Bible Study with David Hathaway (TV Audio Podcast)

I believe God / Acts Bible Study Chapters 24 to 27 (TV Audio #504)

'I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.' (Acts 27.22-25, NIV.)
These chapters cover Paul’s trials, his defence of his faith, and the hardships he faces as he heads to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.
Acts 24: Paul's Trial before FelixPaul is brought to trial before Governor Felix in Caesarea.The Jewish leaders accuse him of stirring up unrest among the Jews and defiling the temple.Paul defends himself, explaining that he came to Jerusalem to worship, not cause trouble. He also asserts that he believes in the resurrection of the dead, which aligns with the Pharisees’ beliefs.Felix postpones the trial, often summoning Paul to hear him speak, hoping for a bribe.Paul remains imprisoned for two years under Felix's authority.
Acts 25: Paul's Appeal to CaesarFestus succeeds Felix as governor and reopens Paul's case.The Jewish leaders again bring charges against Paul, asking Festus to transfer him to Jerusalem, intending to ambush and kill him on the way.Festus suggests another trial in Caesarea, but Paul, knowing he won’t get a fair trial, appeals to Caesar (as a Roman citizen, he has the right to do so).Festus consults with King Agrippa II, who expresses interest in hearing Paul’s defence.
Acts 26: Paul's Defence before AgrippaPaul presents his case before King Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus.Paul recounts his life before his conversion, his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his mission to spread the Gospel.He emphasizes that his preaching aligns with the Jewish scriptures and prophecies about the Messiah’s suffering and resurrection.Agrippa is moved but not persuaded to convert. He declares that Paul could have been released if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.
Acts 27: Paul's Journey to RomePaul, under guard, is sent by ship to Rome, along with other prisoners.The voyage is difficult due to bad weather. Paul warns the crew that further travel will be dangerous, but they ignore him.A violent storm hits, and they are driven off course for days. Paul reassures everyone that God has promised his safe arrival in Rome, though the ship will be wrecked.The crew finally shipwrecks on the island of Malta, but all 276 people on board survive, as Paul had foretold.

Steadfast in faith and confident in God's plan / Acts Bible Study Chapters 22&23 (TV Audio #503)

In Acts 22.25 through Acts 25.20, the Apostle Paul defends himself before various Roman and Jewish authorities after being arrested in Jerusalem. Throughout these chapters, Paul is portrayed as steadfast in his faith and confident in God's plan, using his legal rights wisely to ensure his mission continues.
Summary of the events in this passage:Acts 22.25–30, Paul's Roman Citizenship: As Paul is about to be flogged, he reveals his Roman citizenship, which grants him certain legal protections. The Roman authorities are alarmed, realizing that they have unlawfully bound a Roman citizen without a trial. Consequently, they refrain from flogging him and decide to bring him before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.
Acts 23.1–10, Before the Sanhedrin: Paul addresses the Sanhedrin and creates division between the Pharisees and Sadducees by declaring his belief in the resurrection of the dead—a belief held by the Pharisees but rejected by the Sadducees. The resulting dispute becomes so intense that the Roman commander intervenes to protect Paul.
Acts 23.11–22, Plot to Kill Paul: The following night, the Lord encourages Paul, telling him that he must testify in Rome. Meanwhile, more than 40 Jews plot to kill Paul, vowing not to eat or drink until they succeed. Paul's nephew overhears the plot and informs Paul and the Roman commander, who arranges for Paul's transfer to the governor Felix in Caesarea for his safety.
Acts 23.23–35, Transfer to Caesarea: Paul is escorted by a large contingent of Roman soldiers to Caesarea to be presented before Governor Felix. The letter from the Roman commander explains the circumstances of Paul's arrest and the unsubstantiated accusations against him.
Acts 24.1–27, Trial before Felix: In Caesarea, Paul is accused by the Jewish leaders and their lawyer, Tertullus, of causing unrest and desecrating the temple. Paul defends himself, denying the charges and affirming his faith in the resurrection. Felix, familiar with the Way (early Christianity), postpones the decision, keeping Paul in custody for two years while frequently conversing with him, hoping for a bribe.
Acts 25.1–20, Transfer to Festus: After Felix is succeeded by Festus, the Jewish leaders renew their charges against Paul and request his transfer to Jerusalem, intending to ambush him en route. Festus, however, insists on a trial in Caesarea. Paul, realising he won’t get a fair trial, exercises his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. Festus consults with King Agrippa II and explains the case, expressing uncertainty about the charges against Paul.

The Apostle Paul on trial / Acts Bible Study Chapter 21&22 (TV Audio #502)

When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, ‘Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.’ (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)
The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. The crowd that followed kept shouting, ‘Get rid of him!’
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, ‘May I say something to you?’
‘Do you speak Greek?’ he replied. ‘Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?’
Paul answered, ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.’
After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic. (Acts 21.27-40, NIV)

The Lord's Will be done / Acts Bible Study / Chapter 21 (TV Audio #501)

After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’ (Acts 21.10-14, NIV)

Healing and Forgiveness (TV Audio #500)

(Recorded in Kazakhstan)
Desperately seeking God’s answer from Scripture, I was reading from Jeremiah 33.6, ‘I will bring health and healing’; and Jeremiah 33.20-21, ‘I will not break my covenant with David’; and Psalm 89:35, ‘I will not lie to David’; and ‘Is anything impossible with God?’ (Jeremiah 32:17&27). 
On the Monday I was in the hospital, tubes down my lung looking for cancer – but God had already given me the answer, I knew it was gone. The doctors looked at me in amazement and said, ‘You have no cancer!’
I didn’t go to a healing evangelist, I went to the Word of God and God completely healed me – no operation, no treatment – I only had God and the Bible, and that’s all I needed to confound the doctors. They were shocked, they didn’t believe God. But I do, I believe in a God of power, of miracles. This was in 2003, and 21 years later, aged 92, God has kept His promise: I have health! 
Later in the same chapter, the prophet Jeremiah writes, 'I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against Me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against Me, (33.8, NIV). This verse shows how closely linked healing and forgiveness are. God has the power to heal you, but first He wants to forgive your sin. 

Everything God does is a miracle (TV Audio #499)

(Recorded in Kazakhstan)
‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you!' (Jeremiah 32.17, NIV)
In 1994 God told me, ‘Go and evangelise the whole of Siberia!’ Siberia is fifty-two times the size of Great Britain, four times North America! Four hundred team members; one hundred tonnes of equipment; seventeen crusades, each crusade seventeen days; I had to preach in every crusade; we were there for three months. We had no money, people laughed at me, ‘It’s impossible!’ But God told me to go! We went – God gave us the money and He worked the miracles! But too often we fail to go in and possess the land! Faith is only faith when it’s tested. When God says, ‘Do it!’, you must obey Him.
Without the miracle-working Power of the Holy Spirit, the whole project would have failed! Not just the numbers of souls saved, not just the miracles of healing – but miracles of provision of every sort – from the provision of hundreds of thousands of Bibles to give to every new convert at a cost to the ministry of only 6.5 pence per copy – to miracles of transport – planes where there were no planes – every kind of miracle. Every day in Siberia was a miracle from beginning to end. 
In one city, because of the Orthodox priest, we could not use the auditorium that night, we had to preach in the street – so we put our loudspeakers in the best place in town – around Lenin’s statue! The priest sent a male witch, a shaman, who called evil spirits to destroy the meeting. He summoned an electric storm – these men have power – and as he came towards me, a great wind followed him and big drops of rain started to fall. I took authority, bound the power of the devil in him – saying ‘My Jesus is Lord and has more Power than you do!’
Suddenly a flash of lightning struck the man, he fell to the ground stunned, then staggered to his feet and ran back down the street – and the rain storm followed him against the wind! I have never seen such a thing in my life before! Jesus has Power over the wind and the rain today, not just in Galilee 2,000 years ago! In that town there’s a good pastor, a strong church, they’re on fire, and they’re training evangelists to win Russia for Christ!
If we want to possess God’s promises in our lives, we must be practical. It takes faith to put the vision into action – prayer to move the mountains – and obedience to receive the Holy Spirit’s power that will enable us to do the job. Leave the questions to Him to solve – do what He says! The Bible says, ‘To obey is better than sacrifice’ (1 Samuel 15:22).
I challenge you to begin to act in the power and authority of your faith. So many times I have had to face the impossible and seen God move in power, and I challenge you to begin to do it yourself! If we really knew our God and had a vision of Him, we would attempt the impossible and take the land! It is only this kind of vision which obeys in faith that will win the unbelieving nations and people, today.
I know from the Bible, nothing is impossible, but in order to receive, there must be a building process, a growing in faith, not giving up – this is when you must fast and pray and believe that God WILL do it! To receive that kind of faith which will work a miracle in your own life, you must be totally convinced: a) that nothing is impossible with your God; b) that He wants to work that miracle in you; c) that you know when!
I was healed from lung cancer twenty years ago, but I was sick for months before I came to the spiritual place with God where the miracle happened – months of spiritual growth, followed by a sudden revelation – an explosion – and in that moment the healing was instantaneous! 

How can I have eternal life? (TV Audio #498)

What does it mean to be a Christian? It is not a matter of believing in a religion or attending a church. When the ruler came to Jesus, he asked a simple question, “How can I have eternal life?” The answer of Jesus was equally very simple, you have to follow Him; this means becoming His disciple, believing and trusting in Jesus and walking the same path of life that He walks, (Matthew 19.21, Amplified). In John 3 Jesus was asked a very similar question and responded, 'you have to be born again into the Kingdom of God'. 
For us to become a Christian, to know the power of God, we have to be born into the Kingdom of God. Of course the ruler asked, "How can someone be born when they are old? Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!" Jesus responded, "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3.)
We receive this new life through repentance: 'Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptised, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' (Acts 2.38, Amplified). 

Every kind of miracle is possible! (TV Audio #497)

(Recorded in Kazakhstan)
If you put your trust in God, every kind of miracle is possible, not just healing, but whatever you need. Our God answers prayer – and He works miracles. I have seen every kind of miracle you can imagine: people born blind – God opens their eyes; broken backs – mended; cancers – healed; cripples – get out of wheelchairs. I’ve seen miracles that are not healing: financial provision; my own miraculous release from prison, and many others besides. I know these miracles will happen when I pray; I don’t have any question about it. It’s no different from knowing that every morning the sun will get out of bed and show itself at my window. God works miracles every day – but it’s for us to believe that He can, and will in our lives. This is where faith becomes so important. I would describe the word ‘faith’ in simple terms as ‘trust’, or ‘belief’. I know God and have learned to trust the God I know! That is all faith is!
'Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralysed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralysed man, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’ Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.' (Matthew 9.1-8, NIV)
Only Jesus can forgive sin. The crowds knew that Jesus could heal the sick; they had seen Him do this many times before. But Jesus came to seek and save the lost. This is why this miracle in Matthew 9 is so important. Jesus wanted to demonstrate that not only did He have the power to heal the sick, but He has power to forgive our sins. Forgiveness is the greatest miracle we can ever receive. Without this forgivess, there is no salvation and hope of heaven. I accepted Christ as my Saviour at the age of 7 years and 11 months because I knew that if I did not accept Him in my life I could not enter Heaven. I took this decision alone in my bed, because the conviction of the Holy Spirit was so strong I could not sleep. I knew that if Jesus were to come back that night, my parents and my twin brother would go to be with the Lord, but I would be left. I knew Jesus was coming back, but only for those who have found personal salvation through faith in Him. That night I had to obey Him. Without Him, life at the age of 7 years and 11 months was meaningless! 
If you want to see miracles, if you want to spend eternity in heaven, first you need to know who Jesus is. The reality of our relationship with Christ is not in repeating prayers and phrases, it’s in knowing Him. I talk to Him, He talks to me! The Bible is very clear: through Jesus Christ, you and I have direct access to God! We don’t come through anybody else, He is our only mediator! Because of Jesus, we can know God in a way that the Old Testament believers never could – we have direct access to Him as our Father only through Jesus! This is the miracle of salvation: whoever you are – the widow, the single parent, the sick; however poor, however weak; the drug addict, the alcoholic, the criminal – we all have direct access to God through Christ; we have been adopted into His family. God is only a prayer away – He loves you – He wants to talk to you.

Jesus is our healer (TV Audio #496)

(Recorded in Kazakhstan) 
When people read about the miracles in the Bible and hear what God is doing around the world, they often ask, “Are these miracle healings real? – And if so, can God heal me?”
Before you read further, let me remind you that I have experienced two outstanding personal miracles of healing from cancer, both confirmed medically. In 1964 I was healed of cancer on my vocal chord and in 2003, healed of cancer in my right lung!
Physical healing is an integral part of the atonement of Christ. It has been bought for us together with our salvation, through Christ’s suffering and death. Isaiah 53 states clearly: “He was wounded for our transgressions…And with His stripes we are healed.” We believe that our sin was taken away and the penalty was paid by Christ’s suffering and death. We do not question our salvation, which is by faith in the finished work of Christ’s atonement. However the Bible clearly states that not only our sin but also our sickness was borne by Him. We need to apply the same level of faith to our healing from sickness as we do to our salvation from sin.
One of the first people that I saw healed was when I was a very young pastor and evangelist in England. Shortly after finishing college, I left the church I had pastored as a student, in Dorking, Surrey, and I was called to take over a church in Harrogate, North England, and prepare for an evangelistic crusade. I was only twenty years old. Soon after arriving, Mr Corker, one of the men in the church, 73 years old, became ill. He refused to go to the doctor until it was too late – they had to rush him into hospital where they diagnosed terminal cancer. He was so sick, they took away most of his stomach, gave him a catheter to pass the water, and a colostomy – and sent him home to die.
The doctors expected him to live for just three weeks. As his pastor, I went many times to his home to pray with him and I discovered that although he had a difficult very blunt ‘Yorkshire’ character, this man loved God from the bottom of his heart. I saw him in a new way, not just as a dying man, not just as a difficult deacon in my church, but I saw how much he loved the Lord. 
God completely healed that man! God restored all his body functions! He came out of bed; he came back in the church, completely healed at 73 years old. Why? God saw that man as an individual, saw that man's heart and his need. I marveled at the power of such a God! The miracle was so great; as a direct result, his own son became an evangelist and missionary! 
'Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralysed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralysed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.' (Matthew 9.1-8, NIV.)

Committed to God and Word of Grace / Acts Bible Study Chapter 20 (TV Audio #495)

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third storey and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms round him. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘He’s alive!’ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted...  Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20.1-12, 32, NIV)