Acts 25:1-15
Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They 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. 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” 6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9 Festus, 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?”
10 Paul 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. 11 If, 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!” 12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since 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. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
Mike McCoy
The Vineyard Church – Concord
Observation: Father, I see that Paul is in prison because people are bringing false accusations against him. They have brought these accusations to intimidate him and get him to shut up about the resurrection of Jesus. I reflect on how sometimes I feel intimidated by the fear of rejection and don’t share my story of following the Risen One Jesus Christ as boldly as You desire.
Action: Father, you give me opportunities to share the story of Jesus resurrection and the impact it has on my life and beyond. I will expect to tell and will tell our story of Jesus’ resurrection three times a week between now and Easter Sunday.
Dear Father,
Through the death of Your son, You gave us the Holy Spirit. our well spring of Truth and Light. I confess I have not Paul’s courage nor clarity when facing hard stuff –much less death. I come before You asking for swiftness to tap into that which You have already given me. Grant me new ability to choose quickly, boldly, and then Lord, wait patiently in faith.
Let me turn from laziness or neglect, let me turn from my way to Yours.
Let me shine with Your Light in everything I am faced.
Thank You Lord. Amen.
Observation: They 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 – reminds me how deceptively evil the enemy is. And here I witness Paul’s claim to innocence on three counts. Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Bottom line, life is not fair and there is an enemy who works against all that is good.
Action: Today I will not complain about whether life is fair or not. However, I will do what I can to contend for good and speak up for the truth.
Observation: If I were Paul I would be thinking, ‘What a colossal waste of time. I should be out preaching the gospel instead of defending myself in court.’ But living your faith is the best witness (I think Billy Graham said that), and I think many people were watching how Paul conducted himself.
Application: Remember that God doesn’t reckon time they way I do. He is infinitely patient with people I would give up on. Be aware of how He is using time, resist the temptation to bend time to my agenda.
Observation: I am struck by the lengths the Jewish leaders are going to, to bring Paul down and condemn him instead of focusing on their own relationship with God. They we’re so busy accusing him they missed their own hard heart and sin in their life.
Action: Today I will do a heart check throughout the day-am I in judgement of others? Is my heart and mind right before The Lord.
Observation: Despite being in prison, none of the accusations against Paul stick. They are like water rolling off the back of a duck.
Action: My righteousness comes from Christ alone, and He is the ultimate judge. When I feel guilt or shame, I will remember that in Christ I am free from all guilt and blame, and rejoice in that fact, confidently sharing my joy with others in the ways I interact with people around me this week.
Observation: Father, I see that the leaders and people of the world’s system take action based upon wanting to do favors for one another, and gaining each others’ favor, but as a follower of Jesus, and a leader in your Kingdom, you call me to (and empower me to) act in truth, righteousness, and justice – to bring You glory.
Action: Today, Lord, help me be to more intentional in recognizing, and acting upon, the opportunities you give me to speak up for truth, righteousness, and justice – even if it means receiving scorn from men. I will live for your approval only.
Observation: This process is very long for Paul, being handed from one authority to another. His patience is amazing.
Application: When I woke up this morning feeling overloaded with things to do. I caught myself planning to do them in my own strength rather than bring them to Jesus. After reading this and the other comments, I renew my desire to let Jesus take the load and join Him as everything unfolds in His time.
The Jews…were about to kill him on the way. They thought Paul such a threat for speaking out against their religious system. A God fearing nation with God given law has leaders that plot and want to kill someone without trial. It speaks to the atrocities in the world today in the name of upholding peoples own revelations of righteousness.
Man gets God wrong…and has for a long time.
I think regardless of our religious subscription, and what there-under that compels us to think or say, we will be known by our fruit.
I’m thinking about what my fruit is today. Does my life look/smell/taste like Jesus?
Observation: Often times we simply cannot make others see what we see. We cannot be convincing enough to the pressing skeptic.
Action: Father, I will be true to what I believe even if I am unable to convince another. And I am glad to remember that You are the Convincer, not me.
Observation: I see the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples coming to pass in Paul’s life, when Jesus said; “…, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.” Luke 21:12b-13 NKJV. At the time that Jesus spoke these words Paul was by no means a disciple of Jesus, but just as the Word of God applied to Paul it applies today to all who follow after Christ. I have had opportunities to speak with political, religious, business and other leaders on many occasions about the testimony of Jesus in my life; sometimes I have spoken up and sometimes I haven’t even realized the opportunity that God provided for me to share about Him with people of influence or with others.
Action: Today, I will look at the encounters that I have with people as opportunities that are presented to me to share my testimony of Jesus in my life.
Dear Lord I hear that being silent and not sharing Our Lord’s story of dying and rising for our sins keeps me in darkness. Paul never let false accusations stop him from speaking the word of our Lord. I too wish to speak of our Lord with no reservations
thank you Lord
Dear Lord I hear that being silent and not sharing Our Lord’s story of dying and rising for our sins keeps me in darkness. Paul never let false accusations stop him from speaking the word of our Lord. I too wish to speak of our Lord with no reservations
thank you Lord
My action is to sprea d the word of our Lord and how He effects me daily,
I just had an opportunity yesterday to share my “story” but caught myself, as usual, softening the story out of fear of being thought of as “one of those ” Christians. I am ashamed of myself & am sure God is hurt when I do that.
God wants me to boldly speak & have no other thought than my love for HIM. I have much growing to do but I know HE will steadfastly stand by me. God, please instill boldness in me let me have no care about mt persona & how I will be perceived.