Acts 25:1-22 Pauls trial continues

Introduction

Paul had been on trial in Jerusalem with the Chief Captain, and then with Ananias, then to Felix and now two years later he had the opportunity to plead his case before Festus who had taken over for Felix.

Its amazing how in those two years Paul was on house arrest he stayed encouraged knowing that God had a plan for him. Remember the vision Paul had a couple years before where God told him he would be a witness in Rome.

This morning we will see that no matter the circumstance we find ourselves in we can still share the Gospel with those around us!

The High Priests Request vs. 1-3

As Festus becomes the new Governor of the region, he begins his term by heading to Jerusalem which would be the religious heart of the nation he was governor of.

While in Jerusalem, he is met by the high priest, Ananias, and the chief of the Jews.

The informed or acquainted Festus with the Paul situation.

They likely told him all of the false accusations they had tried to give to both the Chief Captain and Felix

They besought him

This means they pretty much begged for Paul

They desired favour after him

They wanted advantage over Paul

They requested Paul to be sent to Jerusalem

They knew that if they sent him back to Jerusalem, he likely would never make it back because of the Jews lying in wait to kill Paul.

They knew whether he made it back to Jerusalem or not, he would die and finally be silenced if they could get him out of house arrest

Festus’ response vs. 4-12

He tells the religious leaders that Paul would be staying in Caesarea for the time being and that he was heading back there as well

He invites all of those able to go down with him to Caesarea to bring their accusations against him and he would see if their is any wickedness in them

He stayed in Jerusalem for 10 more days and then headed back to Caesarea and the next day sat on the judgement seat to hear their accusations against Paul

notice verse 7, here we find the Jews who had travelled down from Jerusalem to accuse Paul surrounding the judgement seat.

The Bible says they laid or brought forth many and grievous or heavy complaints or faults against Paul which they couldn’t prove

Remember the Charges they brought against him two years before

Acts 24:5 “5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:”

And Paul told them the same thing then

Acts 24:13 “13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.”

Paul answers for himself in verse 8

Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar have I offended anything at all.

He tells Festus;

They say I have disregarded and offended their law, but I haven’t

They say i have profaned or polluted their temple, but I have not

You can check Roman law and I haven’t done anything against it as well.

Everything they tried to accuse Paul of were all false.

Festus attempts to appease the Sanhedrin by asking Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem for a trial there.

Pauls tells him he will appeal to Caesar.

This was a privilege of a Roman Citizen and was often used when the person on trial was not receiving a fair trial.

Paul could’ve just asked to be released as neither the Jews nor the Romans had a case against Paul, but instead he adds years to his legal process.

An amazing thing about the time Paul was in Prison, he wrote what we know today as the Prison Epistles.

Think about the amazing truths we find in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, if Paul didn’t spend time in Prison we wouldn’t have these books.

Paul was a witness for Christ in prison and when he penned the words of Romans 8:28-29 they weren’t just words, he had lived it out

Romans 8:28–29 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Paul tells Festus that against the Jews he had done nothing wrong, and Festus knew it.

The accusations against Paul had nothing to stand on, but still Festus as a political stunt would rather give Paul back over to the Sanhedrin than to sabotage his own career and let him go even though he knew he was innocent.

He then tells him, If I had done anything to deserve death, he would let them put him to death, but since the only option they had given him was to go back to Jerusalem for another trial they had left him no other choice, he had to appeal to Caesar

After hearing this Festus confers with his council and told Paul if he appealed to go to Caesar he would be taken to Caesar.

King Agrippa and Bernice come to Caesarea vs. 13-22

After Festus had been the governor for some time king Agrippa and Bernice come to Caesarea to salute or greet Festus

When they had been in Caesarea for several days, Festus tells them about Paul.

A certain man left in bonds by Felix

When I was in Jerusalem , the chief priests and elders brought some accusations against him and wanted me to bring judgement on the case

I told them its not really protocol for the Romans to deliver any man to die before he is accused and convicted of a crime

So after I told them that they came here to Caesarea and brought Accusations against him.

Then he tells Agrippa what all of this was about

It has to do with their superstitions

And it has to do with one Jesus, who was dead but Paul Affirmed to be alive.

Look at Paul, facing an unfair trial, impending death and here he is still preaching the Gospel, and Festus is sharing the Gospel and not even realizing it.

The fact that he doesn’t know who Jesus is, is sad. The crucifixion of Christ was only about 25 years before this meaning their were still eye witness of his death, burial and resurrection.

Festus had heard Paul present the Gospel and still looked at Jesus as “one named Jesus”

How sad it is for someone to hear about Jesus and not to see him as the most marvelous man to ever cross the scenes of time.

Jesus came to earth, died for the sins of all mankind, was buried and rose again, help us to never be like Festus.

Look what he says in verse 20

He just skips right over the Gospel and tells Agrippa I wanted to give him the most fair trial so I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be judged in this matter.

It would only make sense that they should handle this because I’m not sure what you are even talking about

After all of the trial here, Paul asked to go to Caesar, so I am holding him until I can send him to Caesar.

Agrippa tells him that he will here Pauls case the next day, but what he doesn’t know is that Paul will share the Gospel with him as well.

Conclusion

Does it feel like sometimes we have no idea what God is doing and why God is doing what he is doing? May I remind all of us this morning that nothing surprises God. God was with Paul through every part of his trial and he was working all things for Pauls good and His glory.

God is doing the same thing for believers today.

Maybe this morning your’e here and you’ve never trusted Christ as your saviour. Come this morning and we can show you from Gods word how you can be saved