READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 25

   READING THE BOOK OF ACTS: CHAPTER 25

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

 INTRODUCING ACTS, CHAPTER 25

Paul is in custody in Caesarea, the Roman capital of the region. Careless but zealous Jews from modern-day Turkey, irritated Jewish leaders from Jerusalem, and a corrupt Roman Govenor have conspired such that Paul has been under house arrest for two years with no formal charges. The Sanhedrin wanted him charged, convicted, and if possible executed. Govenor Felix couldn't bow to their wishes because Paul hadn't seem to have broken any laws. So, he kept Paul under wraps occasionally calling for him in hopes Paul would offer to buy his freedom, and then sending him away when Paul pointed out he's a corrupt and violent person who will be judged by God. Within two years the citizens of Caesarea complained about Felix's cruelty so much that Nero commanded he return to Rome. When Felix is called back to Rome to answer for his cruelty, he leaves a bit of a mess. Paul is still under house arrest without charges. When the new governor Festus refuses to exonerate him, Paul appeals to a higher court. Paul is a Roman citizen, so Festus must send him. Yet he still has no formal charges. After inviting King Agrippa II and the city leaders to hear Paul’s testimony, they realize Paul has done nothing wrong and should have been released. (https://www.bibleref.com/Acts/25/Acts-chapter-25.html)

1) Verses 1-12, Paul’s Trial Before Festus, Part 1, MRS. ELNORA

Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ² where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³ They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴ Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵ Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” ⁶ After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷ When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. ⁸ Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” ⁹ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” ¹⁰ Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” ¹² After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

NOTATIONS:

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Who was Festus?

2. What did the Jews request of Festus? (V.3)

3. What did Festus tell the Jews? (V.5)

4. Why did Festus offer to send Paul back to Jerusalem? (V.9)

5. What was Paul's reply? (V.10-11)

2) Verses 13-22, Festus Consults King Agrippa, DESTINY

¹³ A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. ¹⁴ Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. ¹⁵ When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. ¹⁶ “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. ¹⁷ When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. ²¹ But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” ²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

NOTATIONS: 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Why was King Agrippa in Caesarea? (V.13)

2. What did Festus say about Christ? (V.19)

3. What did Agrippa tell Festus? (V.22)

3) Verses 23-27, Paul Before Agrippa JEANNIE

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

NOTATIONS:  

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What did Festus say to King Agrippa and to the crowd? (V.24-27)

2. Festus asks for help. Who did he ask for help and what sort of assistance was he requesting? (V.26)

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The Lessons For Us:

1. God will protect His servants from the force of evil and use us according to His sovereign purpose.

2. Satan arrays his evil forces against those who serve the Lord. 

3. God works often behind the scenes to protect and use his servants according to His purpose.  

Journal Entry/Share:

How are you and Paul alike? How are you different? 

Prayer Confession: 

Lord, thank you for Paul’s example of faith, integrity, boldness, and supernatural power. These same characteristics are made available to us the moment we accept God’s gift of salvation. Empower us to be men and women of integrity, doing and saying what is right despite the confrontation or opposition of others. We stand on the truth of your Word that your perfect loves casts out all fear. When it comes to your command, Holy Father, we set ourselves like Paul did, to obey you, God, rather than men. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.