I Appeal to Caesar!
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 46:59
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Paul and Festus
Paul and Festus
Remember the words to Ananias Paul would preach before kings (Act9:15) and to Paul when told would witness in Rome (Act23:11). Well, Paul is on the way and is being kept, protected in Caesarea at this time.
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
and now the part of Rome
11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Paul had been protected in Jerusalem (Act21:32-22:22)
Paul’s citizenship claimed and that starts journey towards Rome (Act22:22-23:22)
Paul protected and sent to Caesarea (Act23:23:35)
Felix procrastinates and then enters Festus (Act24:22-27)
Now, Paul did have some liberties while in custody the two years under Felix (v.23); it was still two years (v.27)
Felix was recalled to Rome by Nero and was succeeded by Festus (v.27)
It was believed that Festus was appointed to Judea by Nero in about AD60. He was only there until AD62 when he died (Holman Bible Dictionary)
Josephus records that Festus was a prudent and honorable governor.
(Transition) - this leads us to our passage today and really there is a couple, three things I want to look at this evening, or that we look at together.
Paul’s appeal to Caesar (Act25:1-12)
Paul’s courageous life lived an example for us (topical)
Festus and Agrippa (Act25:13-22)
Paul’s appeal to Caesar
Paul’s appeal to Caesar
In our section here we see Paul’s defense and Paul’s appeal. A few words set into action the fulfilling of the prophesy regarding Paul. It’s the appeal.
1 Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him,
3 requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4 Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly.
5 “Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.” 6 After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, 8 while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.
11 “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture
Question: Shortly after coming to province Festus travels to Jerusalem and meets with the chief priests, and leading men. What do they do (v.2-3)?
They bring charges against Paul and want to have him brought down to set ambush to kill him.
Question: Festus is a prudent man and calls for the influential men there to do what (vv.4-5)?
To come with Him from Jerusalem to Caesarea and there let them prosecute him.
Question: What can we learn about the charges against Paul (v.7)?
There were many serious charges, which they could not prove.
Question: What was Festus desire and response to Paul (v.9)?
Are you willing to go to Jerusalem?
Question: Look, important point what is Paul willing to do if he is guilty of any wrong doing (v.11)?
He is willing to die
Question: What does Paul do in (v.11)?
He appeals to Caesar
(Transition) Well facts are good, but facts without application are just knowledge.
Let me expand for a minute or two, then move on.
Festus did not really handle the Paul issue any better than Felix did. He came in and immediately (after 2 days) went to Jerusalem. Again, nothing changed they wanted Paul there so they could ambush and kill him. Festus wanted peace but at this moment held Paul in Caesarea
Festus takes note of what the leading Jews wanted but takes audience with Paul (wise move) and he is a wise man, just weak. He knows he has nothing to kill Paul for, but weak in that after hearing from Paul asks Paul if will return and face judgment there (knowing what would be waiting for him).
Look at (vv.10-11 again with me)
10 Paul said, “I am standing at Caesar’s judgment seat now, where I should be judged. I have done nothing wrong to them; you know this is true. 11 If I have done something wrong and the law says I must die, I do not ask to be saved from death. But if these charges are not true, then no one can give me to them. I want Caesar to hear my case!”
Paul was willing to die i he had commited anything worthy of death, he had no fear of it. As a Roman citizen he had the right to appeal to Caesar (which was Nero at the time) and that he did. Whew, Festus off the hook, but still more to be done before sending Paul on his way.
(Transition) I want to take a little side tour tonight - Paul’s courage not in the appeal to Caesar but in his willingness to die. Oh Paul was bold, Paul was courageous and Paul lived out his courage.
Paul’s courage
Paul’s courage
We know Paul lived with a clear conscience (2TIm1:3) before God and before men. Paul was bold, Paul was courageous and that is what we are going to look at for a few minutes, courage, specific courage.
Paul was courageous for had no fear of death (Php1:21)
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
(Insert: No fear of death picture here)
Paul’s confession of faith and no fear are a great and freeing thing that we can learn from.
Paul’s courage was not masochism it was faith, faith we have been given a measure of and faith we can grow in.
Oftentimes we face illness, sickness or pending death with little more courage than someone who has no faith in God.
The lack of faith causes anxiety and worry. When we have those things we cannot truly say as Paul did “for me to live is Christ”until we understand and have faith in “to die is gain.”
Paul lived his life in the face of the resurrection of Christ and his own resurrection from a dead life to a life in Christ with the hope and assurance of the final resurrection to be with Christ.
Paul’s courage brought no fear of Rome, or Caesar, or death itself for he knew what was waiting for him.
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Death, our physical death is only the entrance into our next part of our eternal life in Christ. The sicknesses we suffer through, the pains we feel are all things preparing us for the glory to be revealed to us when we put away these temporal tents and are clothed in immorality.
(Transition) WE are only part way through our passage today and now may we press on and look at our next part Festus and Agrippa.
Festus and Agrippa
Festus and Agrippa
Wise counsel, Festus is new to the area and King Agrippa comes to pay a visit and he seeks the king’s counsel regarding Paul. Let’s see what we can learn today.
13 Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. 14 While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix;
15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16 “I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges.
17 “So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. 18 “When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting,
19 but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 “Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters.
21 “But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Gleaning from the scripture
Why did King Agrippa and Bernice come to visit Festus (v.13)?
To pay their respects
Question: What did Festus do with Agrippa (vv.14-19)?
He laid out Paul’s case, the accusations, the charges against Paul.
Question: How did Festus feel about Paul’s case (v.20)?
He was at a loss on how to investigate it.
Question: what was the result, at this time of Paul’s case (v.21)?
He was to be held in custody until he was to be sent to Caesar.
So, the new guy in town, Festus and the Paul/Jew issue was still not over. He was able to avoid an uprising with the Jews thus far, but the problem was he still could not find any charges that would stick, much less ones enough to send to Caesar.
(Insert- King Agrippa and Bernice picture here)
Let’s talk about King Agrippa and Bernice for a moment.
Herod Agrippa II (Hebrew: אגריפס; AD 27/28 – c. 92 or 100), officially named Marcus Julius Agrippa and sometimes shortened to Agrippa, was the eighth and last ruler from the Herodian dynasty
His grandfather was Herod the Great who killed all the boy’s in Bethlehem (Mt2) and the son of King Agrippa I who beheaded John the Baptist (Mk6) who also was part of Jesus trial (Lk23) and had James executed (Act12).
Bernice: Bernice was his sister who lived with him, after the death of two husbands (Marcus Julius Alexander) in AD40 and the death of her 2nd husband her uncld Herod of Chalchich (Aka : Herod Antipas) in (AD48) she lived with her brother. Some commentators believe they had a incestuous relationship), eventually she moved and married Polemo king of Cilicia (you know where Paul was from, Tarsus of Cilicia), oh wait its not over, she then became the mistress of Roman Emperor Titus who was a general who wiped out Jerusalem in AD70 under the orders from Nero.
Just so you have a picture who Festus is dealing with now.
Paul’s case was not a Roman case, Festus knew it and in coming to Agrippa well he would have been an expect of the Jewish laws and customs it is a great person to turn to for advise.
Festus knew this case was purely a matter of religious questions all surrounding the resurrection, not just resurrection, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Next week we will pick up as Paul stands and makes a defense before Agrippa. We will start at 25:23 and Lord willing maybe make it to 26:32
(time willing only) If we have some time now, let’s read on a little more before we close out
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” 23 So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. 25 “But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26 “Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 “For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”
That is where we will start next week and press on into chapter 26 in our journey to Rome.
(prayer) (Exit)