After two years Felix is replaced by Festus and therefore the Jews bring up Paul’s case hoping Festus would kill Paul. Festus wanted to do the Jews this favor so he calls for Paul and brings him before his court.
According to verse 3 the Jews wanted Paul to be brought to Jerusalem so they could ambush the prison bus (I guess prison chariot) and kill Paul. But Festus takes a trip to Paul because that is the region Paul must be judged in because of his Roman citizenship. Of course Festus finds nothing wrong and therefore wants to send Paul on as requested to Caesar.
Festus does catch on to the real problem found in verse 19; “one Jesus, which was dead, who Paul affirmed to be alive.” And this is still our problem today. Jesus being alive makes Christianity true and every other way a false way. Jesus being alive means the Jewish prophecies where fulfilled and the Jews should worship Jesus. Jesus being alive makes for a true salvation and forces a choice into the face of everyone, to either believe or stand condemned before a Holy God. Last week I again saw a bumper sticker of a youth in town that had every religious emblem which states to coexist. Coexisting is okay if you believe in a false way or a self-created way. However, if Jesus is alive, then there is only one way, one truth and one way to find eternal life. Here stands our problem. Will you believe God or man? Will you follow the ways of God or the ways of man? Will you strive to coexist to please man kind or worship Christ only?
Many will call this being arrogant. I do not understand how it is arrogant to surrender to God as creator and to surrender to God’s Word as the final authority. To me arrogance is saying I have a better way than God, and I reject God’s Word as an authority in my life. I chose to humble myself before God and His Word.
Keep reading and surrendering to what you read. The world will not understand our obedience to this old book preserved by God, but your ways will be eternally prosperous. Live out your life ready to meet Jesus.
Comments are closed