Paul at the Hands of Governor Festus the Nice Guy
Paul at the Hands of Governor Festus the Nice Guy
We will meet a lot of people along the journey of life who are just simply nice. God uses these people to further his call on our lives and advance his kingdom through us. They may not necessarily be Christians or believe the way we believe, but God have appointed them. Governor Festus is now in power in this province. The wishy-washy Felix is gone. He was relieved of his post by Rome for not handling some disturbances in a proper manner.
What can we learn from Apostle Paul and Governor Festus during this phase of Paul’s trial and ultimate journey to Rome? We learn balance from Festus and steadfastness from Apostle Paul. We also us learn that death can come unexpectedly in the case of Governor Festus. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90: 12.
Acts 25: 1-23
1Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong."
6After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.
8Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar."
9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
10Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" 12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16"I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. 17When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Governor Festus was new in office and of course wants to make good impression on the people in his province – the Jews and also the headquarters of Rome that sent him. He said, “I did not delay the case” vs. 17. We must learn to work with people where they are and let God plead our case.
2. Festus must have done some home work and learned of past plots of the Jews to kill Paul if he was brought back to Jerusalem. He refused to oblige to the request of the Jews. “4Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong."vs.4-5. This action of Festus shows wisdom as he tries very hard to do what is right considering his political position. This is the balancing act.
3. There are still some political leaders in our society who are willing to do what is right and we should identify and vote for those in any election. They do not necessarily have to have the same dogma as we do. On the contrary, we must not vote for evil leaders or those who have their positions known in opposition to God.
4. We see that Festus did not know too much about Christ and Christianity (the Way). Listen to Festus summarize the case with Paul and his accusers, “9Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive” vs.9. The trial itself would be an opportunity for governor Festus to learn about Christ (Acts 26). In fact we learn from history that “He (Festus) died in office after two years”. This tells me that the higher purposes of God are always at play in our lives’ circumstances. What you and I sometimes go through is not so much about us but about God’s glory and revelation. This truth would transform our lives and free us to trust ourselves in our Father’s hands and to be at peace.
5. Our calling is to make Christ known. Remember the main theme of Acts, “ 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:8. We tell people who Christ is and if they accept His offer for forgiveness and repent of their sins, Christ comes to live in them as He now lives in us. Paul made Christ known to both Festus and all who gathered around him. Some we come across may not live too long and or we may not live too long but we do not know, so we must have the sense of urgency. Lord, help me to have the urgency. Amen.
6. Apostle Paul does not buckle in the endless trials. In fact he would latter write to the Corinthian church about it. “ 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8. How about that for encouragement. Are we willing to allow the life of Jesus to be revealed in our body (both corporately and individually)?
7. Paul knew his rights as a citizen of Rome. “If I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" We must equally do our homework in order to engage the society at large. We need Christians in the law and all spheres of our society. Our friend Loren Cunningham calls it the “7 mountains” of influence (government, education, media, arts and entertainment, religion, family and business). May God help us to be engaged in each and every mountain He has called us to and help transform lives for Him.
Are your circumstances revealing the life of Christ is your body? Festus only had two years to live after encountering Apostle Paul. I hope Festus made a decision to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. Being a nice guy like Festus would not satisfy the law of God. Only having Jesus will satisfy God. May we keep this in mind as we interact with people in the course of our daily living. In 2010 explain to someone who Christ is. Amen.
We will meet a lot of people along the journey of life who are just simply nice. God uses these people to further his call on our lives and advance his kingdom through us. They may not necessarily be Christians or believe the way we believe, but God have appointed them. Governor Festus is now in power in this province. The wishy-washy Felix is gone. He was relieved of his post by Rome for not handling some disturbances in a proper manner.
What can we learn from Apostle Paul and Governor Festus during this phase of Paul’s trial and ultimate journey to Rome? We learn balance from Festus and steadfastness from Apostle Paul. We also us learn that death can come unexpectedly in the case of Governor Festus. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90: 12.
Acts 25: 1-23
1Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong."
6After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.
8Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar."
9Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?"
10Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" 12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16"I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. 17When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Governor Festus was new in office and of course wants to make good impression on the people in his province – the Jews and also the headquarters of Rome that sent him. He said, “I did not delay the case” vs. 17. We must learn to work with people where they are and let God plead our case.
2. Festus must have done some home work and learned of past plots of the Jews to kill Paul if he was brought back to Jerusalem. He refused to oblige to the request of the Jews. “4Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong."vs.4-5. This action of Festus shows wisdom as he tries very hard to do what is right considering his political position. This is the balancing act.
3. There are still some political leaders in our society who are willing to do what is right and we should identify and vote for those in any election. They do not necessarily have to have the same dogma as we do. On the contrary, we must not vote for evil leaders or those who have their positions known in opposition to God.
4. We see that Festus did not know too much about Christ and Christianity (the Way). Listen to Festus summarize the case with Paul and his accusers, “9Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive” vs.9. The trial itself would be an opportunity for governor Festus to learn about Christ (Acts 26). In fact we learn from history that “He (Festus) died in office after two years”. This tells me that the higher purposes of God are always at play in our lives’ circumstances. What you and I sometimes go through is not so much about us but about God’s glory and revelation. This truth would transform our lives and free us to trust ourselves in our Father’s hands and to be at peace.
5. Our calling is to make Christ known. Remember the main theme of Acts, “ 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts1:8. We tell people who Christ is and if they accept His offer for forgiveness and repent of their sins, Christ comes to live in them as He now lives in us. Paul made Christ known to both Festus and all who gathered around him. Some we come across may not live too long and or we may not live too long but we do not know, so we must have the sense of urgency. Lord, help me to have the urgency. Amen.
6. Apostle Paul does not buckle in the endless trials. In fact he would latter write to the Corinthian church about it. “ 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:8. How about that for encouragement. Are we willing to allow the life of Jesus to be revealed in our body (both corporately and individually)?
7. Paul knew his rights as a citizen of Rome. “If I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" We must equally do our homework in order to engage the society at large. We need Christians in the law and all spheres of our society. Our friend Loren Cunningham calls it the “7 mountains” of influence (government, education, media, arts and entertainment, religion, family and business). May God help us to be engaged in each and every mountain He has called us to and help transform lives for Him.
Are your circumstances revealing the life of Christ is your body? Festus only had two years to live after encountering Apostle Paul. I hope Festus made a decision to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. Being a nice guy like Festus would not satisfy the law of God. Only having Jesus will satisfy God. May we keep this in mind as we interact with people in the course of our daily living. In 2010 explain to someone who Christ is. Amen.
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