Acts 25 - God's Sovereign Plan for Paul's Life


16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” 16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected.19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”
He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

 King Agrippa and his wife Bernice arrive in town, and Festus quickly relays the story of Paul's arrest. Paul petitions Festus not to send him to Jerusalem as he knows he will not be tried in a fair manner and probably killed.  So Festus recounts the case the accusers made against Paul.  Obviously he did not think it held much merit.  But since the Jews were in such a united uproar against Paul, Festus wants to make sure he is doing the right thing. 
It is interesting how Festus sums up the whole scene and what the squabble was all about when he says, "They (the Jewish leaders) had some points of dispute with him (Paul) about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive." At the heart gospel was Paul's claim that Jesus was the Messiah, and he rose from the dead to prove it. Festus did not think it was a big deal, but little did he know the fate of all humankind would rest on it.

 History tells us that Festus was a much better man than the ruthless Felix he replaced.  And Festus intervenes so that Paul might not be sent back to Jerusalem where he might be tried unfairly.  Meanwhile King Agrippa is quite curious to hear from Paul himself the next day.

 We see God's sovereignty in all of these events at the end of the book of Acts. Remember a few days back Paul heard God's voice saying, "Don't worry I am with you." I am sure as he saw all the events unfolding, he remembered these words.  We don't always know where we are headed in life, or what we will be up against, but we can be sure of two things.  One, God has a sovereign plan for our lives. Second, God will be with us wherever God's plan takes us.  We will continue to see this in Paul's life over the next three days!

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