Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favour against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “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.”

6 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. 7 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.8 Paul argued in his defence, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 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?” 10 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. 11 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.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.’’ (ESV)

We continue to see these interwoven strands: the malice of the Jews, the capriciousness of the Romans, the providence (protection) of God, and the innocence of Paul.

One of the great joys of reading the Bible is the experience of finding new things in familiar passages. On my most recent re-reading of Acts I have seen something I don’t believe I have seen before. Here it is: in these later chapters of the book, the parallels between Jesus at His trial and Paul at His, shout for recognition. Both were falsely accused, suffering for wrongs they had not done; both were innocent. This is a major example of Paul sharing in ‘’the fellowship’’ of Christ’s sufferings. But amidst everything that was illegal and unjust, in both cases God was working out His larger purpose. He is on the Throne, and He will have His way. Neither the bigotry of religious zealots nor the corruption of Roman rulers can stand in His way.

‘There are times when believers must use the law to protect themselves and the ministry…God’s people are sometimes treated like the guilty even though they are innocent. Remember Joseph, David, Daniel, and Jeremiah, not to mention our Lord Jesus Christ.

In all that happened, God was fulfilling His promise to Paul that he would witness before rulers (9:15) and finally get to Rome (23:11). Being a prisoner and enduring the hearings was hard for Paul, but he used his opportunities wisely. He believed Jesus’ words: “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony” (Luke 21:13).’ Warren W. Wiersbe

PRAYER: Lord, help me to believe deeply that you are in control, even when things seem to go wrong,