When he had spent not more than eight or 10 days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the judge’s bench, he commanded Paul to be brought in. When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove, while Paul made the defense that, “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.” Acts 25:6-8 (HCSB) After eight or ten days, Festus did go down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat. He called for a new official trial and had Paul brought in. The Jerusalem Jews then stood around him, making many weight charges against him. They were unable to prove any of them. Luke does not give any details here, but the charges were undoubtedly similar to those Tertullus brought before Felix. Luke also merely summarizes Paul’s defense here. Paul contended that he had not sinned against Caesar, that is, against the Roman government. Last Festus shows that Paul bore witness to Christ’s death and resurrection. Acts 25:19: “Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.” Paul was confident and maintained his story of what had occurred. However, the Jewish leaders maintained no consistency in their story. One would say one thing and another would say another. They had appealed with confidence using flattery. Whereas Paul was confident in truth and that God was in control. Are you willing to trust God when you are being persecuted and tested? We are not to compromise the truth to get ourselves set free. We are to be obedient to the Lord and trust Him!
Posted on: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 13:23:35 +0000
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