Acts 25 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 25

• How are you with 1st days… do you remember the 1st day on a job?  First day as the new boss?
  • Makes you kind of nervous you want to make a good impression, get along with those you are working with… show everyone you are willing to do the job…  and you don’t want to mess up. 
• Context:
  • Last time we saw Paul being held in Caesarea by the Roman Governor Felix who kept Paul under arrest for two years in hopes that Paul would pay a bribe to get out.
  • The Jewish leadership are bent on killing Paul and have been unable to present a convincing case to have the Roman authorities turn over Paul to them or  be punished by Rome because Paul has not broken any laws.  Basically Paul is limbo under arrest but not found guilty.  It has now been two years since Paul heard the words from the Lord … Acts 23:11 …Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
• Acts 25:1-5
• Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed, 3 asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. 4 Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”
  • Who is Festus?
    • He is the new Roman Governor replacing the bad Felix who was recalled by Nero.  Festus is appointed in hopes he can correct some of the abuses of Felix this happens in 60AD.  It is thought that Festus is much more competent and of better character than Felix. But Festus is ignorant about much about the Jews.  
  • How long has Festus been on the job?
    • Not long he is new to all of this…3 days then off to meet some of the leading local folks.  Do you think he would want to make a good impression?
  • Does the Jewish leadership hate Paul any less after two years?
    • No…if anything they hate him more.
  • What do the Jews ask from Festus?
    • A favor…Which is to transfer Paul to Jerusalem… 
  • Why do you think they asked of the new guy?
    • He just might do it not knowing all the circumstances involved…in fact Jews may think Festus would be inclined to something for them to solicit their support to keep peace in the region.  
  • What would happen to Paul if he was moved to Jerusalem?
    • Of course as soon has Paul would be moved he would be killed.
• Acts 25:6-12
• 6 When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.” 9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?” 10 Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. 11 If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”
  • Who does Festus think is in charge of the proceedings?
    • He thinks he is! But he soon finds out he does not have as much control as he thought
  • Have the Jews improved any at getting charges to stick in Paul’s case?
    • No the charges were probably all the same as the 1st time.  Notice no lawyer is mentioned this time.
  • Did the Jews prove Paul guilty of anything?
    • Apparently not because no verdict is given; no judgment reached
  • What should have happened in this case if the Jews proved nothing against Paul?
    • Should have been throw out and Paul set free.
  • Why didn’t that happen?
    • Festus wants to try Paul in Jerusalem so to endear himself to the Jews…we fail to understand how the Roman viewed Judea. To Rome it was a powder keg about to blow so the Roman leaders would pervert justice to keep the peace, like Pilot did with Jesus and Felix and now Festus is doing to Paul
  • Look at verse 9 is this more of a question or a strong suggestion or a command?
    • I don’t think Paul is being asked but being told…Notice it would be Festus being the judge
  • Why does Paul feel like he should be tried in a Roman court?
    • He is a Roman citizen and he may think he will get a fairer trial that way. He also knows the Sanhedrin is corrupt.
  • Do you think Festus knows Paul is innocent?
  • Why did Festus turn to his counselors when Paul appealed to Caesar?
    • I would imagine that after Paul appealed to Caesar, Festus turned to his council and said, “Can he do that?” After a few moments of silence and some muffled conversation, he was assured that Paul was well within his rights. He could do that. And thus Festus responded, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”
  • What did appealing to Caesar mean?
    • 1. It immediately suspended Paul’s trial before Festus.
    • 2. It took the matter out of the hands of Festus, as well as the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
    • 3. It assured Paul of Roman custody and protection, and a safe arrival to Rome.
  • Note of interest…
    • There is a strange irony here. Paul, who could not be persuaded to turn back from going to Jerusalem, …cannot now be persuaded to go back to Jerusalem. Paul had more confidence in receiving justice from a Roman (“heathen”) judge than he did in receiving justice from the highest Jewish court in the land.
• Acts 25:13-27
• 13 Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus. 14 Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned. 16 I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges. 17 So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. 19 Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. 20 Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.”“Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied. 23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer. 25 I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
  • Who is king Agrippa and Bernice?
    • Herod Agrippa II ruled a client kingdom of the Roman Empire to the northeast of Festus’ province, and was reputed to be an expert in Jewish customs and religious matters.  Though he did not have jurisdiction over Paul in this case, his hearing of the matter would be helpful for Festus. 
    • Of this King Agrippa, his great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first apostle, James.  Now Paul stands before the next in line of the Herods, Herod Agrippa. 
    • Bernice was his sister, and rumors were rife that their relationship was incestuous. Herod Agrippa II didn’t rule over much territory, but was of great influence because the emperor gave him the right to oversee the affairs of the temple in Jerusalem and the appointment of the high priest.
  • Why does Festus want Agrippa’s help with Paul?
    • See verse 26. He needs to send paperwork along with Paul explaining the charges against him and why he appealed to Caesar.
  • Now this is a hearing not a trial; who all is invited to this?   Why? Is somebody showing off?
    • Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. Why these people? Showing honor to the newly installed Festus and to King Agrippa. Also they want to gain their favor.
  • What profound statement does Festus make about Paul’s guilt or innocence?
    • See verse 25. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.
• TAKE AWAY
  • Two ways to look at it;
    • from, a purely human viewpoint, the events that have transpired in chapters 21-25 have been sort of a “comedy of errors…And Paul is lucky he gets to go to Rome .
    • Or see another way…In Acts, we see the expressed will and purposes of God for His church, and particularly for Paul: Nothing that has occurred has hindered the fulfillment of God’s purposes. Indeed, everything that has happened has been used of God to fulfill these purposes. God’s sovereignty is nowhere more evident than in the midst of human opposition and failure.
  • God by His wisdom is weaving His will and plans in all of this.  Paul may wonder what is going on but things are going to be done according to God’s timing and will.
  • Those in charge are not really in charge God’s will is going to be accomplished.
  • We need to be faithful to the gospel like Paul…how many leaders heard the gospel over and over from Paul.