ON TRIAL

PROCLAMATION

“… Festus went down to Caesarea.  The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him.  When Paul came in, the Jews … brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.  Then Paul made his defense: ‘I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.’ ”  Acts 25:6-8 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke recorded that when Paul was arrested, Felix was governor.  After two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. (Acts 24:27)  Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went from Caesarea to Jerusalem where he met with the chief priests and the Jewish leaders. (Acts 25:1-2)  They wanted Festus to transfer Paul to Jerusalem because they were preparing to ambush and kill him along the way. (Acts 25:3-5)  After he had spent about ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea.  Soon after he go there, he convened court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. (Acts 25:6-7)  The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem brought charges against Paul but could not prove them.  In his own defense before Festus, Paul said that he had done nothing wrong against the Jews or Caesar. (Acts 25:7-8)  Paul appealed to Caesar and, after conferring with his council, Festus declared that Paul be taken to Caesar. (Acts 25:9-12)  King Agrippa came to Caesarea to pay his respects to Festus.  When Festus told the king about Paul, he wanted to hear from Paul for his self. (Acts 25:13-22)   

 

APPLICATION

Here the apostle Paul was on trial by Governor Felix, Governor Festus, and King Agrippa for the accusations against him by the Jews.  Today, Christians are on trial by the non-believing people of the world.  They don’t share our beliefs and they don’t believe us.  They say that our actions and our words are not consistent.  We need to do a better job with our Christian walk