a new governor

Good morning everyone,
A new governor is in charge as we begin today's reading; Festus succeeds Felix and inherits, among all the other issues, Paul. Right away the Jewish leaders advocate sending Paul to Jerusalem for trial. Like before, a big part of their motivation is that the journey will give them a chance to kill Paul themselves. In that period the center of religious power for the Judea was Jerusalem, as it had been for centuries. Roman government of the area was centered in Caesarea, a city on the Mediterranean coast. Transferring Paul to Jerusalem seems to signify giving jurisdiction to the religious leaders, even though Festus says he would be the judge in either case.

When Festus examines Paul he asks Paul where he wants to be tried. Paul appeals to Rome, a right he has as a Roman citizen. It may be that he feels (probably rightly) that Rome will be fairer with him than the religious leaders. He also might be remembering God's call to witness to Christ before kings and emperors, which the journey to Rome will facilitate. We will see Paul use the opportunity to present the good news to many different people over the next chapter. By God's Spirit even hardship can become an opportunity for ministry if we look outside ourselves.

Blessings,
Sam

Acts 25:1-12
Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 2where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him 3and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. 4Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5“So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”

6After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. 8Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.”

9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?” 10Paul said, “I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.” 12Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”