Transition to Festus

Acts 25:1-12; 6/9/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Children of God who sojourn in the world will inevitably experience changes in political power and rotation of officials.  Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years in a stalemate.   It was clear that Paul was not guilty, but he was not released.  On the one hand, the Jews did not agree, and Felix did not want to confront the local powers. On the other hand, Felix expected Paul to send him money.  Therefore, this delay was until the arrival of the next governor, Festus.    A new story begins here. Let’s look at the first point:

 A new broom sweeps clean

Although Caesarea was the governor’s residence, it was also the administrative capital of Judah established by the Roman Empire.  However, the existence of Caesarea is artificial and lacks the foundation of human history.  Therefore,  “Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.”  First, A bad penny always turns up and the accusations continue.  Some people say that time can heal people’s pain and resolve the hatred in people’s hearts.  It seems that this statement is invalid when it comes to the chief priests and Jewish leaders.  When they saw Festus, the new governor, they begged the governor to take Paul back to Jerusalem for trial.  The new governor is not fool, so how could he not know about their thoughts?  I believe that Festus must have read the files left by Felix and had a detailed understanding of Paul’s case.  Including that they wanted to ambush and kill Paul halfway along the road, he all knew it well.  Two years later, the Jews wanted to follow the same example again, and forty dead soldiers wanted to kill Paul.  It can be seen that hatred is indeed not easy to remove from people’s hearts!

Next, Caesarea, the court will be held again.  For Festus, to hold the court again was a necessary procedure for the Roman bureaucracy.  This shows that the judicial system of the Roman Empire two thousand years ago was relatively clean and transparent.  At least it had a document supervision system for passing documents up and down.  It should be said that this relatively civilized bureaucracy is the foundation of today’s world civilization.  “A new broom sweeps clean” is to burn down the integrity of the previous official.  Since someone has filed a complaint, why not Festus just reopen the court!  But of course Festus would not be fooled by the Jews and go to Jerusalem to interrogate Paul’s case.  So he turned around and insisted on telling the high priest: “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

Lastly, a pot of cold rice, stir-fried and tasteless.  Up to this day, human courts have become nothing more than a mere decoration for going through the motions.  They have to be there, cannot be without them, and have them but are better than nothing.  The New York court’s trial of Trump’s hush money case seems to be a farce.  Everyone knows that it is just a show by Biden of the Democratic Party to prevent Trump from being elected.  However, Biden openly told people that this has been the court system of the United States for more than two hundred years,    and it is unanimously approved by the twelve members of the jury.  How majestic and impeccable!  Are the current trials of Pastor Wang Yi, Pastor Cao Sanqiang, and many other pastors and Christians just one farce after another?  Let’s look at the second point:

 Paul explains the truth

I don’t know if it was the first time that Festus and Paul met, but what is certain is that it was the first time that Paul had a trial under his authority.  First, an empty accusation without evidence.  Everyone knows that this trial is in vain, why?  It’s simple, because there is no new evidence to add!  But it is holding a wolf by the ears, so the Jews had to bite the bullet and go down from Jerusalem to Caesarea, where they wanted to continue to charge against Paul.  The Bible says: “When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him”  To the Jews, the reasons for their accusation were serious and unacceptable.  Because Gentiles were not allowed to enter the temple, but the Bible also said: “None of the accusations they accused Paul could be proved.”   So why bother to accuse Paul?  Once people have power in their hands, they may get sick, “obsessive-compulsive disorder”, which is called forcing others to admit that they have committed the crime they imagined in their minds.

Second, reaffirm respect for the law.  Christian humility and gentleness must be based on truth and authenticity.  The unfounded accusations of Antichrist must of course be rejected and denied. So, Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”  Paul’s answers had begun to bring direction, and the Holy Spirit gradually brought out the vision of Rome.  Because there was no violation of the law or the temple, it is  related to Jerusalem.  But if it is said that Caesar was not violated, it is related to Rome.  While expressing respect for the law, Paul did not forget his mission and faced the challenges of life and death with courage.  The Bible allows us to see a hidden line leading to Rome led by the Holy Spirit, heading towards the mission step by step.

Finally, there is a hidden murderous temptation.  Before the trial, the biblical author foreshadowed, as if to let people see the clues.  When Festus first arrived in Jerusalem, the chief priests petitioned the governor to have Paul brought up to Jerusalem for trial.  Festus bluntly told him, “It’s better that you come to Caesarea, where I will interrogate Paul.”  However, the Bible says:  “After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea.” Why?  Why does the Bible mention that Festus stayed in Jerusalem for not more than eight or ten days, without saying what he did?  Then in verse 9, the conversation changed:  “But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor,”  Is it necessary?  The reason why a boss pleases his subordinates is most likely because he receives benefits from his subordinates.  Is this reasonable?  Let’s look at the third point:

 

Go to Rome and appeal to Caesar 

 Going to Rome was a vision and a mission given to Paul by God, and it was a mission to imitate the Lord and lay down his life.  This is actually the destiny that every Christian must face, which is to imitate the Lord’s sacrifice of life.  First, the place where the trial should take place.  At this time, two voices appeared in the court of Caesarea: one was to return to Jerusalem, and the other was not to go to Jerusalem.  Of course the chief priests hoped that the governor would send Paul to Jerusalem so that they could manipulate him on the way and assassinate him on the way.  On the surface, Festus had no reason to force a Roman citizen to go to Jerusalem.    Therefore, even the governor could only consult Paul for his opinion: “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”   How could this trick be hidden from Paul?  Just like Hong Kong’s anti-extradition movement in 2019, the opposite is that Hong Kong people were sent to China for trial.

Second, appeal to Caesar.  But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.“  It was not that Paul was afraid to go to Jerusalem, nor was he unwilling to lay down his life for the Lord.  But his mission in Jerusalem has been completed, and now God will lead him to Rome, whether he lives or dies.  Therefore, Paul used the Roman citizenship that God had given him.  This is also the right given by the Roman emperor to every Roman citizen, that is, he can directly “appeal to Caesar”, that is, he can be judged by the Roman emperor in the Roman court.

Finally, Rome is the destination.  Paul seemed to be determined to go to Rome and accept the trial and judgment of the Roman Emperor, regardless of life or death.  This was Paul’s right as a Roman citizen, and the governor had no right to interfere.  Of course, Festus also needed to discuss this with the Council.  I believe that he also needs to explain to the chief priests the reason for the turmoil, and then he said to Paul, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”  Paul was ultimately sentenced to death by the Roman Emperor in Rome.  What was the difference between this and his ending in Jerusalem where he would also die?  As we continue to talk about it, we will know that Paul will bear a beautiful and powerful testimony for the Lord on the way to Rome.

 Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord!  Either Festus or Felix were nothing but transitions that Paul experienced in his life.  As a passer-by in life, Paul considered all things as rubbish when faced with all kinds of changes and transitions in people and affairs.  Even if there is suffering and death, it is only a temporary and light suffering.  For God has prepared a better country for us!  It’s great to have the Lord!

Let us pray……

 

Acts 25:1-12

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 

2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 

3 asking as a favor against Paul[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 

4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 

5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 

7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 

8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 

10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 

11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”