A Bold Stance

Some grudges never die

Within our nation’s history is a long-running feud—that between the Hatfield family and the McCoy families of W. Virginia and Kentucky

Include in the saga are Union Confederate loyalties, a hog-stealing trial, the abandonment of a spouse, the massacre of a family and a case before SCOTUS—it lasted 30 years!

The feud between Paul and the Jewish hierarchy, is only a bit of that as time goes, but no less intense

As chapter 25 opens, Paul is a bit more that 2 years into his troubles

It began in Jerusalem with the Jewish leaders groundlessly charging him with violating the temple

It moved to Caesarea for a trial before Felix (the conniver) and now moves to a new trial under Festus

In our minds, justice is generally handed down by courts, which are specifically—and quite intentionally—separate from the governing entity of our nations/states...quite thankfully so

In earlier times, that was was not the case

Moses served as the leader...and the judge of Israel

A succession of judges lead Israel—in the book of Judges

Solomon was both king and judge—we have the case of the two women and the baby in which his wisdom was demonstrated

We now have a new governor stepping in who will be the judge over the region of Judea and, for the moment, the judge of Paul’s case

We’ll look at the new governor, the new conspiracy, new trial, and the new direction; for application, we’ll go to our old standby, “What’s in this for me?”

A New Governor

Porcius Festus followed Felix

History treats him better—as more noble—than either his predecessor (Felix) or his successor (Albino), who was considered corrupt

Acts does not treat him quite so favorably

The implication in this narrative is that though he recognized Paul’s innocence—or maybe the fact that it was not a matter of Roman concern—he attempted to do the Jewish leaders a favor

Though there may have been a desire to be just, he was also looking out for himself

This a matter of making peace with the power-players of the region, to keep the peace...or at least to give himself some breathing room

He did have the Jewish leaders come to Caesarea to present their case...which was again inadequate—the text makes it sound like they were doing more schmoozing...trying to influence Festus without any facts to back them up.

A New (REnewed?) Conspiracy

The text gives us a new plot for an assassination

The Jewish leadership had tried this once before—their plot had been foiled by Lysias getting Paul out of Jerusalem to the safety of Caesarea

The proves—once again—that the leadership was not interested in truth, they only wanted the opposition silenced

If they could get the Romans to do it—that would be ideal; but they were willing to do it themselves if that didn’t work...and so were mounting yet a second conspiracy to murder Paul

If the rule of law didn’t work, they were more than willing to take matters into their own hands—

We might say, from this story that mob violence, conspiracy, anarchy, and murder were just part of their play book

It had worked to get Jesus on the cross, it had silenced Stephen, and now their target was Paul

Note the common thread: They had strayed from the truth and didn’t want the truth to be told

A New Trial

Festus, unaware of the conspiracy, offered Paul the chance to be tried—by him—at Jerusalem

He was not removing the case from the Roman legal system, subrogating it to the Jewish law; he was merely offering Paul a change of venue—back to Jerusalem

Paul turned down the offer, likely understanding that there would be a waiting ambush to kill him...he didn’t see that as projecting a good

A New Direction

As a Roman citizen, especially in a matter of being accused of insurrection...even though by this time it was clear there was no case, Paul had the right to appeal to Caesar...and he did

It is likely, by this time, he clearly understood that his path to Rome would be as a prisoner, not as his previous travel had been—a free-travelling missionary

WITFM?

The conclusion before the explanation:

This passage must be understood within the context of the book of Acts, particularly the saga of Paul after his conversion...and within the context of the Biblical metanarrative

The longest *feud* is that which exists between good and evil; God and Satan

Evil forces will use chaos and disorder to battle against the truth; that has been the pattern from the beginning

Paul stayed within God’s Law!

Paul stayed within the laws of Rome!

Paul took advantage of his legal rights as a Roman citizen

There is no obvious theology lying on the surface of this text, no deep spiritual truths waiting to be explored

There is, however a matter of practical theology and, to delve into a matter we don’t like to deal with, a matter of political theology, which does play into current events

We already mentioned that this sort of behavior has a precedent within the NT

First with Jesus, the Jewish hierarchy using the power of Rome to execute Jesus—the teacher of absolute truth who dared to teach against their traditions

Next came Stephen, who would be the first noted martyr—this one event of mob violence got out of hand so quickly that Rome never got involved, Stephen was stoned by the mob—an assassination

Now it’s Paul’s turn; but mob violence was interrupted by the timely action of the Roman army in Jerusalem, and the legal system of the day took over

As a matter of

Practical Theology

If you speak truth, expect confrontation

We dealt with this in greater detail last week, citing James, Peter and Paul...all having given practical advice on dealing with it

Our lesson here is from Paul and the other believers, to not go outside the boundaries of the law

Paul could have bribed Felix, and been spirited out of the country to safety...but he didn’t

He might have been able to escape from he minimal security which restricted him...but he didn’t

He did raise the issue of his Roman citizenship to safeguard himself where he could

Once again, someone who dared speak the truth was being persecuted for what he stood for

Besides being a Roman citizen, Paul realized that he was also a

Citizen of Heaven

He answered to an even higher authority than Rome—the King who is sovereign over all other kings: King of Kings and Lord of Lords

His behavior reflected that

There are many Biblical examples of people oppressed, not violating God’s law, yet staying within the laws of the land

We could look at Joseph, David, Daniel, and surely could find more examples of those who recognized that their citizenship in Heaven was the most important thing...and lived accordingly

Leading us to the matter of

Political Theology

...and I hate to even go down this path, as we don’t like to mingle politics with faith except where it is necessary

When the text and the times intersect...some politics may play into the sermon, only as an illustration—and allow you to draw your own conclusion

Without going into left/right ideologies or the issue underlying the event, I’d like to offer an observation based upon something that happened last Sunday

In the Biblical record, the side of truth is always on side of peaceful action; the mob disorder and violence is reserved for the side that wants to silence the truth

Conspiracy, violence, anarchy, and murder are never the tools of those who are believers

Two Over-Arching Principles

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Civil government is a tool of God, a media through which He works

Which is qualified by Peter speaking to the Jewish leadership

Acts 5:29 ESV

“We must obey God rather than men.

When man’s law contradicts God’s law, we defer to God’s law...and may pay the consequences...but that’s not the point of this illustration

On the Macro Level

The is where the text and the times collide

Look at the events of violence in our country and draw your own conclusions

One recent incident—had this not happened, I probably would not have used it as an illustration, but we are dealing with mob violence against a church:

Last Sunday’s invasion and disruption of worship at Cities Church in St. Paul, a SB church, bound to the same doctrinal position as our own, BFM 2000

One statement in support of the incident: ...an attorney, activist, and ordained reverend claiming to come “in the name of the Almighty God,” defended the action, saying it was time for "judgment to begin" in the "House of God," twisting an out of context quote into a statement for ungodly action

Sounds a lot like the self-righteous Jewish leadership in Paul’s day.

Even so-called religious people are advocating and/or participating in the actions that are outside the laws of the nation...

Which side is leaning toward the truth, away from the truth

On the Micro Level

Bringing this into focus for us as individuals

How often do we see people going outside of God’s way to get the things they want...even good things can be pursued in wrong ways

How often do we know the truth, the right way, the lawful way, the Godly way to do things...and go into other ways that lead only to dysfunction and, in some cases violence?

Pulling It Together

Our Heavenly citizenship should be the determining factor in our behavior

Understand the feud that has raged since Satan’s fall

Understand the battle for truth that exists

What does that Heavenly citizenship entail?

Entering into a saving relationship with Christ

Trusting Him as Savior and Lord

Living for Him...understanding the battle that rages around us: the battle of truth over falsehood