Acts, Chapter 25 - Paul before Festus

Outbless Weekly

Acts, Chapter 25 - Paul before Festus

25 Festus, then, after arriving in the province, went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea three days later. 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were pleading with Festus, 3 requesting a concession against [c]Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way).

- We left off in Chapter 24 when Felix did not release Paul after 2-years

- Chapter 24 began with a 5-day grace period

- 2 is the number for Witnesses (confirmation of truth)

- 5 is the number for Grace

- We stated with Grace and we ended with Witnesses (confirmation)

- Now we learn that Festus (the new governor)

o Went up to Jerusalem “in awe of Peace”

o From Cesaea “city of the King”

o Three days later “three is the number for the trinity”

o Grace -> witnesses -> in awe of peace -> city of the king -> trinity

- And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul

o These are false charges

o And they were pleading with Festus

o Requesting a concession against Paul (to concede)

§ That he might have him brought to Jerusalem

§ At the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way

§ Evil intentions; evil plot; pleading for a concession to allow it

4 Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he *said, “have the influential men among you [e]go there with me, and if there is anything wrong [f]about the man, have them bring charges against him.”

- Festus then answered

o And if there is anything wrong about the man

o Have them bring charges against him

o This is how Roman law works (bring charges; have a court; make a judgement)

o They kept wanting to take maters in their own hands but God didn’t let them

6 After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought.

o Eight is the number for new beginnings

o Ten is the number for law (God’s commandments, Man’s responsibility)

o Paul was about to come and share the gospel again; they would have a chance for a new beginning again ! To receive grace and fulfill the law.

7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many, and serious, charges against him which they could not prove, 8 while Paul said in his own defense, “I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.”

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