Festus: "When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with an of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters, so I asked if he would be willing to got to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." (Acts 25:18-21)
The concluding chapters to the Book of Acts touch upon the events leading up to and the time of Paul's Roman imprisonment. Commentators have suggested that Luke prepared the Book of Acts in part to serve as a legal brief that detailed the spread of the faith and Paul's integrity.
In this trial, we see Festus's desire to provide the Jewish Sanhedrin with a favor: to offer Paul to them for a trial to decide his capital case. This trial would not have given proper hearing to Paul concerning his innocence, as the mob mentality that had led to threats on his life would likely carry over into the trial atmosphere (or at least surrounding it). Paul shrewdly established the conditions under which Festus should indeed send Paul's case to the Roman court ("Caesar"), in order to encourage an unbiased consideration of the facts.
Through his defenses, Paul maintains his innocence and integrity but does take responsibility for his actions, willing to suffer punishment if so deserved. Yet, even Festus gathers that this trial does not involve capital (criminal) offenses, but rather questions about the authenticity of the Resurrection and the truth of the Gospel.
In His sovereignty, God had brought the Roman Empire into being prior to Jesus's Incarnation. In addition to providing a ready venue for communicating across the Mediterrean world -- through the Greek language and Hellenistic culture -- God's designs also included the Roman legal system and its protections for Roman citizens. Paul took keen advantage of this system -- to the glory of God!
Leading up to his arrest, Paul appears to choose defiantly not to follow prophecy of his impending capture. While his actions may not make logical sense on the surface, I believe that Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, understood that, by standing trial before Caesar, he could foster the seeds of legitimacy for the Christian faith and ultimately advance God's Kingdom. He did so, of course, at great personal cost and had to abandon his missionary preaching while imprisoned. As he instructed in Colossians 4:2-6, he did make the most of every opportunity, bringing the Gospel to even Caesar's household.
What about Paul's tactics surprises you? Does it encourage you to see the interaction of God's sovereign design and Paul's boldness in advancing the Gospel?
Lord Jesus, we give thanks for the great sacrifices that Your servants have made through time, which have advanced the truth of the Gospel into our day. Guide us to follow You wholeheartedly and take a stand for You, just as Paul did. Show us how to act with shrewdness so that Your Name may be greatly glorified. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
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