Acts 25:6-12
6 After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought.
7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many, and serious, charges against him which they could not prove,
8 while Paul said in his own defense, “I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.”
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?”
10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.
11 If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
Trial by Festus (2)
Appeal to Ceasar
“But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?’” (1) Festus did not know how to proceed with the trial from this point forward. So, as the newly appointed governor, he took the feelings of the Jews into consideration. He suggested to Paul a trial in Jerusalem. This was an abandonment of his duty as governor. (2) At that moment, Paul realized that the time had come for a new decision. (a) If he went up to Jerusalem, he could not expect a fair trial. Moreover, there was even a danger of being assassinated on the way to Jerusalem. (b) On the other hand, if he remained as he was, he would be imprisoned in Caesarea indefinitely. (c) The final remaining possibility was to appeal to Caesar’s court. Since 509 BC, Roman citizens had been guaranteed the right to appeal to Caesar. An appeal meant requesting a trial in a Roman court, with the verdict being rendered by Caesar himself. (3) The Roman emperor is called “Caesar,” a title derived from Gaius Julius Caesar. He was assassinated in 44 BC, but his successor, Octavian, inherited the name. Since then, every emperor also adopted this name and so “Caesar” became the title for the emperor. (4) Paul decided to make use of his privilege as a Roman citizen and appeal to Caesar. Incidentally, the Caesar (emperor) to whom Paul appealed was Nero. After 62 AD, Nero would become a brutal emperor who persecuted Christians, but in the first half of his reign (54-62 AD), he was still moderate.
Paul heading to Rome
Paul had appealed to Caesar. This request was granted by Festus, and at last, Paul gained the opportunity to go to the capital, Rome. What he had been praying for over a long period was finally coming to fruition (ref. Rom. 1:10-15; 15:22-33). However, the way in which his prayer was answered was beyond anything he could have imagined. A long time had passed before he received the answer to his prayer, and he faced unexpected trials along the way. Yet, God answered his prayer. What about us? How is God answering our prayers? No matter the circumstances, let us trust that God is working all things for the best.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, You always answer to prayers. I trust that You are working all things for the best, no matter the circumstances. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.