Acts - Week 77

Week 77 Acts 25 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 25:6-7 

6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. 

When Governor Festus had traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem he met the accusers of Paul. Festus told them to come with him to make the accusations in Caesarea. This passage reveals some of the accusers came to Caesarea. The unbelieving Jews made “many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.” One wonders what Paul must have thought as he faced these accusers again. 

REFLECT 

Have you had false accusations brought against you? If so, you know how discouraging it was to Paul to hear these false charges made against him again. Charges the accusers hoped would lead to his death. 

RESPOND 

John the Baptist was warning of coming judgment and people asked what they should do. Read Luke 3:10-14 to see what the crowd was told. Among the items was not to make false charges. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 25:8-9 

8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said. 9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?” 

Paul denied the charges against him. He said he was not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws, the temple, or the Roman government. Festus who had first gone to Jerusalem and asked the accusers to come to Caesarea now asks Paul if he is willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried. This is what his accusers hoped Paul would do so some could kill him along the way. 

REFLECT 

Observe how specific Paul was in denying the charges. He did not just say, “I am not guilty”/ he gave specifics about his innocence about which he was being charged. In a time of crisis, generalities will not do, one must be specific.  

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about how to handle false charges when they come. Emphasize the importance of showing the fruit of the Sprit when doing so. Read Galatians 5:22-23 to be reminded of these marks of a believer.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 25:10-11 

10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” 

Governor Festus asked if Paul would come to Jerusalem to be tried before the Sanhedrin. Paul revealed he knew more about Roman law than Festus seemed to know. Paul acknowledged that if he had done something worthy of death, he was willing to die. As an innocent person he now declared, “I appeal to Caesar.” This would change the direction of his life. He had hoped to get to Rome; now he will certainly get there.  

REFLECT 

Notice Paul’s admission of being willing to die if he had done anything worthy of death. As a Roman citizen he claimed his rights before the Roman courts. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about knowing your rights as a citizen no matter in which country you are living. There may be a time when you will need to know these rights. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 25:12 

12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!” 

Apparently the Roman governor, Festus, did not know the law well enough himself so he conferred with his advisers. Then it was agreed that because Paul had appealed to Caesar he would be sent to Caesar. Whatever occurred in Rome of significance would be heralded throughout the empire. The story of Paul’s life and his final days would be told from there. 

REFLECT 

Again in Paul’s situation is seen the sovereignty of God working. Paul was told by God that he must preach the gospel in Rome (see Acts 23:11). Paul was not told, however, the means it would take to get him there. 

RESPOND 

God’s will is difficult to know at times. Plus, the Bible does not say much directly about what is God’s will. To know for sure something that is His will, read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. This is only possible as you believe in the truth of Romans 8:28.   

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 25:13-14 

13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. 14 During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.” 

Agrippa’s father was the one who murdered James and put Peter in prison (see Acts 12:1-3). Festus asked for counsel about what to do with Paul. It is acknowledged that Felix, the previous governor, had left Paul’s case for someone else to solve. These Roman governors were anxious to please the Jews, but they also had to be consistent with Roman law. Caught in this conflict, Paul’s case was left for someone else.  

REFLECT 

Have you noticed that sometimes in being uncertain about what to do, nothing gets done? May God give wisdom to those in leadership to know the right action to take. 

RESPOND 

Read Proverbs 1:1-3 and James 1:5-8 that tell of insight and wisdom. Consider praying with physicians at the end of appointments asking God to give them quick insight into their patients’ needs and wisdom how to care for the problems. Your prayer will be appreciated.