Chapter 40—Paul Appeals to Caesar
This chapter is based on
Acts 25:1-12
.
“When Festus was come into the province, after three days he
ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the
chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and
desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem.”
In making this request they purposed to waylay Paul along the road
to Jerusalem and murder him. But Festus had a high sense of the
responsibility of his position, and courteously declined to send for
Paul. “It is not the manner of the Romans,” he declared, “to deliver
any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face
to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime
laid against him.” He stated that “he himself would depart shortly” for
Caesarea. “Let them there ... which among you are able, go down with
me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.”
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This was not what the Jews wanted. They had not forgotten their
former defeat at Caesarea. In contrast with the calm bearing and
forcible arguments of the apostle, their own malignant spirit and base-
less accusations would appear in the worst possible light. Again they
urged that Paul be brought to Jerusalem for trial, but Festus held firmly
to his purpose of giving Paul a fair trial at Caesarea. God in His prov-
idence controlled the decision of Festus, that the life of the apostle
might be lengthened.
Their purposes defeated, the Jewish leaders at once prepared to
witness against Paul at the court of the procurator. Upon returning to
Caesarea, after a few days’ sojourn at Jerusalem, Festus “the next day
sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.” “The
Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid
many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not
prove.” Being on this occasion without a lawyer, the Jews preferred
their charges themselves. As the trial proceeded, the accused with
calmness and candor clearly showed the falsity of their statements.
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