Study #73: Paul appealed to Caesar to prevent his assassination by Jews on the road to Jerusalem (Acts 25:1

Study #73: Paul appealed to Caesar to prevent his assassination by Jews on the road to Jerusalem (Acts 25:1 - 22)

All Bible quotations and the arrangement are found exclusively in the Kingdom Study Bible version, published by Jehovah Has Spoken Publishing Ministries.

It is published for free online at https://https://www.phibible.org/

All Bible quotations and the arrangement are found exclusively in the Kingdom Study Bible (KSB) version, published by Jehovah Has Spoken Publishing Ministries.

You can download the 3rd Edition of the KSB from my website in PDF format for free at this link; there is no copyright or cost to you:

https://www.phibible.org/files/English_PDF_Kingdom_Study_Bible.pdf

Acts, Chapter 2.5: Paul the prisoner witnessed to the Gentile Roman government in Caesarea before traveling to Rome (23:12 - 28:31)

§Complement Introduction: Paul’s nephew helped Paul to escape a Jewish conspiracy to kill him (23:12 - 35)

¶Opposite Paul’s nephew reported the conspiracy to kill Paul to the Roman tribune (23:12 - 22)

¶Opposite The Roman tribune sent Paul to Caesarea under heavy guard (23:23 - 35)

§Complement Body: Paul defended himself before the Roman governors and king Agrippa, who sent him to Rome (24:1 - 27:44)

¶Opposite Paul defended himself before Felix against false accusations from a lawyer hired by the Jews (24:1 - 23)

¶Opposite For two years, Felix tried to persuade Paul to bribe him for freedom, but failed (24:24 - 27)

¶Complement Paul appealed to Caesar to prevent his assassination by Jews on the road to Jerusalem (25:1 - 22)

¶Complement Paul appealed to Christ as the reason for all that he did in his life (25:23 - 26:32)

¶Unique Paul was transported under guard by a ship from Asia Minor, which crashed on the island of Malta (27:1 - 44)

§Unique Conclusion: Paul was transported to Rome by ship, where he explained the Kingdom of God to the Jews of Rome (28:1 - 31)

¶Complement Paul was transported to Rome from Malta on a ship of Alexandria, Egypt (28:1 - 16)

¶Complement Paul explained the Kingdom of God to the Jews of Rome (28:17 - 31)

The text of the second paragraph of the Body Section, arranged by the Golden Ratio design:

¶Complement Paul appealed to Caesar to prevent his assassination by Jews on the road to Jerusalem (25:1 - 22)

Unique Now when Festus came 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 he petitioned him, and desired favor against him, so that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the road to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea; and that he himself would depart there shortly. “Therefore,” said he, “let them which among you are able, go down with me; and accuse this man, if there is any wickedness in him.”

Complement And when he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat he commanded Paul to be brought. And when he came, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, “Neither against the Law of the Jews; neither against the Temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.”

Complement But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul, and said, “Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?” Then Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you know very well: for if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there are none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “Have you appealed to Caesar? Unto Caesar you shall go.”

Opposite And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause to the king, saying, “There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix. About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a judgment against him. To whom I answered, ‘It is not the way of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he who is accused has the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.’ Therefore, when they came here, without any delay on the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed; but had certain questions against him of their own superstition; and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.”

Opposite Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also want to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you shall hear him.”

Comments: The wicked council of the Sanhedrin were still plotting to kill Paul. But the Roman governors were not ignorant of their plots, and Festus forced the Jews to travel down from Jerusalem to Caesarea to make their case against Paul in his court. Which they did; but they could not prove any of their accusations; and Paul denied all of the accusations of the Jews against him.

Because he was their new governor, Festus tried to earn some favor from the Jews by asking Paul if he would go up to Jerusalem and be judged again for the same things, which was absurd, since why would the location of the court make any difference? It would not, and Paul knew that it was only to give the Jews a chance to kill him in the way to Jerusalem.

So as a last resort, Paul appealed to Caesar for the final decision on his case. He had the right to do this, because Paul was a full citizen of Rome, born as a Roman citizen in a Roman province, which gave him many rights and privileges; so Festus was obliged to grant Paul his request.

Now Festus was a pagan Roman who had no interest or belief in the Law of Moses, nor did he have any faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So he was glad to get rid of Paul and send him to Caesar Augustus in Rome, if only so that he would not need to hear any more arguments about religion.

But king Agrippa was somewhat different, in that he was acquainted with the Law of Moses and the prophets; and Paul thought that Agrippa was a believer in the writings of the prophets, which may have been more of a hope than reality.

However, history records that Agrippa was completely loyal to Rome, and his faith in the God of Israel was probably more academic than real. The year was 59 A.D.; and the rebellion of the Jews that would result in the death of over 1 million Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem was only eleven years away. Agrippa would help the armies of Rome during that time and be rewarded for his loyalty afterward.

After Paul defended himself before the Roman government of Judea, king Agrippa said, “Almost you persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:28.

How sad! “Almost a Christian” is not enough to be saved! How many other people have done the same thing?

Many have heard the Gospel of Christ, and thought, “I know this is true; and that I should repent and receive Christ as my Savior; but, if I do, I will have to confess some crime that I have committed. I might go to prison for it; or at least, I would lose my reputation, and that would be embarrassing. So I can’t do that.” So then they die and go to Hell! Was it better to go to Hell and burn forever than to repent and be saved? No! But that is what the devil does to a sinner when they are thinking about repenting of their sins and receiving Jesus as their Savior.

King Agrippa most likely would have lost his position as king, along with all of the money and privileges he had, if he had repented and trusted in Christ; but that is NOTHING compared to burning in the Lake of Fire forever and ever and ever!

Mark 8:34-37: “And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, [Jesus] said to them, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it benefit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Someone has said that the same Sun that melts the wax, also hardens the clay. This is also true when hearing the Gospel of Christ: when a sinner says “No” to Jesus, or even “Wait” or “Not now”, his heart becomes a little more hard to the Gospel; and eventually, the sinner cannot hear the Gospel at all; and he never will be saved.

Saying “no” or “not now” to Jesus is saying that you would rather go to Hell than be saved! Do not make this deadly mistake, as king Agrippa did!

You may say, my spouse is not a Christian; I will talk to them first so we can be saved together and have a Christian family.

That is a noble thought, but here is the reality: unless your spouse is truly ready to be saved, they will not receive Christ as their Savior, and they might never receive Christ! So if you are waiting for them to receive Christ before you do, then both of you will go to Hell! Why would you do that? Is an Eternity in Hell really worth that risk?

Here is what Jesus said about this situation:

Matthew 10:38-39: “And he that does not take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me. He that finds his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.”

You must be saved yourself FIRST; THEN, and only then can you tell others about Jesus. YOUR SOUL is your first priority, my friend!

I have heard stories where both spouses were saved at the same time, but these are rare. I have seen far more where that did not happen. Do not gamble your future in Eternity on a tiny hope that your spouse will be saved with you, because the most likely response will be the opposite.

As you study the Bible and learn how to follow Christ, God will give you wisdom and his power to lead your family to saving faith in Christ; but only if you receive Jesus Christ first!

I Peter 3:1-2: “Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, if any do not obey the Word of God, they may also without the Word be won to Christ by the conduct of the wives, while they observe your pure conduct in fear.”

Acts 16:31: “And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; and you shall be saved, and your household.”

Here is how you can repent of your sins, and be born again (or saved) into the Kingdom of God, right now:

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life; who suffered on a cross for your sins and died; was buried, and rose again from the dead on the third day, then pray this prayer to receive Christ as your Savior and be saved:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against YOU. I am no good, and you are righteous! You are my only hope for salvation! I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, you were buried, and you rose again from the dead on the third day. I want you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart right now. Forgive me for all my sins, and save my soul. In the mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!”

If you have turned from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and only Savior from sin, please message me through Facebook and let me know that you have done that, so that I can pray for you and rejoice with you in what God has done in your life. Amen.