I Appeal To Caesar!

On more than forty occasions, the written records do describe Jesus clashing with the Pharisees. Obviously, Jesus is openly hostile to the non-spiritual, Pharisaical way of life that Saul is learning to embrace; this conflict will culminate in Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Jesus’ body was buried in the Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (a member of the Sanhedrin), and the tomb was sealed. A half-dozen soldiers and two mules pushed and tugged the huge “rolling stone” door over the entrance. Heaving a sigh of relief, Caiaphas the High Priest and Pontius Pilate the Roman governor thought their problem with Jesus was terminated. However, after three days, the humongous rock was “somehow” thrown aside (as though by a giant hand), and Jesus came back to life. The joyful message then filled Jerusalem that Jesus is the Christ and that He was resurrected and is appearing to many witnesses! Some fifty days later, at the Feast of Pentecost, a great display of divine power takes place in the Temple precincts, and some 3,000 people are converted to Christ in response to the Apostle Peter’s message—and are baptized in the Pool of Israel! The Jesus problem does not leave Jerusalem, even though some of the leaders are thrown in jail! More than a year passes, and things are getting out of control . . . something must be done!