Paul Appeals to Caesar

 By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Acts 25:1-12

 

Acts 25:10-11.

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.” 

(ESV)

 

Liberty is the foundation of the founding documents of the United States, but it is just a word on a page without commitment by political leaders, members of the military, and law enforcement to protect the precious and fragile liberties given to people by God.  This is why these individuals take an oath, promising and pledge to defend the Constitution of the United States.  However, the sad fact is that many political leaders utter their words of promise to defend the constitution and govern in a manner that usurps the constitution they promised to protect.  Sadly, these usurping political leaders are working to dismantle the military and law enforcement, leaving the innocent without the protection of their liberties.  This places the freedom and liberty to practice our Christian faith in jeopardy and why God’s people must remain diligent in prayer and focused on their mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). 

 

Acts 25:1-12 begins with another plot by the Jews to kill the Apostle Paul (Acts 25:1-3), but since it is not yet Paul’s time to die for the Lord, the plan is foiled (Acts 25:4-5).  Paul is in Caesarea under protective custody due to a previous plot to kill him (Acts 23:12-22).  In each of these accounts, Paul receives assistance from the unexpected source of a Roman official. 

 

With their plan foiled once again, the Jews must accompany Festus to Caesarea and present their case there where Paul is in protective custody.  After eight or ten days, the Jews accompany Festus to Caesarea with Festus taking his seat at the tribunal, and Paul brought in (Acts 25:6).  The tribunal begins with the Jews levying serious, but unprovable, charges against Paul (Acts 25:7).  In his defense, Paul argues he has not broken any Jewish law, laws of the temple, or laws of Caesar (Acts 25:8).  In response, Festus asks Paul if he wants to go to Jerusalem for trial because he wants to do the Jews a favor (Acts 25:9). 

 

Perhaps aware that while in Caesarea he is in protective custody or purposefully attempting to lay a pathway to Rome, Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:10).  Paul is also more comfortable testifying in Rome before Caesar than his fellow Jews who have twice devised a plot to kill him.  The Jews have a vile hatred of Paul and see nothing wrong with killing him to silence the Gospel message he preaches but the Roman officials are interested in maintaining order with Festus believing keeping Paul in protectivity custody and sending him to Rome the best way to accomplish this. 

 

God’s protection can come from unexpected sources (i.e., King Cyrus) with that protection part of God’s plan for us individually and His bigger plan.  According to the word of the Lord uttered by Jeremiah, Israel and Judah are in exile due to their worship of foreign gods, but God has not forgotten them.  However, their help comes from an unexpected source, King Cyrus of Persia (Ezra 1).  Paul also receives help from an unexpected source Festus, who rescues him from a plot to kill him on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 25:3-5).  This allows Paul to speak to the Roman tribunal convened in Caesarea and make his appeal to Caesar, opening up a pathway to speak to Caesar as God promised (Acts 23:11). 

 

God will protect us so He can fulfill His plan for our lives and the Church.  The Church has a mission to share the message of Salvation in the Gospel and to make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  When individuals or the Church come under attack for their message, they have two choices.  They can back off and compromise the message so as not to offend those not in the church or they can continue on mission, trusting God for protection.  The challenge for Christians reading this is will they be like Paul who did not understand the word compromise and instead focused on running his race of serving the Lord (2 Timothy 4:7) or compromise.  Hebrews 12:1 encourages each of us to run the race God has set before us with endurance.  I pray everyone reading this post takes up that challenge.