Title Before Festus/Acts 25:1-27
Contents Acts 25:1-27 Before Festus
In today's chapter 25, we can see the Apostle Paul being tried by Festus. There are two years between chapters 24 and 25. Paul has been in prison for two years, and the trial against Paul is not conclusive. He will be in prison for two years, pending. The governor changes. From Governor Felix to Governor Bethdo, but the situation has not changed. Only two years have passed. Nothing has been decided. It was just in prison. But for Paul, two years didn't just pass in vain. What if Paul was acquitted two years ago and released from prison? He would have been killed. Because there were 40 men who decided not to eat or drink until they killed Paul. If we look at chapter 25 today, those people are not gone. Two years later, you can still see the same attempt to kill the Apostle Paul. God had been protecting the apostle Paul well for two years. It is God's amazing providence.
Second, the Apostle Paul's restlessness rested for two years. He gave Paul a sabbatical year. In prison, we can see that God comforted and blessed Paul. Taking a break isn't necessarily a bad thing. Rest can be a time for spiritual replenishment and God's love.
Governor Felix was replaced by Governor Besdo. Three days after his appointment, he goes up to Jerusalem. When the governor went up to Jerusalem, he met the high priests and elders.
verses 1-3,
Those who wanted to kill Paul did not change even after two years. This is surprising. They had to kill Paul. Taking advantage of the change of governor, they are trying to transfer them from Caesarea to Jerusalem. They are not for the purpose of trial. They were trying to kill Paul by ambush. Festus is a politician. So I try to listen to the opinions of the Jews whenever possible.
Verses 4-5,
Festus gave the Jews a chance. I will come back and tell you the story of your accusation, and if there is a problem, I will evacuate him to Jerusalem immediately.
The problem, however, is that since Paul is innocent, there is no practical evidence or content to bring charges against him. No matter how hard you try to fall, you can't fall.
Verses 6-7 are the contents.
From the point of view of the Jewish law, Paul could not be brought to justice, nor could he bring charges against Paul because there was nothing wrong with the temple or Roman law. There really wasn't any evidence to show.
Verse 8 is about it.
Now Festus is in trouble. In fact, there is no evidence. But the Jews are going to sue. Politically, we need to help the Jews. Because that's how you can stand upright. However, when they try to judge Paul, there is no evidence of a trial at all. Festus is torn between the two. Finally, Festus makes this request to Paul. ‘Can’t you go to Jerusalem?’ But Paul adamantly rejects Festus’ request. ‘I do not want to be tried in Jerusalem. I want to stand before Caesar's court in Rome and be tried by Caesar.'
This is the content of verses 9-12.
Festus wants Paul to go to Jerusalem to be tried. Because he wanted to win the hearts of the Jews.
But the Apostle Paul strongly says, “I will not go to Jerusalem to be judged.” ‘Let me stand before the courts of Rome. I appeal to Caesar.’ I make a formal request. Festus, who was in trouble, discussed with the jury member, and made the following judgment. ‘Go to Caesar because you have appealed to Caesar.’
The trial is over. Now no one can judge Paul. Except for Caesar.
Why would Festus make this decision with political pressure? It must have been difficult to win the favor of the Jews. But why did Festus make this decision? It is the providence of God. We can make decisions we don't want. You are supposed to go this way, but you are going in a wrong way that you did not think of. I was thinking of doing this for the trial, but I decided to go the other way. This is where God intervened. Because Paul had to see Rome. He could not return to Jerusalem. Because God's providence and will is 'You must see Rome'. That is why God led this trial in this way.
I believe that God guides your life in this way. I am not leading my life. I feel like I'm leading my life. Looks like I'm running my own business. Are you doing your business? It's not like that. It is God leading.
Just then, when this decision was made, two guests came to Festus. King Agrippa and his sister Bernice come to Festus.
Verses 13-14,
If you look here, you can see how much Festus was worried. Unknowingly, Festus is worried about transferring this trial to Caesar's trial. ‘Is my decision right? What will happen after this decision?’ So, when King Agrippa arrives, he asks for some sort of trial consultation. ‘Felix, my predecessor, redeemed a man, and his name was Paul.’ And he summarizes what has happened so far in verses 15-21, and says as follows.
‘The Jews accused Paul and put him in prison, and when he tried the man, the problem was that the Jews had made the accusation, but he could not find anything wrong with him. There was no evidence and there was no evidence.
However, the Jews wanted to send him back to Jerusalem, but in his view, Paul was innocent, so they decided to put this man on trial by Caica according to Paul's wish. This is what verses 15 through 21 explain. ‘What would you like me to do?’ I consulted with King Agrippa.
There is an interesting point in the discussion here, verses 18-19. Festus asserts the part where Paul asserts his innocence.
'I don't see any criminal evidence for this person. What these people see is a religious matter. The problem arises because of the claim that Jesus was resurrected.’
The reason Christians today go to the judges is not because of Jesus, but the other way around. Few people go to prison because of property fights, fraud, and moral and ethical issues. Has anyone suffered while talking about Jesus, talking about the resurrection, or talking about the cross?
Whose is this? This is the story of Festus. Now, this person's problem is not a detective's problem. It's a matter of religion and the Jews are excited to catch Jesus because he's resurrected. We have a message to ponder today. Now we see the Jews being sued. I saw Felix's trial. I saw the trial of Festus. What is the point of these three men's stories? Paul was not morally or ethically problematic. Now Paul is at issue because of his claim that Jesus is the Christ, and that he is risen. If so, then Paul is saying that he accurately conveyed his position to those who opposed him.
Sometimes we run into various problems. The problem is that the content is not about Jesus. Who made you suffer like that? What are you so worried about? It's all about self, greed, and wealth. Suffering from such a thing. It is the suffering that comes from not living to the fullest. Those kinds of problems have ruined my life like this. What are you doing to waste your time, to get around so much, and to stay up all night? You have to think seriously. What should be the cause of suffering and suffering in the future? Because of trivial things, because of human greed, because of human lust, because of all selfish reasons, we spend countless hours of our lives hurting, hurting, and so on.
But look at the apostle Paul. After he believed in Jesus, he never suffered because of his problems. There was no suffering because of what he had done. He suffered so much only for the sake of Jesus Christ, for his name, for his glory, and for his gospel.
For whom are you struggling? Who are you suffering from? I hope that there will be no more hardships that come from greed, because I couldn't keep the fountain because of myself. There is nothing left of such suffering. Tired, exhausted, in pain...
No matter how poor we are, we eat three meals a day. No matter how many things you own, no matter how big a house you own, there is only one bed where you can lie down. No matter how much aerobics you lose weight and eat good food, 70-80 years old is enough. I can't live anymore. It's such a life. The question is how valuable and rewarding. It is whether I live a worthwhile life even though I have suffered and suffered disgrace. Can I even go into prison for the glory of God? This is the Paul we see today.
Why am I working so hard to earn money and study? For those who do not have an answer to this, the end is nothing but emptiness. The results are just disastrous.
But even though the apostle Paul went to prison, he had a glorious life. What is a glorious life? It is not a life for me, but a life for the glory of Jesus.
King Agrippa is consulting with Festus on the trial, but he is not interested in the trial. He was interested in something else.
Verse 22,
Let's see Paul.
Verse 23,
King Agrippa and Bernice appear to Paul in very splendid, majestic, and authoritative robes that show their royal status. Invite the chief of staff and all the high-ranking people in the castle to stay at the newspaper office. And at Festus' command, a humble Paul appears. We see an interesting picture here. There is such a thing inside, full of adultery and sin, but on the outside, see a king of high members who is splendid, dignified, and powerful, and this humble man here who, though drawn out as a prisoner, is full of the glory of heaven and the wonderful power of the gospel. is going to be This is the world we live in.
We are not judged by how the world evaluates us. I am judged by how God evaluates me. Don't worry too much about what the world has to say about you. succeded. Don't be fooled by these words. People think what they have is who they are. They want to have more, they want to have power. But it is not. No matter how good the appearance is, if there is an affair, lies, and nothing God wants, then that person is nothing. But even if you are in prison, in a low position and insignificant, with glorious hope and love, you will be recognized by God.
I hope that the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ in us today will become such a blessed person who rejoices in suffering, sacrifice, and loss for Jesus.
｢Let our conscience not be ashamed, and our faith not to be ashamed. Give us the kind of faith that preaches the Lord like Paul did｣