ACTS  25

1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,

2 where the chief priest and Jewish leaders appeared before him and prresented the charges against Paul.

3 They urgently requested Festus,  as a favor to them, to have Paul transfered to Jerusalem, for they were preparing a ambush to kill him along the way.

4 Festus answered, Paul is being held in Caesarea and I myself  am going there soon.

 5 Let some of your leaders come with me there and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.

6 After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and  and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 

7 When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.

8 Then Paul made his defense, I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews  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 Caesars 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 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 turn me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.

12 After Festus conferred with his council, he declared You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go!

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

 14 Since they were spendung many days there, Festus discussed Pauls case with the king. He said: There is a man here who 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 condemmed.

16 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man until he has faced his accusers and has had a opportunity to defend himself against their charges.

17 When 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.

18 When the accusers got up to speak, they did not charge with any of the crimes I had expected.

19 Instead they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.

20 I was at a loss to know how to investigate such matters; so i asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.

21 When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperors decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.

22 Then Agrippa  said to Festus, I would like to hear from this man myself.  He replied, Tomorrow you will hear him. 

 23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24  Festus said: King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitoned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he  ought not to live any longer.

 25 I found he had done nothing deserving death, but because he had made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.

26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majestry about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa so that as a result of this investigation I might have something to write.

27 For I think it unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.

Instead they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. Acts 25:19

 I am the Living One; I was dead,  and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18

TO CAESAR YOU SHALL GO!

 Thomas J. Grace

Paul has been left in the prison by Felix and the will of God who has promised him he will testify about Jesus Christ in Rome. The word of God is being spread by Philip and his daughters, Luke and many others who have arrived in Caesarea to visit and assist Paul. Just as Paul always insisted that he bring aid to those who needed each time he came to Jerusalem, now many are provideing aid for him and those who are with him. Paul has been praying for his nation and people he dearly loves and his desire for them to believe in Christ is very important in his ministry and prayers. Paul could be free and ministering to both Jews and Gentiles in Israel and around the world. Paul is learning the hard work of being a prophet while he prays for  Israel and the future of his nation is revealed to him.

     1 Festus arrives in Caesarea and three days later he is in Jerusalem which is still the center of all activities in Istael   for the Jews. 2 Some of the chief priests and Jewish leaders who still have not repented of their anger toward Paul, were not able just as a matter of ordinary business could not say Paul has been in prison for two years now maybe he should be released.  These men made it their business to present their false charges against Paul and ask for him to be punished and put to death. 3 They requested that Festus send him to Jerusalem for a hearing at the Sanhedrin. Once again they had a plan to ambush the group that would bring Paul to Jerusalem and kill Paul on the road. This may be why the high priest was not at this meeting so later he could claim when Paul was dead that he knew nothing about this plan.  4 Festus states he is going to Caesarea where Paul is being kept. While in Jerusalem he may have spoken to the Roman commander Lysais  who may be a Christian now, who gave him all the facts of the case and told Festus of the first plan to kill Paul that was told to him by Pauls nephew. 

     5 Festus tells them to travel to Caesarea and I will hear your charges and Paul will be able to defend himself. The trial before Felix in Caesarea did not produce the guilty verdict and execution they desired and was viewed as a failure by the Jews. They wanted to kill him on the road or even a Sanhedrin trial where they could decide to kill Paul which would be a certain verdict and death sentence.  Paul would be aware of Festus as the new govenor and would know this would mean a new plan to kill him by the Jews and a new trial before the new govenor Festus.

     6 Paul would of had ten days to pray to prepare and allow the Holy Spirit to teach him what he should do and say at this new trial. Being certain that he will go to Rome he did not fear a death sentence or plot against his life. Still his prayers are for the salvation of Israel if not for these men and women that live there now, but for the future generations that must learn of their Savior. Paul may already be aware of Gods judgement and punishment of Jerusalem which now is only a few years away. Paul certainly has prayed many times to stop or pospone Gods wrath on his people. Just as Moses pleaded with God many times that the wrath of God would not be poured out on the people in the wilderness each time they disobeyed Him.   Moses needed to intercede for the people many times to prevent God from destroying them all in the wilderness. Numbers 16: 20-22 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron Seperate yourselves from this assembly so I can put a end to them at once. But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, O God, God of the Spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the whole assembly when only one man sins?  Paul just as Moses must intercede many times for the people of Israel. Will the testimony of Paul cause some to repent and believe in Christ and stall the punishment that is soon to come.

     Paul is summoned to the court by Festus who may be seeing Paul for the first time. He might be surprised by Paul who does not look or sound like any criminal he has met before. 7 When Paul appeared he would have noticed there was no high priest or lawyer in the courtroom they would not risk any further damage and may have been warned after the Felix trial not to make false charges and commit perjury in the Roman court.   

      Once again the Jews present without any evidence with no witnesses or proof of any kind made their charges against Paul while they were certain there was nothing they could prove. Perhaps charges and statements against a man was enough to convict a person at the Sanhedrin which was to follow the law of Moses they claim to obey which states there must be witnesses to convict a man. Dueteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. The law was not a matter of concern at the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus and will not be for anyone they have decided should be put to death.

      8 Paul is now allowed once again to make a defense of himself to the court, he states he has neither broken any law of the Jews or the Romans and had not violated any temple laws. 9 Festus speaks to Paul and ask, Are you willing to go to Jerusalem for a trial where Festus will be the judge. Perhaps the Jews told Festus there were witnesses in Jerusalem that could not come to Caesarea. It was not a matter of concern to them because they would not allow Paul to come to Jerusalem alive. Paul knew that this request would cause trouble for many innocent people who would be harmed by soldiers who would strike back when they discovered people from Jerusalem had attacked and killed some of there fellow soldiers. They would not fear for themselves because they would lie and pay bribes to protect themselves from any harm.

     10 Paul makes the statement that he is before Caesars court where he has not broken any law that he might be convicted of. You know that I have not committed any crime against the Jews but I could still be sentenced to death by them, which is the verdict they have prepared in the court or before I arrive at their court. 11 I do not refuse to die if there were crimes that I have done against the Jews or the Romans.  Because these are all false charges as you well know no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.  The emperor now was Nero and he may have heard the case himself which would allow Paul to testify about Jesus Christ to the leader of the world. Is this the plan for Paul to meet Nero that Jesus meant when He said you will testify about Me in Rome.

     13 Festus has a confrence with his council this was not what he was expecting to happen at this trial, he did know that Paul was a Roman citizen and had this right which he could not refuse. Festus declares to Caesar you will go. Festus must have been happy that he did not have to hear this case any longer or decide a verdict that would make him unpopular with a large group of people whatever he decided. He may have known of Pilate who decided to hand over Jesus to be crucified and later suffered for that mistake.  Paul is sent back to his cell once again this is not Gods punishment or because of the persecution by the Jews. It is not the work of satan to stop his ministry to the Gentiles but it is Gods will which Paul obeys.

     This is  like Pauls  trip to Arabia where he was taught and given revelation of Jesus Christ. now the revelations will be of his new ministry  and the end of the Jewish work in Israel and the future believers of Israel.  Galatians 1:17 Nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately to Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  Galatians 1:12 I did not recieve it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I recieved it  by revelation from Jesus Christ.  Just as he learned by revelation in Arabia in his cell he will now learn by revelation about the future of Israel and the new Christian Gentile church, and the return of belief in God and Jesus Christ once again in Israel.

     13 In a few days King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit with Festus to pay their respects to the new govenor. 14 Festus spoke to king Agrippa about Pauls case, he would tell him about the trial just a few days ago and some information he learned from Felix. Unlike Felix, Festus does not seem to be spending any time listening to Paul and has no personal knowledge of Paul. 15 While I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders brought charges against him and wanted him condemmed.  I could not condemm a man I have never seen or heard from. 16 I explained as I am sure they all knew that it is not the Roman custom to allow a man to be handed over to be executed until he faces his accusers and is able to defend himself against the charges made against him. 17 When I arrived in Caesarea these men from Jerusalem came here and we began the trial and Paul was ordered to the court. 18 The accusers did not claim Paul had done any of the crimes I thought they would charge him with. 19 They had some disputes with him about their own religion and a dead man called Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.   20 I was at a loss how to investigate these things. We can only believe that Festus has no knowledge of Jesus Christ and all the events that have taken place in Jerusalem. He could not have spoken to Paul as Felix had done many times or he would certainly know about the resurrection of Christ. I asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and  be tried in their court while I remain the judge. Festus in the Sanhedrin court would only be more confused and have no knowledge of their law which would make him unable to make any decision.

     21 Paul makes his own legal choice to appeal to Caesars court in Rome and now he is in his cell while I wait for the soldiers and guards needed to send Paul on to Rome. Paul now aware that there are now real plans to remove him from Israel and send him to Rome just as Christ had told him when he was first arrested by the Roman commander Lsaias in Jerusalem. Acts 23:11 The following night  the Lord stood near Paul and said, Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.  Jesus who said to the twelve when he sent them out Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions; Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritians. Go rather  to the lost sheep of Israel. . Of Himself Jesus said Matthew 15:24 He answered, I am sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. While He was alive He ministered only to the nation of Israel only after His death and resurrection did Jesus command Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Paul who loves his own nation and people has known the fate of his country concerning their belief in Christ. Romans 11:22,23 Consider therefore the kindness and sterness of God; sterness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you will also be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved. Christ has revealed to Paul the future suffering and the final state of faith and belief in Jesus Christ for the future.

      The role of the prophet must be understood to know how Paul experienced and learned of the state of Israel. There are gifts of the Holy Spirit the word of knowledge, and the word of wisdom, which are information from God that should be trusted, obeyed and believed. These words of knowledge and wisdom are usually for a single person or a church cencerning events that are happening very soon in their lives. Prophets experience and feel the prophecy that God shows them, they do not only deliver a message.  Just as David told about how Christ was crucified he felt the suffering of seeing his Lord murdered by his own people, Agabus when he told of the famine  this was not a farm report he would have seen the suffering and hunger of the people. When Agabus had the vision of Paul being arrested he demonstrated this by taking Pauls belt but he tied himself up to show how Agabus feels the pain of the prophecy for others. Paul has seen the visions and heard the voice of God as He has decided the fate of Israel based on their unbelief, not as a punishment for the death of His Son Jesus Christ who they crucified. 

     If  the  death of Christ  had caused Gods judgement on Israel there would be no path for them by  faith in Jesus Christ  return but unbelief can be corrected by faith in Jesus Christ which Paul must have been assured of before he wrote all Israel will be saved. Just as Abraham believed God that he would be the father of many nations that did not exist, so Paul will now believe God will  bring salvation and faith to his people sometime in the future. Paul  is more aware of the future of Israel than his own plans that will occur in Rome, before he went to Jerusalem many people had words and visions about him. Now that he is going to Rome no one has anything to tell him about this journey.  Because Paul has heard directly from Christ there is no reason for anyone else to bring him any further information. Agrippa tells Festus I would like to hear this man, is God giving the king a opportunity to repent and believe in Christ. What affect would the kings faith have on the Sanhedrin, the people of Israel and the fate of the nation,

     Paul would also be aware of the possible results of the kings belief in Jesus Christ. Without opposition Paul will be able to testify to the king about faith in Christ. 23 The following day Agrippa and Bernice came to the meeting hall with some of the officers and leading men of the city. No one from the Sanhedrin were present to dispute with Paul, this was not a trial but a time for Paul to explain his actions and beliefs. 24 Festus declares all Jerusalem and many here in Caesarea have asked that Paul be put to death, but he has requested to be sent to Rome to be judged in Caesars court and will soon be sent there. 25 I have found nothing that he has done that deserves death neither did Felix who examined him before me. He will soon be sent to Rome. 26 I do not even know what charges I should write to Rome about and maybe this investigation will give me some reason to explain why this man is being sent to the emperor. 27 It is not reasonable to send a prisoner to Rome with no charges against him.  This problem of not knowing what to charge Paul with was not a problem that would force the Romans to release him.  Paul stayed there in their prison based not on any law neither the law of the Sanhedrin or Roman law but by the will of God that Paul remained in there prison in Caesarea and it is Gods will that Paul will soon leave and testify about Christ in Rome.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS