ROUGH JUSTICE
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, show me how to wait patiently for You to unfold Your plans for my life.
Read Acts 25:1–12
Paul’s Trial Before Festus
25 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!”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever had trouble waiting patiently for something?Time passed slowly. For two years Paul languished in the prison in Caesarea, his friends taking care of his needs (24:23). Fortunately, previous experience had taught him to be content whatever happened (Phil. 4:11–13), probably through experiences like this. How do you handle frustration?
Eventually Felix was removed from office for failing to keep the peace between Jews and Gentiles. Festus, his successor, wasted no time in going to meet the leaders in Jerusalem (1). They had certainly not forgotten Paul and immediately repeated their accusations (2). Despite asking for Paul to be brought to Jerusalem (3), they had to go to him in Caesarea. For a second time their hidden agenda was thwarted (23:21). Again they made their unproven accusations (7). And once again Paul denied them. His principle of keeping a clear conscience stood him in good stead when the heat was on (24:16).
But the stakes were getting higher. The new governor was keen to please the Jews and suggested that Paul stand trial in Jerusalem (9). Knowing what that would mean, Paul played his Roman citizenship card, “I appeal to Caesar!” (11).
Apply
Thousands of people—many of them Christians—are languishing in prison today, just as Paul did, waiting for a trial or an appeal. Research persecuted Christians today.
Closing prayer
God of Justice, I pray that those who are imprisoned and persecuted for following You will find help and support.
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