Last updated on December 8, 2024
Today’s reading comes from Acts 24 – 26.
After Paul arrived in Caesarea he met with Governor Felix. Also present was the high priest Ananias, who was not going to let Paul get away. Felix allows Ananias’ lawyer to present their case, which came down to Paul desecrating their temple by allowing a Gentile (Trophimus of Ephesus) to enter. Paul had done nothing wrong, and he explained this to Felix. Felix knew enough about Paul and the Way (of Jesus – this is what they called their faith) that he quickly saw that Paul had done nothing wrong. So he gave Paul an opportunity to bribe him, and in return he’d let Paul go. Paul didn’t want to bribe him, or maybe he didn’t have the money to do so. So Felix allowed Paul to stay in prison…for two years!
When the two years passed, Felix was succeeded by Festus. On his way to Caesarea he stopped by Jerusalem, and the Jewish leaders asked for Paul to be handed over to him. They were once again ready to set a trap and have him killed. Festus told them that they could go to Caesarea and press charges against him there. They decided to go, but once again they were unable to prove that Paul had done anything wrong.
Festus didn’t want to have anything more to do with this, so he asked Paul if he wanted to travel back to Jerusalem and have a trial there. Paul knew they would kill him in Jerusalem, so he decided to play the biggest card he had as a Roman citizen. He appealed to Caesar. So Paul would now at least have the opportunity to go to Rome!
Be First to Comment