To the Ends of the Earth, Part 37
Paul’s trial in Caesarea Philippi
Acts 25:1-27
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- Last week: discussed Paul being a prisoner for 2+ years (by Felix) in Casearia
-- Felix was hoping Paul would give him $ to be freed & he refused to accept Jesus
- Today will be a two-part message that we will conclude next week
-- It is another opportunity to see how vital a person’s testimony/boldness is
-- However, there is also a clear lesson to see the people we may encounter
-- This is the battle that we wage today, and what we must be prepared for …
-- Simply: Witnessing for Jesus means knowing who or what you are facing!
- Read Acts 25:1-27 / Pray
Point 1 – Paul’s trial before the Roman authorities begins
- Background:
• Felix was a weak dictator who treated everyone poorly
• Festus came to Jerusalem for the purpose of people pleasing
• Fact: There was already disunity and unrest in the Jewish community
• New leader will try to restore this relationship (gov’t & people)
- There are 7 people groups to unpack – yes, they are alive and well today too
-- Want us to understand: When you know people’s motives, you can witness!
1. Those who are Hypocrites and Deceivers
- The Jewish community is engaged with doing away with God’s servant
-- They want Paul tried before the Jewish court in order to have their way
-- They are trying to manipulate Festus (since he is new to the role) How?
- They want Paul transferred so they can ambush and kill him on the way (v3)
-- However, Festus has a sense that this is not the way to handle this situation
-- He has heard about Paul, and knows that there must be more to this story
-- His decision is to have Paul tried under Roman authority (v5)
- Don’t miss this: These are the “religionists” trying to silence God’s messenger
-- APP: It is critical to understand, people are still trying to silence the truth today
-- Even your pastor has been (will be) accused of not “doing what people want”
-- No one is exempt from this – but when you know the motive you can stand firm
2. Those who are Liars
- When Festus returns to Caesarea, the trial of Paul begins with him in the court
-- Yet: It’s incredible to see the accusers actually came with NO evidence (v7)
- This same setup exists today and could be inside or outside of the church
-- But the motive is always the same: Someone doesn’t like something so …
- Good news: We have encouragement from Jesus on this very thing! Matthew 5:11, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”
-- RE: Lying is still a sin to God (EX 20); here, it exists in an aggressive format!
3. Those who are facing Trials and Deliverance
- Paul’s response to them is of absolute clarity (reread v8); to deny each charge!
-- Paul is a man full of godly strength, even though he stands alone in Caesarea
-- However, he is not totally alone – he stands with the testimony of Christ!
-- This is OUR truth; what we all have to defend us from the noise of the accusers
- RE: It is not the first time Paul has experienced this type of encouragement
-- Acts 23:11, “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” Understand this: his life has been building to this!
-- He knows whose battle this is, and why it is important that he remain faithful!
4. Those who love to Compromise
- The failure of Festus to lead is sadly, a common picture we have even today (v9)
-- His people pleasing is on full display (much like Herod & Pontius Pilate …)
-- APP: But having a backbone is not just for leaders; it is required for all of us!
- Festus knows that Paul is NOT guilty, this has been offered several times
-- RE: He even has a letter from a Roman Captain (Lysias) (Acts 23:25)
-- APP: His innocence should be confirmed … and Paul should be released!
- Yet … Festus is bent on making the Jewish religious leaders happy
• His suggestion is simple (and actually could be a good thing for all):
• Send him back to Jerusalem to be tried (even volunteering to go back also)
• If he tries Paul there, then he could declare him innocent and let him go!
-- SEE: This does not and will not satisfy the bloodthirst to remove Paul
- APP: Festus is choosing concession to avoid a political mess
-- He is choosing to be weak to avoid the drama that no doubt will come
-- Sending Paul to Jerusalem, to even be tried before Festus, is not the solution!
5. Those who know God’s Sovereignty
- The appeal of Paul to Caesar is a picture of God’s deliverance
-- RE: Often we have studies God intervene on the disciples behalf, right?
-- Paul knows that there will not be a fair trial – so he appeals to Rome’s leader
-- Clearly, his boldness is second to none – he tells Festus: (v10-11)
• He should be tried where he is: in a Roman court as a Roman citizen
• That he has done no wrong to the Jews or to their religious laws
• He asserts to Festus even he knows these charges are false
• He would even not refuse to die IF he were guilty of a crime
• Lastly … he will not give in and compromise to these claims
- APP: Since Festus lacked the courage to the right thing, Paul appeals to Caesar
-- It is the ultimate right of a Roman citizen to be heard by their leader if asked
-- SEE: Once a Roman citizen asks to see Caesar, there is no stopping that request
- Festus now has a problem – he has lost the ability to appease the religious
-- Obviously, this may mean his own leadership would be called into question
-- Another way: “Why could you not do away with this problem at your level?”
- BIG: Paul is now going to get the chance to witness to Caesar (Jesus promise)
-- There is no way without God’s intervention, that this would take place today
-- We don’t get to demand to see our leader and get taken to them when accused
-- However, God’s intervention leads Paul to the very seat of “Earthly” power
6. Those who suffer from Spiritual Blindness
- Now, we have a new character on the scene: King Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II)
-- This is the son of the man who ordered Peter killed (Acts 12; God intervened)
-- But see this: Festus consulting with Agrippa really shows his own weakness
-- Why? Agrippa was coming to pay respects to Festus on his new position
-- He has come to Caesarea to offer congrats as a “peer”; equal in position to him
- In his weakness, Festus shows he is clueless on how to handle this (vv13-21)
-- All he knows is the accusations of what he has heard from his time in Jerusalem
-- FACTS: “Paul claims to be on about a man named Jesus, who is alive again”
- APP: YET … know this … His spiritual blindness is really what is on display
-- SEE: Festus is uncertain because he does not understand the things of God
-- He is ignorant of what it means that Jesus has been resurrected from the dead
-- Further, even after being told the Gospel (Paul testified) he still does not get it
-- Why? Festus has refused to believe and trust in Christ, so he is now confused!
- Don’t we see this same confusion today? Paul writes 2 examples for us:
-- Aren’t we receivers of the same “I don’t want to” when we present the truth?
-- “Why is that?” 2 Corinthians 4:4, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
-- Ephesians 4:18, “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.”
- KNOW: Being spiritually blind is a real thing – and it absolutely exists today!
-- APP: This is one of the major reasons people will not repent & believe
7. Those who love Worldliness
- This sets us up for next week – b/c the hearing before Agrippa is just … noise!
-- It is a clear picture of pomp, pretentiousness, and glamour (think: show trial)
-- However, it adds nothing to the truth – only seeks to satisfy man’s wishes
-- APP: It is an attempt to exalt humanity, where Jesus should be! (v22-27)
- Festus and Agrippa are guilty of trying to protect their own reputations
-- They want to be remembered for all that they have done and how great they are
-- Consider: Can any man (or woman) truly be greater than the Gospel message?
- This is the question we must answer today, and even – struggle with! (EXP)
-- Are we greater than the message that we carry (no), then how can we not share?
-- How can we not be ones like Paul who are not afraid to proclaim the truth?
-- We’ll pick this up next week … Pray
