Paul was willing to lose his life if it could save his brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.

But God had other plans for Paul. He was to do the work that the Jews had failed to do, by going to the world, bringing the everlasting gospel..

Apparently, the Jews are going deeper in deeper into murder and intrigue. First Jesus, then they wanted to kill Lazarus, and I do not even know if they did, or not, but then now they wanted to kill Paul. They killed James by beheading him. So they're getting a long history of rejecting Christ as messiah. If you look up the cursing and blessings promised on condition of obedience, you'll see that the curses are what they got

Who art thou Lord? Saul cried.

When Jesus said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest, he identified with his followers who were being persecuted.

In the book of Daniel, there is a time line which reveals the week that Jesus died in the middle, causing the sacrifice and oblation to cease. At the end of the week was when stephen was martyred and when the gospel went to the Gentiles. That timeline is fulfilled perfectly. It was the 70th week.

Before the disciples realized Jesus had risen, they were hiding in the upper room for fear of the Jews. But now we see them boldly confronting the chief priests with the accusation of murderer. what made the difference?

What is the overwhelming surprise that we are to avoid?

Lift up your heads O ye gates and be a lift up, you everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in!

Thou son of God, thy father calls thee, come forth!

The shaking of the Earth, the rending of the rocks. The darkness spread over the Earth and the loud strong cry of Jesus. It is finished as he yielded up his life troubled his enemies and made his murderers tremble.

Peter denied the third time that he was one of Christ's disciples with cursing and swearing. Jesus, who was some distance from Peter, turned a sorrowful reproving gaze upon him. That look of Jesus melted Peter at once and saved him.