ACTS
Lessons in Courage Part 6
Dr. Tom Bartlett
October 27, 2019
Acts 25 (ESV)
OUTLINE
When you set out to live for God . . .
Be careful in the times of transition
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “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.” (Vs. 1-5)
Don’t be alarmed by the same old lies
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. 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. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 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?” 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. 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.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” (Vs. 6-12)
See set-backs as set-ups for the gospel
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” (Vs. 13-22)
Don’t be intimidated by the externals
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” (Vs. 23-27)
MANUSCRIPT
Today we will be walking through Acts chapter 25.
Now, as I look over my life, with a fair amount of life exposure and experience, I can say there are certain times that have been tougher than others. And some of those tough times were disguised as adventures, for instance,
• When I left to wrestle in the national championships one summer while in High School, an adventure for sure, but a challenge as well traveling from FL to IA with teen guys.
• When I set out on a 3-month road tour with my best friends in our music group, adventurous, but challenging.
• Moms death
• Near fatal accident
And so many more. One might wonder, “where is God in all of the difficulties and challenges?” If I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, why doesn’t He just remove these terrible situations and challenging situations and make the road a little smoother?
Great question, but it presupposes that God is there only to serve me. It also doesn’t take into account that God may be allowing and even orchestrating some of these challenges for me.
So, have you ever felt that way? Ever wonder why all the junk?
Here’s what I know about God, He loves me the way I am, but He loves me too much to allow me to stay that way!
As we look over the Bible, Joseph in the OT and Paul in the NT had a similar perspective, Joseph said of those who did him wrong, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Paul said that, “God somehow works all things together for good.” (Gen 50:20/Romans 8:28)
Paul would also say in all of what he suffered that the surpassing value in life in knowing God was greater than these temporary trials we face. (Philippians 3:8)
So, when we’ve set out to pursue and know God, to live a life that honors Him, we can know that we are not immune to issues and problems or even attacks from the enemy.
In Acts 25, Paul is once again on trial for his faith. A new governor has come and old enemies see this as a chance to rekindle the now dying flame of accusations against Paul. From all this, I think we can see some clear principles to live by.
When you set out to live for God . . .
Be careful in the times of transition
It’s the times of transition in life that people are open to a variety of things, good or bad. A move, a divorce, a new job, a child being born, death of a parent, etc. In these times, when we are in a new environment, or are weakened by circumstances, the enemy strikes.
Felix, the terrible governor of Caesarea has been removed and a new governor has been dispatched to take his place; Festus. Now, in case you think you already know this man, he is not the uncle from The Addams Family!
Festus, unlike Felix and also his successor, was a good ruler and tried very hard to do what was good and right. The problem was that he was a novice, new at ruling and it’s because of the transition that the enemies of Paul looked to take advantage. Why? Because in times of transition the enemy seeks to strike.
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “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.” (Vs. 1-5)
Festus, being a proactive leader and charged with keeping peace in this region that included Jerusalem, goes there maybe to introduce himself, or see what challenges he may be facing.
He is met with the religious leaders who see this man as a novice and unaware of their enemy, Paul’s situation. They go back to the same old plot using this transitional period to help them accomplish their goal to silence Paul once and for all.
Festus, wisely said Paul would stay in Caesarea and that these men could come there as he investigates.
It’s important when making decisions to remember the proverbs that says, “In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.” (Proverbs 18:17)
Never make a decision based on half of the story, because as in this case, there’s a lot more to this situation than Festus knows.
So, in times of transition, be aware that the enemy is lurking, also as you set out to live for Christ. . .
Don’t be alarmed by the same old lies
Satan has used the same old lie from the beginning of time to get God’s children tripped up. His lie is to get people to believe that disobeying God will be better because what they’re lacking God is trying to hold them back from. In John 8, Jesus calls these religious leaders of that day the sons of the devil whose father is the father of lies. The religious leaders are still at it with the same old lies.
Remember, every time you sin, you’re believing a lie about something.
By the way, what’s the lie that Satan keeps using on you?
• You’re no good enough?
• You’re not loveable?
• You’ve messed up too much?
YOU’RE NOT BELIEVING THAT GARBAGE STILL ARE YOU?
Don’t fall for the same old lies of Satan, stand in the truth of God’s Word.
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. 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. 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, knowing they have no evidence, says it’s not true, I’ve not done any of these things. Festus, knowing he will have to work with the Jews, (at least in his mind for a long time, even though he dies 2 years after taking this position), offers a plea deal for Paul that would be devastating to Paul and appeasing to the Jews.
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?”
Festus basically says Paul, do you want me to throw you to the lions? For surely, Paul would never even make it to Jerusalem had they brought him there for these religious leaders to try him. It was an attempt at a copout for Festus, but Paul knew God had other plans for him.
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. 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.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” (Vs. 6-12)
Paul says, this isn’t about me preserving my life, I’m willing to die. Paul appeals to Caesar, who at the time was Nero.
Now, Nero is known to be ruthless and evil, so why would Paul want to stand before him? Well, first of all most of Nero’s early days as Caesar were calm and he was not so ruthless, it was later that he would play his fiddle while Rom burned and that he would cast Christians into arenas to fight wild beats for sport. Also, Paul knew how strategic it would be to proclaim the good news in Rome as God had said he would.
The same old lies couldn’t hold Paul back and they can’t hold you back either, unless you let them. There’s freedom in Christ.
Paul makes his move in this chess match and so Festus responds with his, “of to Caesar you will go.”
So, if you set out to live for God, stay alert in life transitions, don’t fall to the same old lies and then with wisdom begin to. . .
See set-backs as set-ups for the gospel
If you’ve been following God for any length of time, you’ve probably come to realize that that which hurt you now helps you.
Your hurt is a set up for help and for helping others. It gives you a way to empathize with others, to instruct them and help them, while healing from your own pain.
Paul had been travelling around to the churches and new territories establishing new churches, now he’s imprisoned, stopped cold in his tracks. BUT he also knew that God was at work in ways he could not see. This set-back from his work, was actually a set-up for a greater platform, a greater witness, a greater influence.
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king,
Now Agrippa is a well-known name in the NT. This is Herod Agrippa II
• Grandfather – Herod the great, tried to kill all babies 2 and under in Israel at the time of Christ, also killed his own son Aristobulus.
• Uncle – Antipus – responsible for John the Baptist death and is the one Jesus stood before
• Father – Agrippa 1 died in 44 AD, issues over loans and reliability – He takes over for this unscrupulous man.
Now Bernice was the sister of Drusilla we saw last week in chapter 24 and Drusilla was the brother of King Agrippa, so . . . that would make Agrippa and Bernice brother and sister! (yuck).
Agrippa never married but took his married and divorced twice sister whose third husband died, as his consort. Bernice, is also known to have left her brother at times for other married rulers in adulteress affairs, marrying one of them to cover up her relationship with her brother, (according to Josephus). The apple falls close to the tree and this family is full of rotten apples.
Festus is about to explain the situation as best he can to Agrippa in the hopes that Agrippa can give him some insight on how to explain the Nero why Paul is coming.
In the process, Festus gives a part of the Gospel message as he understood it, that Paul believed in a dead man named Jesus who is now alive.
saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” (Vs. 13-22)
So, how would you investigate the claim that someone was dead and now they’re alive? Well, if they’re dead, go to the tomb. The central truth of the Christian faith is the fact that Jesus Christ, after making payment for the sins of man, died and rose again. Paul, who once tried to suppress that fact, now is the single greatest mouthpiece in the ancient world and even today through his writings to the truthfulness of that fact!
What a dilemma for the legal courts, if they prove Jesus is alive, then the king is not really the king and Paul’s word are true.
So, Paul this central figure after Jesus in the NT would stand before the self-important Agrippa II.
Don’t be intimidated by the externals
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Now, just picture this contrast. Paul was a bald-headed, bowlegged short man with a big nose, and an unbroken (uni-brow) eyebrow that lay across his forehead like a dead caterpillar. (a paraphrase) – unimpressive and not intimating to look at, at all.
On the other side we have, “pomp” the Greek word is “fantasia” “a cheap display of importance”. It’s the same word we get fantasy from. It’s saying I’m somebody because of what I have. Christ offers a completely different sense of security. Not what I have, but who I am in God’s eyes.
On one side an unimpressive spokesman for God, on the other a self-important propped up person with all the trappings of worldly power. Quite a contrast.
And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” (Vs. 23-27)
Now the issue here is that Festus needs to have a reason to send Paul to Nero, but Agrippa has a need to feel important and be impressive to those who see him.
Never size up a situation on appearances only. Paul, a diminutive, small person yet powerful and forever remembered for his fearless approach to life stands before all the pomp and all the phony show of power while he stands in true power, in the authority of the gospel.
How things seem are not always how they are.
Story of overcoming – illustration
