But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Acts 25: 1-12
In his first week of governorship, Festus travelled to Jerusalem. Festus met with the religious leaders and the religious leaders made their case against Paul who had already been in custody at Caesarea for two years without any resolution to his case. Luke writes that the religious leaders had plotted to kill Paul and they asked Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem to have his case tried. Undoubtedly, Felix had informed Festus of the attempt on Paul’s life that had been the reason Paul was at Caesarea in the first place. Festus countered the religious leaders request by telling them to send their best “lawyers” to Caesarea with him when he returns. A little more than a week later, Festus returns to Caesarea and has Paul brought before the tribunal seat. Paul’s argument was that he had not broken any laws of the Jews, of the temple nor, of the Roman government. In an appeasing move, Festus asked Paul if he wanted to his case heard in Jerusalem. But, Paul, using his Roman citizenship, told Festus that he, Paul, wants to appeal to the Roman government for he would not receive a just hearing in Jerusalem, though he had done nothing wrong. In saying, “I appeal to Caesar,” Festus was bound by Roman law to send Paul to Rome to be tried on these trumped-up charges. Paul would have an escort to Rome but, the Jewish religious leaders would have to go to Rome, on their own, to make their case there. Festus answers Paul’s appeal with, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” Jesus, the risen Savior, had told Paul that he would go before powerful men to preach the gospel message. Now, Paul will go to Rome as he had desired and he will have a “captive” audience all day, every day, the Praetorian Guard of Caesar’s headquarters. Paul will be in Rome for quite some time and his chains will not keep him from evangelizing those who are in Nero’s house. Such persecution as Paul was under may be thought to not occur today. But, there are Christians who are daily sacrificing all that they have, including their very life, for the spread of the gospel. The work will continue until our Savior and Lord returns in judgment and to rule this earth that Satan thinks is his. Christians, be glad that we will be with our Lord when all this takes place! Source: S C Ball August 11, 2023
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