Acts 25:1-12 Paul Asks To Be Tried by the Roman Emperor

1Three days after Festus had become governor, he went from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2There the chief priests and some Jewish leaders told him about their charges against Paul. They also asked Festus 3if he would be willing to bring Paul to Jerusalem. They begged him to do this because they were planning to attack and kill Paul on the way. 4But Festus told them, "Paul will be kept in Caesarea, and I am soon going there myself. 5If he has done anything wrong, let your leaders go with me and bring charges against him there."


6Festus stayed in Jerusalem for eight or ten more days before going to Caesarea. Then the next day he took his place as judge and had Paul brought into court. 7As soon as Paul came in, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem crowded around him and said he was guilty of many serious crimes. But they could not prove anything. 8Then Paul spoke in his own defense, "I have not broken the Law of my people. And I have not done anything against either the temple or the Emperor."


9Festus wanted to please the leaders. So he asked Paul, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me on these charges?"


10Paul replied, "I am on trial in the Emperor's court, and that's where I should be tried. You know very well that I have not done anything to harm the Jewish nation. 11If I had done something deserving death, I would not ask to escape the death penalty. But I am not guilty of any of these crimes, and no one has the right to hand me over to these people. I now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself."


12After Festus had talked this over with members of his council, he told Paul, "You have asked to be tried by the Emperor, and to the Emperor you will go!"


Have you ever reached an impasse...where you suddenly realize that if anything is going to be resolved a third party has to get involved? Eventually the dispute has to be taken out of the hands of the troublemakers and elevated to a more objective judge...a mediator. And boy...where those religious leaders troublemakers! For the third time, they were devising plans to kill Paul.

I thought it was awful when my church decided to quit paying the parsonage fuel oil bill. It least I don't think that could have killed me.

But...it was awfully cold in Northern Minnesota!

It feels like an admission of failure, but it happens to the best of us. Even the wisest and most Spirit filled cannot always affect the outcome they desire. After all, Following God faithfully doesn't mean God gives us everything we want.

So, Paul had no choice but to appeal to a higher authority...the religious leaders were intractable in their wicked desire to kill him. And, appeal to Caesar was his right. Any Roman citizen had the right to appeal to Caesar for justice. 

And...we have the right to go straight to God for relief. I'd suggest we make Him our first stop at the first sign of trouble.

Live boldly out there today...