Acts 25:1 says, Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. I have referred to Paul's trip to Rome in previous posts and realize that I should have said the beginning of Paul's trip to Rome. He so far was at Caesarea, but the groundwork for him being in Rome was already set. Now, when Festus got to Caesarea, he stayed three days before going to Jerusalem. Verse two adds, Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him. The high priest and the chief of the Jews came to Festus and informed against Paul. They evidently saw Paul as one of the biggest threats to the Jewish faith that existed. Verse three continues, And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. They were subjected to Roman rule, where force could be used against them, but they were more concerned about Paul's preaching. We need that same power in preaching and praying today. They once again planned to lay in wait to kill Paul. God's people should never lay in wait to do evil, and even by their own Law, which they were accusing Paul of violating, murder was wrong. Anytime we attempt to do anything in God's name that goes against God's teachings, we can be sure that we are not doing it for God. The chief priest and the elders were attempting to justify their actions by claiming to be acting in God's will, when by the very act of refusing to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, they had put themselves outside the will of God. His desire, then and now, was that all people would believe in Jesus as their Savior. Verse four states, But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. Festus decided to keep Paul in Caesarea even though he himself would be leaving shortly. I believe he was basically trying to avoid the situation, and many people today attempt to avoid making a decision about what to do with Jesus. Verse five adds, Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. Festus told them that anyone who was able and had any charge against Paul to go with him when he left Jerusalem returned to Caesarea and present their charges against Paul. There will always be people willing to bring false charges against Christians who will even be willing to go out of their way to do so. Verse six continues, And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. After over ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea and the next day, as he was sitting in the judgment seat, he had Paul brought before him. Verse seven says, And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. There were many Jews who made the trip from Jerusalem to make charges against Paul, but they could not prove them. If people make charges against us as followers of Christ, we need to pray that they can only make false charges. Verse eight adds, While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. Paul stated once again that he was not guilty of any offence against the laws of the Jews, the temple, or Caesar. Since they could not get Paul executed based on religious laws, they attempted to get him executed for opposing Caesar. If we make a stand for God today and people cannot discredit us based on religious reasons, don't be surprised if they accuse us of not being patriotic at the least or treasonous at the worst. If we as Christians are to bear witness against someone, even if just in the court of public opinion, we need to verify the truth of what we say. Otherwise, we are just repeating gossip. Verse nine continues, But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? Wanting to please the Jews, Festus asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to answer the charges against him. I believe that we should always be ready to answer anyone who charges us with being a Christian. Verse ten declares, Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. Paul answered that he would stand in Caesar’s judgment seat, even though he had done no wrong. If we are falsely charged with some crime as Christians, we should be willing to stand and answer the charges. Verse eleven adds, For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. Paul knew that they did not want to give him a fair hearing. They just wanted to get him in their custody to kill him. When we are guilty of an offence, whether against the church or against the government, we must be ready to accept the consequences. Paul's statement that he was ready to die if he was guilty was not just a meaningless statement. His conviction about right and wrong was that strong. For the same reason, he wasn't going to willing die for something he didn't do. Our actions bring consequences, and we must accept that fact. Still, if someone is trying to punish us for something we did not do, we must appeal to the highest court possible on this earth. We know that ultimately God is the final Judge, but until then we are subjected to the courts of this land. Verse twelve continues, Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. Festus had no choice since Paul was a Roman citizen. He had to take him to Caesar. We should never neglect our rights as citizens when accused of having committed some offence.
Acts 25:13 says, After certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. While still in Caesarea, King Agrippa and his wife Bernice came there. Verse fourteen adds, And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: Festus wanted to meet with Agrippa for one reason in particular. He was to send Paul to the judgment of Caesar, and he didn't know what to charge him with. He told Agrippa that Paul had been left bound by Felix, Verse fifteen continues, About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. Verse sixteen states, To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. While he was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews wanted to have a judgment against Paul. Festus told them that it wasn’t the manner of Romans to sentence a man to die without facing his accusers. In some countries today, Christians do not have that opportunity. Verse seventeen adds, Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Festus said he commanded that Paul be brought before him the next day at the judgment seat. The only judgment seat that people should really be concerned about is the judgment seat of Christ, and as Christians, we don’t have to be concerned about that. Verse eighteen continues, Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: When they presented their case, Festus said that it wasn't anything he supposed. He was expecting some accusation of Paul breaking some law or speaking out against the Roman government. If we are accused of anything today, may it be that we are proclaiming Jesus Christ to be crucified, buried, resurrected, and Lord. Verse nineteen concludes, But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Festus said they had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. We often hear people today speak of Christianity as a superstition, a fable, or a myth. This is done today to discredit Christians, and even though Festus was using this belief that Christianity was nothing more than a superstition to show that even if Paul had done nothing to justify death, Festus still viewed the gospel as a superstition. He did not say that it concerned Jesus Who was dead and now lived again, but only stated that was Paul's claim. Until a person accepts the truth of the gospel in faith, then the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus will remain a superstition to them. We should never be astonished when we hear people of the world calling Christianity a made-up story and Christians naive. We cannot become Christians through intellectual means, but only by simple childlike faith. Verse twenty says, And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. Festus said he asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem to answer charges against him. I don’t believe he had the authority to demand Paul do so. We as followers of Christ should always be ready to answer questions about our faith. Verse twenty-one adds, But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Festus said Paul appealed to Caesar. Now, Festus was wondering what to charge Paul with. It is not our calling to make things easy for those who falsely accuse us. Verse twenty-two continues, Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. Agrippa said that he would hear Paul, and Festus said he would hear him tomorrow. We can never afford to wait until tomorrow to hear about Jesus Christ if we haven’t already. Verse twenty-two states, And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. Agrippa and Beatrice came into the place of the hearing with great pomp, and Paul was brought in in chains. Still, Paul was the one who was truly free. Verse twenty-four adds, And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. Festus told Agrippa and all those with him that he could see Paul, the man whom the multitude of Jews wanted to put to death. Verse twenty-five continues, But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Festus said he found nothing worthy of putting Paul to death, but since Paul had appealed to Caesar, he was sending him to Ceasar. Paul was getting what he wanted, though maybe not the way he would have chosen. As long as we are being enabled to do what God has called us to do, we should leave the way it is accomplished up to God. Verse twenty-six says, Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. Festus said he had nothing to write to Ceasar to charge Paul with and hoped Agrippa could find something to write to him about. This would be a wonderful testimony for anyone. Verse twenty-seven adds, For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. Festus said it didn’t seem right to send a prisoner to Ceasar with nothing to charge him with.
