The Book of Acts
Paul Before Festus, Part 1
Acts 25:1–7
As we come to these closing chapter of the book of Acts, we are in the last period of Paul's life. He has completed all the missionary journeys and establishment of churches. He is now a prisoner, first in Jerusalem, then in Caesarea, and finally in Rome where he will be executed.
Obviously, even while in prison, he will still continue to share the faith and write to the churches, but for the most part, he lives and functions now as a prisoner. And the Holy Spirit has chosen to detail for us, at great length and in great detail, the trials and defenses of the apostle Paul during this period.
And in some ways, you have to wonder why. After all, the book of Acts is the history of the church, and yet for the most part, in the closing chapters we read very little about the church. It's all about Paul. And I can’t help but wonder why it is that really, beginning at chapter 21 and continuing all the way through chapter 28, it's all the various defenses that Paul made before the various tribunals and judgment seats of men.
There is, for the most part, very little doctrine taught; there are no salvation stories that are told; there’s no churches founded; there’s no great missionary trips that are recorded. In fact, there is very little mention of the gospel.
So you have to wonder, “Why does God tell us all of the details of these trials and court proceedings the defenses and prosecutions?
But we also have to balance that by realizing that God included this section for a purpose. It is as much the inspired Word of God as John 3:16, so there must be some underlying truths woven into the fabric of these trial narratives.
They're there, they're just not so plain. They're kind of like potatoes. The good part is hidden under the ground! So tonight, we'll be digging some taters as we move through the text because there are some profound principles that are underneath the ground of this passage, and I'll try to point those out to you as we move along.
The first twelve verses of Acts 24 deal with Paul before Festus. So Felix had been the governor assigned by the Roman government to rule over the Jews there. But Felix hadn't done so well and whole region is in an uproar with riots and looting and villages being burned and looted.
So the Roman government decided it was time for Felix to be replaced, and according to Acts 24:27, they bring in the next guy who's name is Festus. As we saw last time, Felix tried to buy some points with the Jews by leaving Paul in prison, even though he was never accused or convicted of anything, and he is still imprisoned when he leaves his position.
So, Festus inherits not only the political problems of Felix, but the prisoner of Felix, namely Paul.
Now, historians don’t tell us much about Festus other than to say that, for the most part, he was a good administrator. Josephus, who is probably the most informed and most widely read historian of that particular period of history, makes the statement that Festus was better than Felix, whom he followed, as well as Albinus, who followed him.
Festus died after only two years in office. And apparently, Festus was not a procrastinator like Felix. He dealt with things as swiftly as possible, and we'll see that in chapter 25.
So let's get into the text. There are four things I want you to see in these first twelve verses and we'll start and see how far we get.
First of all, once again, there is an
1. An Assassination Plot
verses 1-5
Festus is not in an enviable position. He has to deal with the mess that Felix has left, plus the Jews who don't want to be under Roman authority, as well as individual situations such as he has with Paul.
So notice how he responds.
verse 1
So Festus arrives on the scene in Caesarea, which is under Roman control. They assumed control of Herod's palace and made it their headquarters and the home of the Roman governor.
And soon after his arrival, Festus realizes the need to go to Rome and start establishing himself and building relationships.
The first thing that happens when he gets there is in
verse 2
So here we have the most high muckety muck of Judaism, and isn't it interesting, that with everything they could have been concerned about with the new governor, the first thing they want to talk about is Paul.
And keep in mind, it's been two years since all the initial flare up and their accusations about Paul being sacrilegious and blasphemous, and he's still on their mind. And according to verse 3, they want a favor done of their behalf concerning Paul.
And the request seems innocent enough. Would you please allow your prisoner Paul to come to Jerusalem? We'd like to ask him some questions over a glass of ice tea! When in reality, they are once again plotting an assassination.
Actually what they are trying to do is take advantage of the ignorance of Festus. He's brand new in town. he needs to salve the situation that was created by Felix. He may not know all the history of their animosity toward Paul. So let's strike while the iron's hot!
Never mind that Paul is completely innocent! They were so filled with hatred they were willing to take advantage of any opportunity to see him killed!
And that's where we uncover the first of those truths that are just below the surface of the details and that is the hatred of religious people.
As much as I hate to admit it, some of the things that are said about religious folks in today's world are true! They are some of the most hateful and intolerant people in the world.
It is always amazing to me how those who claim to love God sometimes act. Here's a group of men that claimed to love and serve God, and yet they have murder on their minds! Isn't it amazing how ethical religion is until it comes into conflict with, in this case, the truth!
That's the way it always is! The real struggle is between false religious systems and the real deal! They have always and will always struggle against the truth!
And sure enough, here they are, not wanting justice, not wanting God honored, but wanting a favor, and they want it so badly they will deceive the governor and lie to get their way.
Such is the power and intentions of Satan! Isn't it interesting that these Jews loved Paul until he became a Christian. He’d lived his whole life as a Jew before his conversion, and they had loved him. He was a student of Gamaliel; chosen for the Sanhedrin; out persecuting the church and killing Christians, and they loved that Paul.
But when he forsook all of that to follow Christ, immediately, Satan went to work, driven, not by a hatred for Paul, but a hatred for Christ.
And those who were the most religious were the ones that showed the most hatred, and it is opposition to the truth that drives that hatred. And that's always the way it is. The greatest persecution to the truth always comes from false doctrine and teachers.
And for two years now, even though Paul is safely locked away in Caesarea, out of the public eye and ministry, it continued to eat on these Jewish religious leaders. Two years of hatred and venom against Jesus Christ that can't wait for the opportunity to destroy anyone who has anything to do with him.
By the way, that reveals a second principle and that is the power of sin to enslave its victims.
What kind of power is it that can keep festering and brewing and eating away on people who are familiar with Scripture and claim to know God? It is the cancerous, enslaving power of sin.
Isn't it interesting that for two years, Paul had been in jail enjoying his freedom in Christ while they had been outside, yet imprisoned in their hatred! Slavery to hatred and bitterness is one of the worst slaveries in existence.
When you feel hatred towards somebody, or bitterness towards somebody, you are self-destructing and don't have enough sense to realize it. Sin enslaves. No wonder Paul wrote in Romans 6:16 say, "If you obey sin, you become the slave of sin."
Well, back to the text, notice
verse 4
They bring this request to Festus for Paul to be brought to Jerusalem, and it seems a fair enough request. In fact, it doesn't really seem like that big of a deal.
But Festus didn't get to be where he was by being naive or stupid. He suspicions that something more is going on.
So he denies the request and instead decides to go back to Caesarea himself, and if any of you want to go, you can come along.
Verse 5
Now there was every reason for him to accommodate their request. It didn't seem unreasonable. Better for one man to travel to them rather than the entire group having to travel to Paul.
He needs to make friends with the Jews, and besides that, there is no indication, unlike Felix, that he knew anything about Paul. So why didn’t he do it?
The direct involvement of God, which digs up another principle, and that is God is running the show!
Festus probably thought he was, but he wasn't! God rules and overrules to accomplish His will and purpose!
you may wonder why God does what He does, and you may not even like what God does, but I'd be careful about questioning the providence of God!
God is at work, and He is always at work! And it's exciting to follow along for the ride with Him! Don't worry about politics. Just vote your convictions and trust God.
Don't worry about the economy! Just be a good steward and trust God!
Don't worry about anything because God is on the throne!
I love the account of Jesus before Pilate that is given to us in John 19 where Pilate is asking for some answers and Jesus doesn't say anything.
See, Pilate thought he was in control! Don't you know who I am?! he wasn't used to such insubordination! Don't you know AI have the power to kill you or release you?
Jesus said, "The only power you've got came from My Father! You're not running this show! He is!
Peter knew that to be true also! That's why at Pentecost he said, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know” – listen – “Him being delivered by Pilate.” That what it says? Nope. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” Who is running it? God is.
According to John 7:30, they couldn't even arrest Him until He let it happen. They'd try to catch Him, He'd just walk away!
We see that principle at work as early as Genesis 45 where Joseph winds up in charge of all of Egypt, and one day his brothers showed up and found their brother whom they thought was dead because of them.
Remember how Joseph responded? You thought you were in control, but God was running the show! he put all the details together so I could be where I am and you could be cared for when the time came!
Daniel said the same thing to Nebuchadnezzar: It is God who rules in the kingdoms of men!
God's in control! Why didn’t Festus do what they wanted? Because God was in control! God wasn't ready for Paul to die. After all, God had made a promise to Paul about going to Rome, and that promise will be kept!
Well, in rather a round-a-bout way, that is the plot to assassinate Paul.
We'll stop there and see what happens next time we gather.
Let's pray.
