Procurator Festus

Acts 25:1-12 

1Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3They 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. 4Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” 6After 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. 7When 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.

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9Festus, 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?” 10Paul 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. 11If, 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!” 12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Introduction

After 2 years of Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea, Festus succeeded Felix. He was procurator or governor of Judea for at least three years. Just few days upon arrival, he went up to Jerusalem to be acquainted with his jurisdiction. According to historians, there’s some kind of antagonistic or not pleasant relationship between the governor and the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Felix and Festus were the governors of Judea but their city of residence was in Caesarea and not in Jerusalem, why?

Jerusalem was supposed to be the capital city of Judea but it’s very interesting that the governor had chosen to reside in Caesarea and not in Jerusalem. Were the Jewish leaders not pleasant but gross or unpleasant to deal with?

1.   Gross Leaders

1Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3They 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.

The Jewish leaders were very much focused on killing Paul. They can’t wait for a decision that would favor them any longer. Two years had passed by and their accusation against Paul has not decided. That might possibly be the reason that the Jewish leaders showed no reservation to Festus. Would you accept that as gross or undignified behavior?

Luke did not mention if the Jewish leaders give any welcoming festivities to the arrival of their new governor. Immediately upon his arrival, the Jewish leaders welcomed Festus with their personal concern. They had no hesitancy before the new governor. They made it clearly known that they desired his decision should favor them. Festus declared that Paul’s trial be heard in Caesarea where Festus resided.

6After 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. 7When 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.

8Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

9Festus, 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?”

Paul was a Jew by birth but the Jewish leaders wanted to eliminate him. Festus perceived that the charge against Paul was more of religious rather than political in nature. Festus asked Paul’s if he was willing to be tried in Jerusalem to appease the Jews.

Such kind of leader or governor is gross. Such leader does not decide according to what is righteous or proper but tries to please people. Such leader is like Pilate who boasted of his authority before Jesus but was actually scared of the people.

Pilate

In John19:10-14, 10“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

11Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

12From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

13When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

Pilate represents leaders who are bestowed with authority but cannot use their authority properly. They would please influential people for their sake or safety. The church is not exempted. It’s really tough to have church leaders like Pilate. But why does God allows such things to happen? When God allows unfavourable situation to occur, He wants us to experience His grace. Pilate crucified Christ for believers’ salvation.

2.  Gracious God

4Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

Immediately upon arrival, the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. Festus as a Roman governor of Judea might have felt disrespected. Instead of majestic welcome, the Jewish leaders tried to impose what they wished their governor should do. Can you accept that as God’s grace in favor of Paul? Did God utilize the hostility of the Jewish leaders and the pride of Festus as governor to keep Paul safe?

10Paul 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. 11If, 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!”

12After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

The Jewish leaders charged Paul but they cannot present proofs of their claim.

Festus was confused because he found no basis to decide against or in favor of Paul. The charge against Paul was far beyond his knowledge or experience. Paul, however, was prepared for his answer because the Lord instructed him to testify in Rome.

In Acts 23:11, 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Festus has forgotten his suggestion that the trial of Paul would be heard in Jerusalem. He heeded Paul’s appeal to free himself from the burden. The decision of Festus to abide by Paul’s appeal to Caesar might have made the Jewish leaders furious.

It was not known. It was not recorded. But some writers presumed that the reason Festus died in Judea 3 years after letting go of Paul was that the Jewish leaders conspired to assassinate him. Anyways, God’s grace favouring Paul isn’t hard to easily accept, is it?

Mind of Christ

Those who attend the Saturday morning prayer watch are studying the book “The Mind of Christ.” The author said, “My studies of Jesus’ life had convinced me that God will supply where there is genuine ministry need.” [p.135] This church building is a very practical exhibit of God’s provision to His church.

Accordingly, the church was short of Financial Budget, and there was another prospective buyer but God’s grace favored the church to have it. What’s more? There are disappointed individuals who left the church but more people are coming and joining us.

As we hope and pray for greater days to come, the Board of Trustees will be proposing to the church to search for another pastor. Are we ready for another pastor? Possible question would be, “Can the church support another paid staff?”

There will always be good ideas to come out. But the right question is, “Are we prepared to trust God for His grace to abound?” Are we relying upon what we can afford financially or could we afford leave a space for the grace of God to work among us?

There will always be challenges in our life individually and as a church. But just God has shown His grace in the life of Paul, and just as God has shown His abundant grace to this church, He will continue to let His grace be known to those who seek Him.

God reminds in Matthew 6:33-34, 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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