Paul's Appeal for Justice

Acts 25:1-3 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
 
MORE than two years had passed, and nothing had changed. Paul was in Caesarea because a Roman commander had kept him from a deadly ambush in Jerusalem. The Jews were ravenous wolves, hungry to devour Paul. Once again Rome’s authority protects Paul:
 
Acts 25:4-6 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.” 6 After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him.
 
WHY is there still a court to judge Paul? In all the words spoken for several years, no Roman ruler has found any reason to hold him. But the Jews came in their hateful violence to continue to accuse God’s apostle. Verse 7 When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. Paul, gifted with a strong legal mind, presses in: V 25:8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
   Did it matter that Paul was innocent? No. We mentioned earlier that Rome’s desire to appease the Jews would keep Paul imprisoned. That happened here. All that concerned Festus was his relationship with the Jews. Verse 9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
   Festus offered no solutions. How would Paul stop the circle of destruction? As a Roman citizen, he had one option: Verse 10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
   In response, Festus finally decided. Verse 12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
   Dear Christian, with criticism, accusations, mockery, unbelief and unconcern the world continually accuses you. It plots against you, lies about you and attempts to kill your faith. Sometimes the evil kills God’s saints. What do you do to stop the endless circle of injustice? Your only response is to appeal to the Supreme Authority. Paul sought Rome’s ultimate. You can seek heaven’s Almighty God. Call on him in faith and hope. Your Father in heaven does not need to please your enemy. His favor and justice is on YOU. In faith you must know that through Jesus Christ the Sovereign Judge has declared you, “Not guilty!” He has set you free from sin’s prison. No one can take your redeemed life from you.