Today’s passage: Acts 25:1-27
Helpful thoughts:
- Two years after the initial plot and attempt, the Jews’ plan and resolve remains unchanged.
- What had increased however, was the list of false accusations.
- As a Roman citizen, Paul had a right to appeal to the highest judge in the empire, the Caesar.
- Paul’s appeal was his only option to avoid the murder plot once he realized Festus was willing to make a spectacle of him before the Jews in Jerusalem.
- Verse 20 contains a politically motivated fabrication. Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor (Verse 9).
- The official reason to bring Paul before Agrippa was to formulate the document which would accompany Paul’s appeal to Caesar.
- The unofficial reason was simply because the matter was intriguing and an opportunity for pomp.
- God’s sovereign reason will be on display in the next chapter…
Questions to consider:
- What would be the reasons Paul would appeal to Caesar? If you were Paul, what would you be trying to accomplish? Do you think it was more about personal protection or about potential opportunity?
- In what way had Paul become a political football? What concerns and opportunities were there for Festus and Agrippa?
- What does Festus’ statement in verse 25 prove about Paul’s legal status? Are Christians always going to be treated fairly based on what we actually believe? Did Paul complain to Festus about this? Why not? What was his greatest concern?