Welcome to a year in the Bible with daily grace. My name is Kristen and my name is Katie and we want to spend a few minutes a day with you walking through the New Testament one chapter at a time.

This year we will fix our gaze upon Christ so that we may know

him, not only with our minds but with our hearts. Together we will learn that

who Jesus is changes everything. Welcome back, friends.

My name is Katie, one of your co-host on a year in the Bible with Daily Grace,

and we are so glad you're here to join us as we study through the New Testament in a year.

Currently we are in the Book of Acts and today we are studying Acts 24.

Today Paul is in Roman custody and appears to be on trial before the governor of Judea, Felix, for allegedly defiling

the temple in Jerusalem by bringing a Gentile into the temple spaces reserved only for Jews.

Like our court system today, we will read a prosecution speech and

Paul's defense. But, spoiler, we will not get a verdict today. Court systems

can be slow, right?

Before we dive into the prosecution and defense species,

let's talk about how Paul got here in the first place.

All the way back in Acts 19, we see that Paul was told by the spirit to head to Jerusalem.

Paul would bring a large offering from the Gentile churches to Jerusalem, but he would also face suffering and imprisonment there.

And so, Paul obeys.

And sure enough, in Jerusalem, a rumor about Paul

spread that in his missionary journeys he actively

discouraged Jewish Christians from observing the law.

This angered the Jews so much that they were looking for a way to incite a riot against

him.

...