Sha’ul Boasted Readiness to Die, Then Proved Himself a Liar

Sha’ul was a Master Deceiver Who at First Boasted of His Readiness to Die for His Faith in יהושע Messiah, Then When Faced with the Threat of His Death Flagged His Roman Citizenship and Repeatedly Lied to Multiple Parties in Order to Save His Own Life

‘And as we were staying many days, a certain prophet named Ḥaḡaḇ came down from Yehuḏah, and having come to us, he took the girdle of Sha’ul, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Set-apart Spirit, ‘Thus shall the Yehuḏim at Yerushalayim bind the man who owns this girdle, and deliver him into the hands of the nations.’ ” And when we heard this, both we and those from that place begged him not to go up to Yerushalayim. And Sha’ul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Yerushalayim for the Name of the Master יהושע.” And as he could not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “Let the desire of the Master be done.”’

Ma`asei (Acts) 21:10-14

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.21.10-14

‘And when we had arrived in Yerushalayim, the brothers received us gladly. And on the following day Sha’ul went in with us to Ya‛aqoḇ, and all the elders came. And having greeted them, he was relating one by one what Elohim had done among the nations through his service. And when they heard it, they praised the Master. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Yehuḏim there are who have believed, and all are ardent for the Torah, “But they have been informed about you that you teach all the Yehuḏim who are among the nations to forsake Mosheh, saying not to circumcise the children nor to walk according to the practices. “What then is it? They shall certainly hear that you have come. “So do this, what we say to you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be cleansed with them, and pay their expenses so that they shave their heads. And all shall know that what they have been informed about you is not so, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah. “But concerning the nations who believe, we have written and decided that they should keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and whoring.” Then Sha’ul took the men on the next day, and having been cleansed with them, went into the Set-apart Place to announce the completion of the days of separation – until the offering should be presented for each one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Yehuḏim from Asia, seeing him in the Set-apart Place, were stirring up all the crowd, and they laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Yisra’ĕl, help! This is the man who is teaching all men everywhere against the people, and the Torah, and this place. And besides, he also brought Greeks into the Set-apart Place and has profaned this Set-apart Place.” Because they had previously seen Trophimos the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they thought that Sha’ul had brought into the Set-apart Place. And the entire city was moved, and the people rushed together, seized Sha’ul, and dragged him out of the Set-apart Place. And immediately the doors were shut. And while they were seeking to kill him, a report came to the commander of the company of soldiers that all Yerushalayim was in confusion. At once he took soldiers and captains, and ran down to them. And they, having seen the commander and the soldiers, stopped beating Sha’ul. Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and was asking who he was and what he had done. And in the crowd some were shouting this and others that. And not being able to ascertain the truth because of the uproar, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.’

Ma`asei (Acts) 21:17-34

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.21.17-34

‘And they were listening to him until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying, “Away with such a one from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live!” As they were shouting and tearing their garments, and throwing dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined by flogging, in order to find out why they were shouting so against him. And as they were stretching him out with straps, Sha’ul said to the captain who was standing by, “Is it permitted for you to whip a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” And when the captain heard, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman.” And having come, the commander said to him, “Say to me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” And the commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Sha’ul said, “But I was even born so.”’

Ma`asei (Acts) 22:22-28

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.22.22-28

‘Now Sha’ul, perceiving that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, I am being judged concerning the expectation and resurrection of the dead!” And when he had said this, there came a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the crowd was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor messenger nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both. And there was a great uproar. And certain of the scribes of the party of Pharisees were earnestly contending, saying, “We find no evil in this man. And if a spirit or a messenger has spoken to him, let us not fight against Elohim.” And a great dissension having come, the commander, fearing lest Sha’ul would be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the body of soldiers to go down and seize him from their midst, and bring him into the barracks.’

Ma`asei (Acts) 23:6-10

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.23.6-10

‘This man, having been seized by the Yehuḏim, and being about to be killed by them, I rescued, having come with the body of soldiers, having learned that he was a Roman. And, desiring to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their Torah, but there was no charge against him deserving death or chains.’

Ma`asei (Acts) 23:27-29

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.23.27-29

‘And after five days the high priest Ḥananyah came down, with the elders, and a certain speaker – Tertullus. And they brought charges against Sha’ul before the governor. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Having obtained great peace through you, and reforms being brought to this nation by your forethought, we accept it always and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thanks. “But in order not to hinder you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your gentleness. For having found this man a plague, who stirs up dissension among all the Yehuḏim throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Natsarenes,” who also tried to profane the Set-apart Place, and whom we seized, and wished to judge him according to our law,’

Ma`asei (Acts) 24:1-6

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.24.1-6

‘And when the governor had motioned him to speak, Sha’ul answered, “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge of this nation, I gladly defend myself, seeing you are able to know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Yerushalayim to worship. “And they neither found me in the Set-apart Place disputing with anyone nor stirring up the crowd, either in the congregations or in the city. “Nor are they able to prove the charges of which they now accuse me. “And this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets, having an expectation in Elohim, which they themselves also wait for, that there is to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. “And in this I exercise myself to have a clear conscience toward Elohim and men always. “And after many years I came to bring kind deeds to my nation and offerings, at which time certain Yehuḏim from Asia found me cleansed in the Set-apart Place, neither with a crowd nor with disturbance, “who ought to be present before you to bring charges if they have any matter against me. “Or else let these themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, other than for this one declaration which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you today.’ ”’

Ma`asei (Acts) 24:10-21

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.24.10-21

‘Festus therefore, having come to the province, three days later went up from Caesarea to Yerushalayim. And the high priest and the chief men of the Yehuḏim informed him against Sha’ul, and they begged him, asking a favour against him, that he would send him to Yerushalayim – making a plot along the way to kill him. Then, indeed, Festus answered that Sha’ul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out shortly. Therefore, he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.” And having spent more than ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Sha’ul to be brought. And when he had come, the Yehuḏim who had come down from Yerushalayim stood about, bringing many and heavy charges against Sha’ul, which they were unable to prove, while Sha’ul said in his own defence, “Neither against the Torah of the Yehuḏim, nor against the Set-apart Place, nor against Caesar did I commit any sin.” But Festus, wishing to do the Yehuḏim a favour, answering Sha’ul, said, “Do you wish to go up to Yerushalayim and be judged before me there concerning these matters ?” And Sha’ul said, “I am standing at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be judged. To the Yehuḏim I have done no wrong, as you know well enough. For if indeed I do wrong, or have committed whatever deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is none at all in these matters of which these men accuse me, no one is able to give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, having talked with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!”’

Ma`asei (Acts) 25:1-12

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.25.1-12

‘And when they had spent many days there, Festus laid Sha’ul’s case before the sovereign, saying, “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner, about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Yehuḏim informed me, when I was in Yerushalayim, asking for a judgment against him. “To them I answered, ‘It is not the Roman practice to give up any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has a chance to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’ “They, therefore, having come together, without any delay, I sat on the judgment seat the next day and commanded the man to be brought in. “When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge against him such as I expected, but had some questions against him about their own worship and about a certain יהושע, who had died, whom Sha’ul was claiming to be alive. “And being uncertain how to investigate these matters, I asked whether he wished to go to Yerushalayim and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Sha’ul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I ordered him to be kept until I send him to Caesar. And Agrippa said to Festus, “I was wishing also to hear the man myself.” And he said, “Tomorrow, you shall hear him.”’

Ma`asei (Acts) 25:14-22

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.25.14-22

‘“Therefore, Sovereign Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Dammeseq and in Yerushalayim, and in all the country of Yehuḏah, and to the nations, that they should repent, and turn to Elohim, and do works worthy of repentance. “That is why the Yehuḏim seized me in the Set-apart Place and tried to kill me.’

Ma`asei (Acts) 26:19-21

https://www.bible.com/bible/316/ACT.26.19-21