Read Part One HERE
A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XV - VII
"Last night, I, Paul was told that in the morning I would be taken to the audition room at Governor Festus's palace here in Caesarea... I had not been in that room before... I usually get taken to the court room... It does not really matter to me where I will be taken... I know one thing... Wherever I am.... Be it in prison... Be it in a court room.... Or be it in an audition room.... I am to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to whomever will be present... This morning I was indeed taken to the audition room at the palace of Governor Festus.... Many important people were present... I noticed Agrippa and his wife Bernice.... There were leading men of the city as well.... Governor Festus was the first to speak... He told the audience that I have many enemies who want me dead.... Not only in Jerusalem... But here in Caesarea...Governer Festus then continued by stating that he does not believe I deserve to die... He ended his speech by saying that he was planning to send me to Rome.... But he did not know how to present my case to Ceasar."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Governor Festus' speech before king Agrippa and Bernice as well as other officials....
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXV - VII
As Governor Festus had said to king Agrippa, the next day Paul was brought before the King in the audience room at the palace in Caesarea as you can read in Acts 25:23
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
It was then time for Governor Festus to speak as you can read in Acts 25:24
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."
Governor Festus began his speech by explaining that this prisoner Paul had many accusers not just in Jerusalem, but even in Caesarea. And all these accusers wanted Paul to die. However, Festus did not agree with these accusers as you can read in Acts 25:25
"I found he had done nothing deserving death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome."
However, Festus did not know on what basis he should send Paul to Rome as you can read in Acts 25:26
"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."
Festus did not want to just write anything to the Emperor about this prisoner Paul. No, whatever he wrote about him had to be true. And the reality was he did not have anything concrete to write to the Emperor about Paul. This, despite the fact, that he had heard many accusations against him. But none of them had made any sense whatsoever. And he was not willing to send Paul to Caesar without proper charges against him as you can read in Acts 25:27
"For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner without specifying the charges against him."
It is clear that to Festus Paul is a very challenging case.
Read Part Twenty-Two HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment