In our study of Acts chapter twenty five, we continue to follow Paul on his way to testify about Jesus in Rome. In this chapter, we see his third trial and the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning him. He had been told that he would carry the gospel to kings and rulers and this chapter finds him in front of a king.
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Three days after Festus had entered the province, he went up from Caesarea to Yerushalayim. There the head cohanim and the Judean leaders informed him of the case against Sha'ul, and they asked him
In chapter 24, we watched as the old governor (Felix) left Paul in prison for two years and he was then replaced by Festus as governor. Festus then went up to Jerusalem where the Jewish leaders presented the charges against Paul. The governors were politicians and so they wanted to keep the people happy but he could not legally have a trial there without Paul being present to defend himself. Once again, we are reminded that throughout the Bible the number three is associated with the display of God's will and God is using even this to fulfill His purpose for Paul.
to do them the favor of having the man sent to Yerushalayim. (They had plotted to have him ambushed and killed en route.)
The leaders had not given up on their plot to ambush and kill Paul so they tried to get the new governor to bring him to Jerusalem. They didn't expect that he would know about the plot as Felix had before him. Just as the religious authorities were "urgently" trying to do away with Paul, we can expect that in the future, for all Christians. In Revelation 13, we see that there is coming a time when there will be a worldwide religious system that will not tolerate those who follow Jesus Christ. Just as they were trying to use the political system (Festus) against Paul, they will also do the same thing to us.
Festus replied that Sha'ul was being kept under guard in Caesarea, and that he was about to go there shortly himself. "So," he said, "let competent men among you come down with me and press charges against the man, if he has done something wrong."
Once again, their plot has been derailed as Festus tells them to come and press charges in Caesarea. This is not what they wanted but they still held out hope that they could convince this new governor that Paul deserved to die.
After staying with them at most eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea; and on the following day, he took his seat in court and ordered Sha'ul to be brought in.
In chapter 9, we saw God tell Ananias that Saul (Paul) would "carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings". This is coming to pass as Festus opens the trial in Caesarea. God has also decreed things about each and every one of us (see Ephesians 2:10) and, just as God called Paul to appear before kings, He has things for you and I to do as well.
When he arrived, the Judeans who had come down from Yerushalayim stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him which they could not prove.
For the third time, the Jews made charges against Paul without any proof that he did anything wrong. It seems that some people do not let the facts get in the way of their opinion. Jesus and Paul were both persecuted and we can look forward to that as we serve the Lord. In order to face these struggles, we should prepare as Paul taught in Ephesians 6.
In reply, Sha'ul said, "I have committed no offense - not against the Torah to which the Jews hold, not against the Temple, and not against the Emperor."
Paul's answer to the charges was a simple statement of the fact that he had done nothing wrong. He did not argue with them as most of us would probably do. If your heart is clean, then you do not have to argue with those that oppose you.
But Festus, wanting to do the Judeans a favor, asked Sha'ul, "Would you be willing to go up to Yerushalayim and be tried before me there on these charges?"
Festus was a politician and so wanted to make the Jews happy by giving them what they wanted which was a chance to ambush and kill Paul. We do not know if Festus knew about their plan but he probably did not care. He had all of the interested people assembled and could have simply had the trial then and there.
Sha'ul replied, "I am standing right now in the court of the Emperor, and this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Judeans, as you very well know.
Paul knew that God had told him he would be going to Rome and he also realized that Festus was just another politician. He expected Festus to do what was best for Festus and not always what was in the interest of justice. Therefore, he refuses to go to Jerusalem for trial by reminding them that it was not necessary.
If I am a wrongdoer, if I have done something for which I deserve to die, then I am ready to die. But if there is nothing to these charges which they are bringing against me, no one can give me to them just to grant a favor! I appeal to the Emperor!"
Some have used this verse to describe Paul as being afraid but we can clearly see that fear was not his motivation. He was not afraid to die as he knew that he would then be with Jesus forever. We must remember that Paul had known for quite some time that he was going to have the opportunity to tell rulers about Jesus Christ. He knew that God wanted him to go to Rome and he was willing to obey. As a Roman citizen, he had the right to appeal to Caesar and in so doing he was in the center of God's will for his life.
Then Festus, after talking with his advisers, answered, "You have appealed to the Emperor; you will go to the Emperor!"
After consideration, Festus realized that he could get rid of the problem of Paul and not have any blame with the Jews. Therefore, he agreed to send Paul to Rome for trial.
After some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were staying on there for some time, Festus had the opportunity to acquaint the king with Sha'ul's situation. "There is a man here," he said, "who was left behind in custody by Felix. When I was in Yerushalayim, the head cohanim and the elders of the Judeans informed me about him and asked me to pronounce judgment against him.
In this passage, we see that Festus was just another politician. His boss (King Agrippa) showed up and he explained that it was Felix's fault for the situation with Paul. It did not matter how Paul had been delivered to him for justice in that he could have still done the right thing. Instead, he shifts the blame to the governor before him. He also blames the Jews because they had brought the charges even though he could have simply dismissed them. As Christians, this is the opposite of what we are told to do in preparation for the attacks of the enemy (see Ephesians 6).
My answer to them was that it is not the custom with Romans to give up an accused man just to grant a favor, before he has met his accusers face to face and had the opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So when they arrived here with me, I did not delay, but took my seat in court the next day and ordered the man brought in.
Festus continues to justify his actions by saying that he had given Paul a speedy trial. Most of the legal systems of the world are based on these Roman principles and it is a good fair system. The system was not the problem, it was the lack of courage of the politicians to do the right thing. As we see in our training as a soldier of God (see Ephesians 6), we are called to do the right thing all the time.
"When the accusers stood up, instead of charging him with some serious crime as I had expected, they disputed with him about certain points of their own religion, and particularly about somebody called Yeshua, who had died, but who Sha'ul claimed was alive. Being at a loss as to how to investigate such questions, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Yerushalayim and be tried on these matters there.
The politician continues to give excuses for not doing the right thing. He admitted that Paul had not broken any laws but, instead of releasing him, he had asked him to go to Jerusalem for trial. It is much the same way today in that many people want to disguise the truth with a bunch of words.
But since Sha'ul appealed to be kept in custody and have his case decided by His Imperial Majesty, I ordered him held until I could send him to the Emperor."
Now, Festus even blames Paul for his being imprisoned. In effect, he is saying that Paul had to be held because he had appealed his case to Caesar. The politician has pointed the finger at everyone but himself and that is the popular thing to do among most people today. Many will blame their parents, government, etc for the situation that they are in instead of accepting the fact that, many times, the problem is with ourselves and is rooted in our sin. The only answer to these problems is to turn to Jesus Christ and, through Him, we have the power to overcome the world. That is what John was talking about when he told us that faith is the victory that overcomes the world (see 1 John 5:4).
Agrippa said to Festus, "I myself have been wanting to hear the man." "Tomorrow," he replied, "You will hear him."
And so, Paul is set to testify before a king just as He had been told. It may seem like a long winding process but, even so, we see that God has been in control. The same is true for our lives as well in that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us and He is able to carry it out.
So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much pageantry; they entered the audience room accompanied by military commanders and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Sha'ul was brought in.
Festus put on a big show for the king and Paul appeared before him fulfilling the prophesy about him. This can strengthen us in our faith if we remember that we, like Paul, have things that God has prepared for us to do and He will protect us as we go about His work. (see Ephesians 2:10)
Festus said, "King Agrippa and all of you here with us, do you see this man? The whole Judean community has complained to me about him both in Yerushalayim and here, crying that he shouldn't be allowed to remain alive. But I discovered that he had done nothing that deserves a death sentence. Now when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
Festus repeats his blame game as he blames everyone except himself. He is ever the politician and, although he did not have to worry about votes, he wanted to keep the majority happy so that he could keep his job.
However, I have nothing specific to write to His Majesty about him. This is why I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa - so that after we have examined him, I might have something to write. It seems irrational to me to send a prisoner without also indicating what the charges against him are."
A politician often uses many words to confuse the issue and that is what Festus is doing here. By the time he is done, you would think that it was his idea for Paul to be sent to the emperor. The man was obviously not a follower of Jesus Christ and so he cannot understand that it was God working to fulfill His plan for Paul.
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