God Speaks
Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.
8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.
9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”
10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. 14 During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. 16 I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.
17 “When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18 But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected. 19 Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. 20 I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 21 But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22 “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.
And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: In Acts 25, Festus took charge. He did not submit to the Jewish leaders’ deceptive persuasion. Festus leaned toward favoring the Jewish leaders but proceeded according to the law. This thwarted their plan to kill Paul while he was being transferred. When King Agrippa and his sister Bernice arrived on a state visit, Festus discussed Paul’s case with them and stood firm on Roman law and the accused’s right to appeal to a higher authority. Festus invited the king to join him in examining Paul in order to determine the specific charges to send with him to Caesar. Once again, we have a cliffhanger as to how that interview went.
Prayer: Dear God who knows the thoughts and intentions of all people, please reveal the motives and/or hidden actions of leaders, whether political, religious, or any other area of authority. May Your will be done in every area of public life. Please thwart the plans of the enemy to disrupt the growth of Your kingdom of righteousness. May believers live clean, law-abiding lives so that any charges brought against us will be shown to be false or unfounded. Help Christians to see below the surface so that we can avoid any traps set by the enemy. May Christians face up to the consequences of their words and/or actions and not refuse just punishment, neither should they meekly accept injustice without challenging it. We affirm that Your plan and purpose is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to even the highest officials and courts in the world. Cause even unbelievers to discuss the case against a Christian in a clear, concise manner. May civil authorities thoroughly investigate any charges against believers and be clear as to those charges. For the furtherance of Your kingdom, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will investigate rumors or negative comments about a public figure to be sure that I am acting in the truth.
- I will speak up for someone who is being falsely accused, mocked, or mistreated.
- I will take responsibility for my words or actions when I have been proven wrong.
- I will participate in my government by knowledgeably and prayerfully voting at every opportunity and/or reporting for jury duty when called, asking God to inform my decisions with His wisdom.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.