Two years into Paul’s Roman imprisonment, incumbent Governor Felix was ousted and succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix had been unpopular with the people and wanted their report about him to Emperor Nero to be positive, he left Paul in prison hoping to win their favor(Acts 24:27). But this was not enough for the Jewish leaders. They wanted Paul dead and urged the new governor to transfer him to Jerusalem, “for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way”(Acts 25:3). Sound familiar? Festus didn’t go for their plan but invited them to come press charges against Paul in Caesarea. Sound familiar again?
So Festus convened the court, and the Jews stood around Paul “bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove”(Acts 25:7). And Paul once more stated his own defense. “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar”(Acts 25:8). But this time around, the governor wanted to get on the good side of his constituents, so he asked if Paul would go to Jerusalem to stand trial. At this, Paul drew the line. He might not bribe his way out of an unjust imprisonment, but he neither would he be sacrificed as a political pawn. “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!”(Acts 25:11). “After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared, ‘You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”(Acts 25:12).
How sad that Paul had a better chance of being treated fairly by those of the world than by the ones who claimed to be the people of God.
May such never be said of us.
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