Summer At Sea: Week 12 Day 3
Summary of Acts 23-25
Paul speaks to the Sanhedrin and creates another uproar, prompting the centurions to intervene and break up the scuffle. They took Paul into the barracks so that the crowd would not hurt him. Jesus appears to Paul and tells him that he will testify about Jesus in Rome. More than 40 Jews took an oath to kill Paul and created a plot with the Sanhedrin. Paul’s nephew overhears the plot and tells Paul. Paul called a centurion and told him to take the young man to the commander, who, after hearing the plan, warned him not to tell anyone. The commander ordered a large detachment of soldiers to take horses and pick up Paul to take him to the Governor, for safety, along with a letter to Governor Felix. Once Paul arrived, Felix had him put under guard in Herod’s palace and summoned the high priest and elders to bring their charges against Paul. Then Paul was allowed to speak in his defense. Paul remained in prison for two years, and Festus replaced Felix as governor, but before Felix left, he did a favor for the Jews and left Paul in prison. In chapter 25, Paul goes to trial before Festus. The chief priest and elders made serious, false charges against Paul, which Paul denied. Festus wanted to send Paul back to Jerusalem for trial, but Paul appealed to Caesar (because he was a Roman citizen) and Festus agreed. While King Agrippa and Bernice were visiting Festus, they heard about Paul’s case and asked to hear from him directly.
Acts 25:23-27
23 The next day 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. 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 petitioned 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 of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty 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 may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”
At first glance, these encounters are part of a trial. Paul has been arrested, transported, and forced to “defend” himself before many different audiences. What I am inspired by is that Paul moves his defense to offense. He sees these occasions as opportunities to share the gospel.
It’s hard not to get stuck wondering what might have happened if Paul hadn’t appealed to Caesar (Nero). But I think there is an even greater issue to mull over. All the leaders in this story thought they were pulling the strings. In many ways, it seems, Paul’s life was in their hands. But we who have the benefit of viewing this through the lens of history can see that Paul’s journey was the Gospel's voyage to Rome.
What is going on in your life today? Step back from your current circumstances and ask: Have I been put in a place, or given an audience that could be used to spread the gospel?