Acts 25 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

False Accusations…
- Second Trial…
  - Five days after the daring MIDNIGHT military escort of Paul to Caesarea…
  - The High Priest Ananias came from Jerusalem with the elders [πρεσβύτερος]
  - They hired a Romans prosecutor – TERTULLUS – to bring their accusations against Paul!
- The Defense…
  - Paul was NOT guilty of causing a REBELLION or DEFILING the Temple…
  - He CONFESSED [ὁμολογέω] he followed what the Jews called the WAY…
  - But he was NOT a SECT – he believed EVERYTHING written in the Law and the PROPHETS…
  - That there would be a RESURRECTION of the dead – both for the GOOD and BAD!
- No Justice…
  - Felix knew that Paul was NOT guilty of any crime [but politically was unwilling to let him go]
  - After several days he was with his Jewish wife DRUSILLA – and called for Paul again…
  - Paul did NOT use the opportunity to DEFEND himself…
  - Instead took it as an opportunity to REASON [διαλέγομαι] with them about Jesus…
  - In response – FELIX was AFRAID [ἔμφοβος] – and sent Paul away…
  - He hoped Paul would BRIBE him to let him go – but Paul waited in prison for TWO years!
1^st – New Governor… vs. 1-5
- 1^st – Porcius Festus… vs. 1
  - Now when Festus had come to the province!
  - Festus [festival] ruled the province of Judea from 58-62 A.D.
  - Porcius [pig] suggests he came from a wealthy Roman family [Porcia]
  - The corruption of Felix resulted in his removal from office after EIGHT disastrous years…
  - Caesar Nero ordered him to step down after he massacred rioting Jews in Caesarea…
  - Felix should have been executed – but his influential brother Pallas managed to spare his life…
  - Festus was noted for being much for more competent than Felix [who was born a slave]
  - He was effective in bringing stability to Judea [removed the Sicarii – dagger men]
  - His short reign was FESTIVE compared to those who came before and after him [Albinus]
- 2^nd – The request… vs. 1-5
  - Three Days… vs. 1-2
  - After three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
  - Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul!
  - After only THREE days in office – Festus went UP to Jerusalem…
  - Because as the governor of Judea – Caesarea might have been the CAPITOL…
  - But Jerusalem was the heart of the nation [still is to this day]
  - Paul was the number one issue they wanted to address with their new Governor…
  - Certainly there were more pressing issues in Judah – but NOT for the Jews…
  - The High Priest and the leaders kept petitioning [imperfect] Festus about him!
  - During the TWO years Paul had been in prison – the High Priest had changed…
  - King Agrippa had appointed Ishmael to replace Ananias [still rich and influential]
  - But the change in leadership had NOT changed their hatred for Paul!
  - Bitter… vs. 2-3
  - They petitioned [Festus] asking a favor against [Paul] that he would summon him to Jerusalem.
  - While they lay in ambush along the road to kill him!
  - They asked for Festus to send Paul to Jerusalem – intending to KILL him along the way…
  - It was NOT enough to lock Paul up in prison – the Jews wanted him DEAD…
  - Because they held onto their grudge for TWO years – and it now consumed them…
  - As a result they HATED Paul – and nothing short of his destruction would satisfy them!
  - When we refuse to FORGIVE – it can be deadly – and it is contagious…
  - As our GRUDGE grows into HATRED – we are consumed by it [all we think about]
  - Its roots grow down deep – POISONING and hearts and minds…
  - As a result we become BITTER – consuming all of the joy in our life…
  - That is why FORGIVENESS is NOT just for the one who did us wrong – it is also for us…
  - It sets us FREE – we do NOT dwell on the past – we get to move forward in Jesus!
  - Luke 17:4 – “Even if [someone] wrongs you seven times a day… forgive [them].”
  - Caesarea… vs. 4-5
  - Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea – and he himself was going there shortly.
  - Therefore he said: Let those who have authority among you go down with me.
  - And accuse this man to see if there is any fault in him!
  - But FESTUS refused to bring Paul to Jerusalem…
  - Perhaps sensing there was something off [bitter] about the request…
  - Besides he was about to LEAVE Jerusalem – and return to Caesarea…
  - Better for the Jews to send those with AUTHORITY [δυνατός] with him…
  - SINCE [indicative] they had an ACCUSATION [κατηγορέω] against him!
  - Jesus laid out specific guidelines when someone has hurt us…
  - The very FIRST step it to go and talk with them in person – Matthew 18:15
  - If they are NOT willing to listen – THEN we bring witnesses…
  - And if that does NOT restore the relationship – we get the church involved!
  - We need to be wise with people who are BITTER…
  - They should be the ones to CONFRONT those who they are upset with…
  - But if they are NOT willing – then we are to come along side and HELP!
  - Galatians 6:1 – “You who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
2^nd – Third Trial… vs. 6-12
- 1^st – Serious complaints… vs. 6-8
  - Unproven… vs. 6-7
  - When he had remained among them more than ten days he went down to Caesarea.
  - And the next day – sitting on the judgment seat – he commanded Paul to be brought.
  - When he had come the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about.
  - And laid many serious complaints against Paul – which they could not prove!
  - FESTUS ended up staying another TEN days in Jerusalem [other issues]
  - But once back in Caesarea – the NEXT day he sat in the Judgement seat [βῆμα]
  - And when Paul was brought out to stand trial for the THIRD time…
  - Many Jews came from Jerusalem and surrounded Paul [pack of wolves]
  - They laid many HEAVY [βαρύς] complaints against him…
  - Their hope was to OVERWHELM the new Governor forcing him into action…
  - But Luke does NOT even bother to tell us what their ACCUSATIONS were…
  - Because they could NOT prove any of them!
  - No wrong… vs. 8
  - While he answered for himself: Neither against the law of the Jews – nor against the temple.
  - Nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all!
  - Paul did NOT defend himself – because he had NOT committed any [τις] crime [ἁμαρτάνω]
  - FIRST – against the Law of the Jews or the Temple [religion]
  - SECOND – against the Caesar [political]!
  - People are going to say what they want – we cannot stop them…
  - And we do NOT need to prove them WRONG – we do NOT need to DEFEND ourselves…
  - All that matters is what GOD knows – and what our SPOUSE thinks…
  - Because we have to LIVE with our spouse – and ANSWER to God…
  - But we can be HAPPY because we know our accusers are going to be proven WRONG…
  - We know that God will be our DEFENSE – and the truth will come out!
  - Luke 8:17 – “Nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest – nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light!”
- 2^nd – The Appeal… vs. 9-12
  - Politics… vs. 9
  - But Festus wanting to do the Jews a favor answered Paul and said:
  - Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?
  - FESTUS knew that he was inheriting a troubled region [Judea]
  - There were many PROBLEMS that he was tasked with cleaning up…
  - So he was WILLING [θέλω] to give the Jews GRACE [χάρις]
  - And asked if Paul would be willing to stand TRIAL [κρίνω] before him in Jerusalem!
  - Caesar… vs. 10-11
  - So Paul said: I stand at Caesars judgment seat – where I ought to be judged.
  - To the Jews I have done no wrong – as you very well know.
  - If I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death – I do not object to dying.
  - But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me.
  - No one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar!
  - Paul answered – he was standing in a ROMAN court [Caesars judgement seat]
  - This was where he should be JUDGED as a ROMAN citizen…
  - He had done nothing WRONG [ἀδικέω] – and Festus KNEW it [ἐπιγινώσκω]
  - If Paul had done [indicative] anything worthy of DEATH – he was willing to DIE…
  - But SINCE [indicative] there was NOTHING to their ACCUSATIONS [κατηγορέω]
  - No one had the POWER [δύναμαι] to GIFT [χάρις] him to the Jews…
  - Paul knew going back to Jerusalem was a DEATH sentence [the Jews would kill him]
  - Therefore he APPEALED [ἐπικαλέω] to Caesar!
  - Coincidentally [or divinely] – the right to Appeal as a Roman citizen…
  - Had been established by the Porcian Laws centuries earlier [Leges Porciae]
  - Making this a Law that PORCIUS Festus would have been very familiar with…
  - All proceedings had to stop immediately – Festus had lost his jurisdiction to judge the case!
  - To Rome… vs. 12
  - Then Festus when he had conferred with the council answered:
  - You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!
  - Which is why after talking to his counselors…
  - Festus answered Paul – you have called [perfect] on Caesar – to Caesar you will go [future]
  - But we might ask – was Paul making the right CHOICE with his appeal!
  - We all have to make DECISIONS every day…
  - Some of these DECISIONS we make with little thought [what to eat]
  - But others have more weight – we do NOT want to make the wrong choice [marriage]
  - And while the Bible gives us guidelines – it does NOT give us the details!
  - Often – we get caught up in the rights and lefts of life…
  - A place where we have to make a decision – and we are NOT sure what to do…
  - Rather than worry about decisions – all that matters is who we are trusting in…
  - Are we looking to Jesus – then go right or go left – He will take care of both!
  - Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man… [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD… whatever he does shall prosper!”
3^rd – King Agrippa… vs. 13-27
- 1^st – Not content… vs. 13
  - Agrippa…
  - And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus!
  - Herod Agrippa II came to congratulate Festus on becoming the new Governor!
  - King Agrippa II was the son of Herod Agrippa [killed James] – Acts 12:2
  - The brother of Drusilla [husband of Felix] – great grandson of Herod the Great…
  - He was the King [βασιλεύς] over part of Galilee [not Judea]
  - It was mostly a ceremonial title – he did NOT have power over the MILITARY or TAXES…
  - But he was a Jew – and very familiar with their customs and laws…
  - And had been given the right by Rome to appoint the High Priest!
  - Bernice…
  - Bernice was the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa…
  - She had been married TWICE before – the first time to a WEALTHY man from Alexandria…
  - Her SECOND husband was her UNCLE – the King of Chalcis [Syria] – who died…
  - She was now LIVING [scandal] with her BROTHER – King Agrippa…
  - She would eventually become the mistress to Caesar Titus [during Jewish wars]
  - She kept trading up her LOVER – but never seemed to be CONTENT!
  - If our spouse does NOT make us happy – they are NOT the problem…
  - We are looking to the wrong person – they are NOT the answer…
  - When Jesus met the woman at the well – she had FIVE husbands…
  - She did even bother to marry number SIX [he would not last]
  - Jesus told her she was THIRSTY – but the water of this world could NOT satisfy her…
  - The key to being CONTENT – is to drink LIVING water!
  - John 4:14 – “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.”
- 2^nd – The problem… vs. 14-21
  - Left over… vs. 14
  - When they had been there many days Festus laid Pauls case before the king saying:
  - There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix!
  - After MANY days – Festus decided to ask the King about Paul…
  - He told him there was a man who had been left in PRISON by Felix…
  - Festus saw this as part of the MESS that he needed to CLEAN up!
  - Death sentence… vs. 15-16
  - About whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me when I was in Jerusalem.
  - Asking for a judgment against him. To them I answered: It is not the custom of the Romans.
  - To deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face.
  - And has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him!
  - Festus recounted his conversation with the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem…
  - How they had wanted him to CONDEMN [δίκη] Paul to DEATH [not hidden]
  - To which he answered – this was NOT the customs of Romans…
  - Paul first had to have the opportunity to DEFEND [ἀπολογία] himself!
  - Superstition… vs. 17-19
  - Therefore when they had come together without any delay.
  - The next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.
  - When the accusers stood up they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed.
  - But had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus.
  - Who had died – whom Paul affirmed to be alive!
  - Therefore – Festus did NOT delay and met with the Jews the day after returning to Caesarea…
  - But he admitted to be surprised by their ACCUSATIONS [κατηγορέω]
  - Because their questions were about SUPERSTITIONS they had [imperfect]
  - SUPERSTITIONS [2x in NT] – to be fearful [δειλός] of demons [δαίμων] – Acts 17:22
  - About one Jesus – who was DEAD – but Paul said was ALIVE!
  - Festus was a ROMAN politician – not a RELIGIOUS scholar…
  - He did NOT want to mock the faith of Agrippa [who was Jew]
  - But to him the idea of a dead man coming to life was just SUPERSTITION!
  - Appeal… vs. 20-21
  - And because I was uncertain of such questions.
  - I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem – there be judged concerning these matters.
  - But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus.
  - I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar!
  - Therefore since Festus doubted his ability to JUDGE superstitions…
  - He kept asking [imperfect] if Paul would go to Jerusalem to be JUDGED [κρίνω]
  - Pressured – Paul appealed to AUGUSTUS [a title for Roman Emperors]
  - So the DIAGNOSIS [διάγνωσις] of Festus – was it was best to send him to Caesar [Nero]!
  - The Jew were FURIOUS over the teaching of Paul about Jesus…
  - The Gentiles did not CARE about what they saw as SUPERSTITION…
  - And were more than willing to try and pass off the issue to someone else [to Caesar]
  - But neither their FURY or their INDIFFERENCE could save them!
  - I Corinthians 1:23 – “We preach Christ crucified – to the Jews a stumbling block – and to the [Gentiles] foolishness.”
  - Some might NOT like the Gospel – others just do NOT care….
  - But the fact is that EVERYONE will one day stand before the Judgement Seat…
  - And the ONLY one that can save them – is Jesus – Acts 4:12
- 3rd – The Letter … vs. 22-27
  - Great pomp… vs. 22-23
  - Then Agrippa said to Festus: I also would like to hear the man myself.
  - Tomorrow – he said – you shall hear him.
  - The next day when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp.
  - And had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city.
  - At Festus command Paul was brought in!
  - The story was VERY interesting to Agrippa…
  - He kept saying [imperfect] to Festus that he would [imperfect] like to hear from Paul…
  - Festus told him that he would [future] hear from him TOMORROW…
  - The next day Agrippa and Bernice came it with great POMP…
  - Along with the COMMANDERS [χιλίαρχος] and IMPORTANT men of the city…
  - POMP [φαντασία] – an over the top display [from the root φῶς]!
  - This would have been a VERY intimidating scene to walk into…
  - No doubt the King and Queen would have ROYAL robes [Disney fantasia]
  - The military escort was made up of COMMANDERS [χιλίαρχος] over THOUSANDS…
  - Anyone who had any importance in the city was there…
  - And into their midst walked Paul – a humble prisoner!
  - Matthew 10:17 – “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake. As a testimony to them and to the Gentiles!”
  - This the ONLY time in the New Testament a believer stands before a King…
  - Paul had not BRIBED Felix [the easy way] – he had WAITED on the Lord…
  - And now he was being given a chance to address the most powerful men in Judea…
  - Not because he had done something WRONG – but so he could tell them about Christ!
  - No crime… vs. 24-25
  - Festus said: King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us.
  - You see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me.
  - Both at Jerusalem and here – crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.
  - But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death.
  - And that he himself had appealed to Augustus – I decided to send him!
  - Festus addressed King Agrippa and the gathered assembly…
  - They all saw Paul – a man who the Jews both in Jerusalem and Caesarea said should DIE…
  - But when Festus found [καταλαμβάνω] NOTHING worthy of DEATH…
  - And Paul appealed [ἐπικαλέω] to Augustus [Caesar] – he decided to SEND him…
  - But there was a PROBLEM – what to write to the Caesar!
  - What to write… vs. 26-27
  - I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him.
  - Therefore I have brought him out before you – and especially before you King Agrippa.
  - So that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.
  - For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him!
  - Festus had to send a PRISONER to Rome – to stand TRIAL – but what was the ACCUSATION…
  - It did NOT seem reasonable [λόγος] to Paul to send without a CAUSE…
  - Since he did not have an answer – he was looking to King Agrippa for help…
  - He could JUDGE [ἀνακρίνω] Paul – and give Festus something to WRITE!
  - Festus was going to get his answer – but it would NOT be from Agrippa…
  - It would be the Holy Spirit who would answer through Paul!
  - Mathew 10:19-20 – “When they deliver you up do not worry about how or what you should speak for it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak. For it is not you who speak – but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you!”
  - The world is looking to being ACCUSATIONS against us – but we do NOT need to worry…
  - Instead we use the opportunity to be share the Good News with them…
  - And we do NOT need to prepare a message – or THINK about what to SAY…
  - Because it will NOT come from us – in that moment the SPIRIT will speak through us!