Today we are reading Acts 25. In this chapter Paul continues to testify while on trial before Festus. “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. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 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?” 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. 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.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”” Acts 25:7-12 ESV When Paul played this card to appeal to Caesar, he was trying to avoid the lynch-mob of the Jews. While he successfully accomplished this, he now faced the prospect of standing on trial before the pagan emperor. In this way the Gospel spread during intense persecution. Why do you think the church grows when persecuted? May God use us to preach the Gospel during these perilous times. Pastor Tim
