Acts 25:1-26:32

Main Point: Truth is an appeal to a righteous judge.

We should live in a way that proves our forgiveness.

Forgiveness leads to forgiveness.

We are going to see Paul before Festus and Agrippa. Then we are going to look at a prime example of faithfulness in the midst of persecution, rejection, and injustice.

We have an unstoppable God with an unstoppable plan using an unstoppable Church.

Our unstoppable God is sovereign. His unstoppable plan is working. Sometimes His unstoppable Church makes tough decisions.

If Paul wanted to not be in chains, he would have rejected God’s mission to go to Jerusalem. If Paul wanted to not be in chains, he could have let Festus and Agrippa flesh out the sentencing. If Paul wanted to not be in chains, he could have said it:

Philippians 4:11–12 CSB

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

Acts 26:32 CSB

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Last week I said: Sovereignty is not about what He does or doesn’t do but instead what He can do now or will do later. If you are suffering today, you can believe God can do something right now, or God will do something later. Paul is a man who is suffering from the religious leaders and the political leaders. Yet, God’s plan is for Paul to go to Rome. So, God makes a way. This was God’s way to Rome. It doesn’t look like our plan, but it is God’s plan.

Acts 25:1–26:32 CSB

1 Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed, 3 asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. 4 Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.” 6 When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.” 9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?” 10 Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. 11 If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.” 13 Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. 14 Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned. 16 I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges. 17 So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. 19 Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. 20 Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied. 23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer. 25 I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.” 1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope. 8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. 12 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place—23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.” 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” 29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.” 30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

What it meant to them:

Truth is not accepted everywhere.

Acts 26:24 CSB

24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”

Remember: we shouldn’t be surprised when the world is against us. We shouldn’t be surprised when truth is distorted.

Be honest in front of man.

Acts 26:25 CSB

25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.

Even when truth is distorted, we speak it. The gospel (good news) is associated with hateful things. We have to almost repattern peoples minds before we can share the good news. Just because the good news has been distorted by many in the world, doesn’t mean we should stop speaking it.

Make sure you do not blend God’s good news with man’s good news to the point where your life represents a distorted and mixed gospel. Paul specifically preaches Christ: Acts 26:23

Acts 26:23 CSB

23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Acts 26:17–18 CSB

17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Be faithful to God.

Acts 26:29 CSB

29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”

What it means to us:

Faithfulness isn’t enough for humans.

People have to be perfectly faithful to accurately judge faithfulness. We fail at both. That’s why we put Jesus on the cross. A faithful man was judged by unfaithful people. It doesn’t matter how good you are, or how faithful you are, or how loving you are, people will still misjudge you. I’ve realized in my own life that to seek the approval of people leads to the disapproval of God and the disapproval of man. Seeking approval leads to a really dark place. Paul shows us how to live for something other than the applause of man.

Faithfulness is enough for God.

We we’re unfaithful. Our faithfulness is not what saves us. Jesus faithfulness saves us. Our faith in Jesus applies what Christ already paid for through His life, death, and resurrection.

Faithfulness is enough, and Christ is the faithful one.

When we are threatened with injustice in the world, remember we have an advocate, His name is Jesus.

1 John 2:1 CSB

1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.

When we don’t have an advocate in the world, we have one in Heaven.

He didn’t have an advocate on earth either.

Injustice is not the final word.

Felix, Festus, and Caesar did not get to decide Paul’s final state.

Philippians 1:21 CSB

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

It’s the setup for the finale.

Injustice only sets up the cross before us to become a crown for eternity. Just like for Jesus.

The cross set before Him was the victory that secured the crown upon him.

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Main Point: Truth is an appeal to a righteous judge.

Truth is not an appeal to an unrighteous judge. With unrighteous judges, you have to be able to twist them more than someone else, feed them more than someone else does...

Gospel Response:

Just like Paul’s defense before the jewish leaders, Felix, and Festus, we should be able to defend the truth. But, we must also realize that the truth won’t be accepted in all courts, with all people, in all friendships, and in all families. Only a person seeking the Truth will judge based on the truth. So, we must..

Find the truth.

Live in alignment with truth.

Philippians 3:15–16 CSB

15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

Appeal to a righteous judge.