.
But some Jews from the province of Asia were there--and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!
Ask these men here what wrongdoing the Jewish high council found in me,
except for one thing I said when I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"

The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the Temple and against the law of Moses.
We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: "Brothers, I have always lived before God in all good conscience!"

They replied, "We have heard nothing against you. We have had no letters from Judea or reports from anyone who has arrived here.

For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I'm here in jail, but I did nothing to deserve it."

Then Jeremiah asked the king, "What crime have I committed? What have I done against you, your officials, or the people that I should be imprisoned like this?

But Paul replied, "No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty.

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on God's grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you.

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