King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 9 notes
1Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.
2Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
4But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cæsarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Here Festus sounds like he had a hint that Paul was a righteous man. The tone of his reply suggests so.
6And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cæsarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
7And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.
9But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.
Wow, this new religious sect was going everywhere.
Both among the common people and poor, and the elite royal 👑.
God had told him he would testify also in Rome, and what finer opportunity than now?
He, Paul, would stand before the great Caesar to testify of the Christ among the corridors of power.
PAUL was very strategic with his impact.
The beauty of divine counsel and walking 🚶 by the wisdom of God.
His appeal to Caesar was actually in alignment with God's word. To man he might have seemed to appeal to Caesar, but he was on assignment.
And that funded by the state. Kingdom work, state-funded.
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.
13And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.
14And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
This meant they actually wanted him handed over to them and killed, as seen in the next verse.
So it was not just a matter of asking Festus to put him on trial; they wanted him killed.
16To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Ah, so this was what happened to Jesus. Yet he was silent 😶 and 🤫 said nothing.
This rule was broken in the case of Stephen, who was stoned to death, and Paul stood, giving his approval and ready to answer any matters that arose as a result of this action.
In the case of Jesus, he was too popular to be stoned; the Pharisees would have gotten into trouble had they attempted anything against Jesus.
That is why they came for him in the night, in secret.
And they could not kill him without breaking the law, hence their appeal to Pilate.
17Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Those in power are sometimes so clueless as they sit on their high horses.
That is why leaders must surround themselves with people who would tell them the truth and help them keep touch with base.
Here Festus talks of Jesus as superstition. He actually says 'one Jesus'.
He had no idea of such common knowledge. 'Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem?', which was asked on the road to Emmaus, shows how commonplace Jesus' name was.
Even in his preachings to Cornelius after the Holy Ghost baptism, Peter starts off by telling the people that this story about Jesus, they know...
Acts 10:36-37 KJV
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
[37] That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
The people knew, whiles their rulers were so absent-minded.
20And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
21But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.
22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
Christianity was going everywhere — and before all social groups.
24And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Have dealt with me... Through much pressure from multitudes and possible 🙆 threat of further chaos and reporting to Caesar possibly.
These mad zealots.
25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
Paul's appeal to Caesar was so strategic. Now the great Caesar himself will hear the gospel, though likely will not believe.
But the testimony will be borne before kings and royals, as prophesied.
27For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.