Acts 25:1-12
More than two years have passed since Paul stood before Felix while the Jews brought charges against him. (Recall that Paul had been taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea in the middle of the night.) So after these two years Festus arrives as the new governor and very quickly takes a trip to Jerusalem. There he (presumably) visits the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin?), a “pro forma” thing to do for a new governor. And presumably he is asking what issues they want to discuss. So first and foremost, these leaders want Paul tried before their council. More than two years have gone by and Paul is still foremost in their minds. Unbelievable!! The fear that the Jewish leaders had of this new religion and this powerful preacher…!!
So a week or two later… It’s a bit muddled, I think. Paul was being tried before Festus in Caesarea, when in the middle of it all Festus asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” (v. 9b) Those charges were charges by the Jewish leaders, presumably that Paul had committed crimes against the Law or the temple or Caesar. (v. 8) But Paul was already before Festus’ tribunal in Caesarea and his Jewish accusers were before him. Why was this situation not sufficient for a trial? Why would Festus offer Jerusalem, except to appease the Jews? And why would Paul say, “I appeal to Caesar.” (v. 11b) Why would he not say that he was already before a Roman tribunal in Caesarea, with no need to go elsewhere? Or was this appeal Paul’s ticket to get to Rome – where he had long desired to go? Interesting…!
Slava Bohu!
Festus wanted to appease the Jews, in my read of this. He finessed this situation so that he could say, “Not my fault, not my problem, gee I tried!” Paul wasn’t going to get a fair hearing from him and knew it. God had plans for Paul in Rome!
How often do I or we skirt doing what is right, just like Festus? Have I remembered the widows, orphans, foreigners, the marginalized in society? Our Lord was pretty clear about loving our neighbors as ourselves. As Michael Matlock said, have I gotten to really know these others before judging them or coming up with my own quick solution, or avoiding any action at all because “helping might hurt”? Not my fault, not my problem, gee I tried!