The Word This Week
Acts 25:1…
The Roman officials have sensed Paul isn’t guilty of anything, but they continue to hold him because their political situation with the Jews is tenuous, at best.
One thing that kept Paul in relatively good standing with Roman governor Felix, and then Festus who replaced Felix when he was recalled to Rome, is Paul is such a fascinating man.
In all likelihood, they’ve never met a man quite like Paul.
All the Roman officials knew how difficult it was to deal with the Jewish leaders, either by personal experience, as in the case of Felix - or by reputation, as in the case of Festus, who had just arrived to replace Felix.
Festus makes it his priority to travel to Jerusalem to face the Jewish leaders after arriving at Caesarea. It was his first order of business to let them know he had come, and that Felix had been deposed and sent back to Rome because of his harsh treatment of the Jews.
Festus was in the fence-mending business, as he did not want to suffer the same treatment as Felix.
So, after two long years, Paul has remained imprisoned simply to appease the Jews. It seems the Jews are still smoldering in their resentment of Paul, and they let new governor Festus know Paul must be dealt with immediately. They want Paul brought up to Jerusalem, so they can kill him on the way – as they had previously planned.
Festus had other ideas. Like Felix, he told the Jewish leaders to come to Caesarea if they wanted to deal with Paul. He would not have Paul transported to Jerusalem.
And so the same sort of trial that had taken place 2 years prior repeated itself. Unsupported charges and lies were brought against Paul by the Jewish leaders and Paul pointed out the weakness of their case against him. Stalemate.
Festus, wanting to give the Jews hope of what they desired most, proposed to Paul the possibility of going back up to Jerusalem to be judged.
Paul deferred – rather appealing to Caesar instead.
Pastor Bill
The Roman officials have sensed Paul isn’t guilty of anything, but they continue to hold him because their political situation with the Jews is tenuous, at best.
One thing that kept Paul in relatively good standing with Roman governor Felix, and then Festus who replaced Felix when he was recalled to Rome, is Paul is such a fascinating man.
In all likelihood, they’ve never met a man quite like Paul.
All the Roman officials knew how difficult it was to deal with the Jewish leaders, either by personal experience, as in the case of Felix - or by reputation, as in the case of Festus, who had just arrived to replace Felix.
Festus makes it his priority to travel to Jerusalem to face the Jewish leaders after arriving at Caesarea. It was his first order of business to let them know he had come, and that Felix had been deposed and sent back to Rome because of his harsh treatment of the Jews.
Festus was in the fence-mending business, as he did not want to suffer the same treatment as Felix.
So, after two long years, Paul has remained imprisoned simply to appease the Jews. It seems the Jews are still smoldering in their resentment of Paul, and they let new governor Festus know Paul must be dealt with immediately. They want Paul brought up to Jerusalem, so they can kill him on the way – as they had previously planned.
Festus had other ideas. Like Felix, he told the Jewish leaders to come to Caesarea if they wanted to deal with Paul. He would not have Paul transported to Jerusalem.
And so the same sort of trial that had taken place 2 years prior repeated itself. Unsupported charges and lies were brought against Paul by the Jewish leaders and Paul pointed out the weakness of their case against him. Stalemate.
Festus, wanting to give the Jews hope of what they desired most, proposed to Paul the possibility of going back up to Jerusalem to be judged.
Paul deferred – rather appealing to Caesar instead.
Pastor Bill