Daily Devotional for Thursday, May 4

Festus’ Information About Paul

“Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: but had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive,” Acts 25:18, 19.

A change of office brought Festus to the province in Felix’s place. The Jews were quick to speak to him about their grievances against Paul. After two years, their hatred still burned against Paul. After all, forty of them had a vow of murder to keep! Paul’s imprisonment did not stop him, though. He could have visitors, and they ministered to each other. Paul’s fashion was to encourage and strengthen believers. Two years of silence for Paul is unlikely. He wrote letters to the Asian and Macedonian churches while in prison in Rome, so he probably wrote while in Caesarea as well.
With Festus, the Jews again charged Paul unjustly, but they had no proof of wrongdoing. Festus, like Felix, wanted to please the Jews and tried to convince Paul to return to Jerusalem, knowing this would thrill the Jews. Paul, however, knew it was time to get out of the Jews’ reach, and he appealed to Caesar in Rome. He knew he was not guilty of any crime against Rome, and there, that could be determined without bias.
A few days into King Agrippa and Bernice’s visit to Caesarea, Festus sought advice from Agrippa. Festus himself found no fault in Paul; there was no “accusation of such things as I supposed” (Acts 25:18). Festus expected the Jews to accuse him of evil, wicked things; instead, their accusations were about religious issues and a dead leader who Paul claimed was alive. Because it involved religious matters, Festus wanted to take him back to the seat of the Jewish religion, Jerusalem. Agrippa was intrigued and wanted to hear Paul himself. God’s promise of Paul bearing His name to kings would come true.

THOUGHT: Injustice continued against Paul, but God was still in control. He gave Paul safety and multiple opportunities to share about Christ.

Kelli Reynolds