September 14, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Chief Priests ask Festus for Paul
Scripture: Acts 25:1-5(NIV)
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”
Devotional
When we last left Paul, Governor Felix had put him in the palace prison in Caesarea for two years until he handed the governorship to Porcius Festus. Just a few days into his new job, the religious establishment in Jerusalem pounced on the opportunity to convince the new guy to transfer Paul to Jerusalem so that they could kill him. Those two years had done nothing to soften the hearts of the chief priest and his allies.
That only makes me think that Paul must have used those years to continue to spread the good news of Jesus. Believing friends who were coming and going to him were being encouraged to contend for the faith. Governor Felix and the guards were captive audiences for Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. Perhaps even Jewish and Gentile visitors to Caesarea which boasted a 10,000 seat hippodrome had come under the influence of Paul in some way.
Whatever was taking place, the members of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem hadn’t forgotten the leading Christian evangelist fifty miles away in Caesarea. Rather than trying to persuade the newly appointed Governor Festus to try Paul in open court, they attempted to deceive Festus into transferring Paul to Jerusalem so that they could assassinate him on the open road. These guys would stop at nothing to squash Christianity.
How is the Christian faith under threat today? Are there forces that are trying to undermine the gospel message or eliminate Christian morals? How can we respond? How is God calling you to pray, stand strong, and contend for the faith?
Poem
Who's To Blame
“….Then I saw thousands of millions
Crying for this man
And then I heard them mentioning my name
And leaving me the blame…”
Pilate’s Dream from Jesus Christ Superstar
Pilate singing in the play
Superstar in full display
Wrestling with the bribes and pressure
Scales in heaven start to measure
Integrity now is set on trial
Who’s the one who will defile?
Fetus picks up second act
Paul, Christ’s messenger attacked
All the char’cters, same costumes
All the hatred, same perfume
Stenching up the courtroom halls
Lady Justice scales do fall
All is seen by Heaven’s throne
Righteous judgment, God alone
Who’s to blame? All share the guilt
His blood be on us, Jesus’ quilt
Cover us with bloodstained cloak
Clear the air, lest we all choke
