ACTS 25. PAUL APPEALS TO CAESAR Following the course of history, many younger, modern-day historians, when the facts and recorded history don’t agree with their personal opinions, accept “revisionist history.” Their own narrative of life, which they want to believe, is the only “history” acceptable to them. There is no reason to reject what ancient historians wrote, even though we know written words have a personal bias and their own view of what has occurred in history's dim past. The one exception is the Bible, which contains the scriptures of truth that unfold to us, God’s view of things from the perspective of infinite and absolute honesty, and a complete knowledge of the truth from beginning to end. All that God sees is from the perspective of Him living in an “eternal now” that has no beginning or end. There is no past, present, or future with the One who is eternal in His being.
It is a remarkable display of divine wisdom that God, through chosen holy men, revealed His will to us, often through historical events. In Luke’s writings, three Caesars are mentioned: Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius, but there is no mention of Nero, who would be the emperor before whom Paul would stand. In all these cases, Nero's mightiest human authority isn’t mentioned by name and is only spoken of in passing because the One Person of importance is “One Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” The same is true today. The history of mankind is trivial in the long run. The history of Jesus is “His story” that remains unrevised by “revisionist history.”
Secular historians wrote that Felix was excessively cruel in handling disturbances and irregularities during his rule in Judea while living in Caesarea. The way he handled riots between the Jews and the Syrians in Caesarea ultimately resulted in him being recalled, and Festus, a more moderate, wiser, and more honest man, took his place. Paul was still in prison after two years and had no charges against him by Lysias. Keeping Paul in Caesarea under a fairly open prison was Felix’s way of dealing with a problem regarding what was right, in contrast to what was expedient. With Paul, in essence, being still in prison, the Jews could do nothing to an innocent Roman. An imprisoned Jew, even though he was a Roman citizen, was neither here nor there to Felix, and he would be able to prevent a big stir by his superiors.
When Festus came in place of Felix, he immediately took matters in hand. Having a Roman in prison with no charges laid against him would likely have been one reason he wanted to go to Jerusalem immediately. He could resolve the backlog of litigation issues Felix had left undone. One of those had to do with Paul being in prison and no charges laid against him by Lysias. Those Jewish leaders had long memories and had not forgotten about Paul. Murder was still in their hearts against him, and even though another high priest was holding office, they were still determined to kill him.
An Evil Plot The Jewish leaders went back to their original plan to ambush and assassinate Paul if they could get Festus to bring him to Jerusalem. They intended to kill him on the way. Festus must have taken their urgent demand on their part as a personal challenge to his authority. Even though he was a conscientious administrator, Fetus was no pushover and was not about to be dictated by an arrogant bunch of Jewish religious bigots. Right at the beginning of his administration, he made it plain that he was in control. He had no intention of being a puppet of those people who felt themselves superior to other people. If they wanted to present their case, they had to do it like he said. They were the ones who had to go the sixty miles to Caesarea to confront Paul in court. Festus was not returning to Jerusalem to deal with a case where the prisoner was already at Caesarea.
The Lord knows the heart of every person, which leaves us no place to hide from His omniscience. We may think we have a person all sized up as to what they are like and what we think they will do or not do, but the Lord can turn the heart of any king or government authority to do His will, whether they know it or not. That knowledge can keep us from being overanxious when things turn out much differently than we had expected or anticipated.
A Reasonable Proposal When Festus refused to acquiesce to the evil plans of those who were enemies of the apostle Paul, they were likely very disappointed because it was not justice in a courtroom they wanted, but Paul’s death before he got to court. Festus was in Jerusalem for over a week, and when he returned to Caesarea, those who were “able” and willing because of the hardness of their hearts went with Festus. That was not the way they had hoped things would turn out.
Not many details of that trial are given because they are not necessary to the narrative of God's work on behalf of His servant. When a child of God learns the value of simple trusting faith in God, all the events and unfounded challenges against the Lord and His word will have no real or lasting effect on the outcome of a matter. Our responsibility is to ensure we allow nothing to hinder our fellowship with our Lord. Our sovereign Lord takes control of things to bring about His desired end.
A Renewed Charge Many grievous complaints were laid against Paul, but none could be proven. Not one charge they had was substantiated. Calmly and with the assurance of one innocent of all charges laid against him and fully trusting in his Lord, Paul’s words were brief and to the point. For the third time, he was brought before that Jewish counsel and a judge, and yet he wasn’t disturbed or rattled by anything they said against him. His reply against all the accusations was simple: “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.
A Renewed Denial For our learning, we can understand how important it is to maintain respect for the law and those who are supposed to uphold it. But we do not have to surrender truth, righteousness, or good conscience to please those who are supposed to represent justice when they don’t. Respect for law and order is expected in Christian citizens of a country. Politics has no place for those who will “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Compromise and appeasement are the order of politics that do not uphold the unchangeable standards of righteousness and honesty.
Festus was another compromising political appointee who would try to do what pleased influential religious and political leaders at the expense of justice for an individual. To give him as much credit as possible, he didn’t ask Paul if he would be willing to return to Jerusalem for another phony trial. He did that to please the Jews, who he well knew were not telling the truth and were trying again to eliminate the one who preached “Jesus and the resurrection.”
So, Paul insisted that he stand in a Roman civil court rather than be made to suffer at a Jewish religious court that had already made it plain that they considered him guilty without a trial or facts. As a Roman, Paul could refuse a local court in one of the conquered provinces and make his appeal at a higher court. Nero, or his representative, would hear his case at the highest court of appeal in the Roman Empire. Winning that case before the highest court would officially recognize Christianity as distinct from being a branch of Judaism. It would have been a relief to Festus to have Paul out of his jurisdiction, and then he could go about trying to pacify the touchy Jews. Therefore, he didn’t hesitate to declare his verdict after a consultation with his advisers. “Unto Caesar, thou shalt go.”
For Paul to be able to go to Rome as a prisoner was better than not to get there at all. He had the Lord’s word that he would testify of the Lord Jesus Christ in Rome; he had wanted to preach in Rome, and his appeal gave him a way and opportunity to get there. Paul acted in the will of God by taking advantage of his citizenship. His appeal to Caesar was not a lack of faith but a testimony to his faith and his submission to the will of the Lord.
Those who walk in the light of truth allow their truthfulness to be seen in their lives when they walk with the Lord in the light of His word and the sincerity of their hearts. We can see God working in our lives when we walk with Him. Others will also see and withdraw their opposition or objections when God steps in with divine power and makes things happen in His way.
BEFORE AGRIPPA Agrippa has been described by ancient historians as “Brilliant, unpredictable, given to reckless extravagance… with a highly developed sense of self-preservation and fine talents as a diplomat.” What a description of a self-centered, young, sinful king! Bernice was his wicked sister who had lived a blatantly immoral life. The two paid a complimentary “get acquainted” visit to Caesarea to meet the new ruler from Rome, assigned to the area they ruled under his authority. It would have been to the advantage of both leaders to be able to get along together.
Whatever Festus took away from all that was said about Paul by false accusers and by Paul in his defense, one thing was very clear to him – the key argument was about “a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” He had found the key, the heart of the whole matter, and put it into a brief statement. It was a religious issue that had been festering in the Jewish community for over twenty years.
Because Jesus had died and risen again, and Christians knew He was the Messiah, forms, rituals, fasts, and all of the innovations Jews had added to their religious observances were of no value. The reality had taken the place of the shadows and types. It was then such an offense to those leaders because it cut right into their “pocketbooks,” the wealth they took from simple worshippers that filled the coffers of the religious leaders.
The resurrection of Christ and the results of the cross-work of Jesus were foolishness to the Jews and a stumbling block to the Greeks. Christ crucified is the power and wisdom of God when we add to it that “It is Christ that died, year, rather, that is risen from the dead and is alive forevermore. That certainty is the fundamental force of Christianity. “Because He lives, we shall live also.” Even in trying times, our Lord Jesus Christ is faithful to His own people. The Lord stands by His own and lifts them up beyond themselves to see and be a part of God’s plans and objectives and see His power and glory at work, now and forever. We don’t have to pity Paul or the suffering saints forever because their suffering will soon end. It is kings, rulers, and people who ignore God and ridicule and downplay faith in Christ who need our pity and our prayers.
A WITNESS FOR GOD