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Brad Loveland

Paul before Festus

Acts 25

Festus came to Caesarea by way of Jerusalem to meet with the Jews there and discuss the case of Paul. Once again the Jews tried to get Festus to bring Paul to them. Festus declined saying that he was heading there right then. The accusations continue again in Caesarea.

The question that keeps coming up for me is why the writer by inspiration of the Holy Spirit included all of these details about Paul’s legal troubles with the Jews trying to murder him? How does this information have relevance to our Christian lives today?

When Festus asks Paul if he is willing to go back to Jerusalem to face the Sanhedrin again, he appealed his case to Caesar’s investigation. Festus conferred with King Agrippa about this case since Festus was really not familiar with Paul or his faith. Festus found that he was in a bit of a pickle because he would have to write a review of the case of Paul and the case against him. Festus was finding quickly that there really weren’t any charges to be reported to His Majesty.

King Agrippa expresses interest in meeting Paul and examining if there are any charges he can find for Festus to send to Caesar. They both agree that it would not be good to send Paul for further examination without sending any charges leveled against him.

The scene in King Agrippa’s court would have been an impressive mix of the most influential people in the area from the Jewish and Roman world. In the midst of this, little Paul the tent maker is lead in by the tall Roman legionnaires guarding him into the midst of the purple-robed powerful court of King Agrippa. From the moment he was given permission to speak, he had the attention of the court with the confidence of the spirit.

Next, Paul will deliver an impressive sermon to the court.

Be wary of Flattery?

Acts 24:1-27

Tertullus began speaking with nauseating flattery which was anything, but true. Of course, the charges he leveled against Paul were equally false.

The charge he leveled against Paul had three main points. 1) Paul was a stirrer. He was always in trouble and a pest. 2) Paul was a leader of a sect of Nazarenes. Tertullus knew the havoc false messiahs had cause in the Roman Empire and knew this would capture the attention of Felix. 3) Paul was a defiler of the Temple. The charges were dangerous because they were a series of twisted half-truths.

Paul gave his defense. As a man of clear conscience, Paul maintained that he needed simply to state the facts and let them stand on their own. Something we should notice about Paul. The problem is that there are so many in our world that work like Tertullus instead of like Paul. Our problem is figuring out who is doing that with us to support their own agendas.

Felix knew well the facts about the Way, so he put the Jews off. He knew they were spinning half-truths against Paul choosing to believe the right people. Paul demanded the high morals of which terrified Felix. He had persuaded Druscilla away from Azizus with the help of a magician, so his conscience was guilt-ridden. He also wanted to keep his job after several problems he had encountered. Felix didn’t handle the Paul situation very well either. One too many problems, so he was taken out of his position.

Paul appealed to Caesar.

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

Acts 23:11-24

Paul has been in front of the Sanhedrin twice and Paul has been rescued from the volatile situation both times. Now, about forty Jews have vowed not to eat until they have murdered Paul. The oath they took was called a cherem. They were basically asking God to curse them if they did not carry out the terms of the vow. This week, we begin with Paul’s communication from the Lord to take courage because he has testified about Him in Jerusalem and he will testify about him in Rome.

Two things are pointed out here. First, we see the lengths that the Jews were willing to go to eliminate Paul. Later, they even petition Festus to send Paul back to Jerusalem so they can ambush them and kill Paul along the way to carry out their vow, a cherem (Acts 25:3). The current passage is not the only time that the Jews will attempt to assassinate Paul. Paul’s nephew being there and hearing the vow was how God worked through people to ensure that his will would be accomplished. This time, God’s goal was to get Paul to Rome to testify about him in the most powerful government in their day.

Second, we see the lengths that the Roman commander is willing to go to protect Paul, a Roman citizen. Acts 21:34 says that the Roman commander was having trouble getting the truth from the gathering of Jews because of the uproar they were causing. Nothing changed in the next session Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin. When Paul’s nephew tells the commander of the plot to kill Paul, the commander decides to form a small protective army and transfer Paul to Caesarea saving Paul from the murder plot.

Paul knows that he is fulfilling God’s will, so he is acting boldly and continuing where ever the authorities send him. Next, we will see what the commander tells Felix in the letter he sends with Paul to Caesarea and on to Rome.

Paul Addresses the Sandedrin - Again

Acts 23:1-10

Paul is back before the Sanhedrin. The commander brought Paul back before the group to find out why the Jews had such disapproval for Paul and what he was standing. To address that group as brothers put him on equal footing with the chief priests and rulers. The common way of addressing the court was to say “Rulers of the people and the elders of Israel.”

When Paul was ordered struck by the chief priest, the priest was breaking the law by doing this. “Whoever strikes the cheek of an Israelite strikes, as it were, the glory of God.” Paul turned on him calling him a whitewashed wall, referring to the whitewashing of tombs so they might not be touched by mistake causing the one touching to be made unclean. It was also breaking the law to speak ill of the rulers of the people (Exodus 22:28). Paul was making the point that he never knew that a glutton like Ananias could be a high ruler of Israel. What can we learn about how we should treat our leaders?

Paul made a comment that he knew would make the court take notice. The Sanhedrin was composed of two groups of people, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. They had opposing positions in belief. The Pharisees believed in the minute details of the oral law. The Sadducees accepted only the written law. The Pharisees believed in predestination. The Sadducees believed in free will. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection; and the Sadducees did not.

So Paul claimed that he was on trial because of the hope of the resurrection causing the controversy to ignite in the group. As a result, the court was torn violently in two. Paul was caught in the middle and had to be rescued by the Romans again. The commander had to take him back to the barracks again.

More Problems for Paul in Jerusalem

Acts 22:22-30

The mob seemed to just be waiting for a buzz-word to ignite and inflame opposition to Paul. The tension in the air could not be mistaken. The crowd showed their disapproval of offering Gentiles the privileges of Christianity without being bound to the law of old that the Israelite nation had been bound to from the Exodus.

When Paul went before the Sanhedrin, it was evident to the Roman commander that problems were coming. Once again, the tension in the crowd was on the surface. The group were waving their garments in the air and kicking up dust. Civil unrest in the area was the problem to the commander. His job and his life were at stake in putting down the group.

The Roman commander probably did not understand what was being said, but he did understand that he would have to do whatever was necessary to quiet the riot. He decided to question Paul under scourging to get to the bottom of why the Jews were accusing him and so opposed to Paul. Then, Paul decided to speak as he was being stretched out to be scourged. He let the centurion know that he was a Roman citizen by asking a simple question. This caused the centurion to notify his commander. Paul seemed to never invoke his rights as a Roman citizen for his own protection, but to further the work of God spreading the good news of Jesus the savior of us all. Paul knew that he had to go to Rome, so he had to invoke his Roman rights.

Next, Paul sets out following his strategy. There seems to be recklessness in his actions. He knows there are some things the Lord wants him to accomplish. He trusts in the Lord with all of his being and sets the plan to follow where the Lord wants him to go. Being led by the Spirit, Paul knew that there were more things he had to do.

We know that we need to stop and listen as we study the Word of God knowing that He has a strategy for us to follow. When we became Christians, we accepted His authority and the authority of the Bible.

Have a Great Week,

Brad

Paul's Story

Acts 22:11-21

Reference Acts 9 and Galatians 1

Paul is continuing his defense to the people by telling more from his life story. He identified himself with the Jews he addressed. He stressed to the people that he had not come to destroy his ancestral law, but to fulfill it. Paul found it frustrating that the chosen people had rejected God’s son and was also rejecting the message Paul was bringing to the people.

Paul’s basic story recounted in Acts 9 and also in Galatians 1. The two accounts were told from different points of view. We find out that he came back to Jerusalem after about three years and still had organized opposition to his message. Our study of Acts 9 told us that Paul left Jerusalem because he was in danger. The Jews were not happy with offering privileges to gentiles without first becoming a proselyte Jew, then accepting Christ.

Verse 14 has the summary of what Paul is trying to convey to the people. Paul’s audiences were chosen as the nation of Israel to know His will, see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. We have access to all of this through the Bible. In Galatians 1:12, Paul tells the Galatians that Paul’s message came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul then lets the people know that since his people has not accepted the message, then mercy has been offered to the gentiles. In the next passage, Paul met with intense opposition when he mentioned the gentiles.

What do we do when we are met with such opposition? It's so easy just to turn and run or run and hide. It is so easy to take it, bottle it, and swallow it until there is only numbness left. Keep a healthy outlook and continue to study the word. God has a plan and a purpose for you to stand and be counted among His children.

Have a Great Week!

Brad