LIVE FAITHFULLY IN ANY SITUATION!
Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” —Acts 25:8
“If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” —Acts 25:11
“I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.” —Acts 25:25
The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” —Acts 26:30-32
Paul said that he had “done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Conder this. He had done nothing wrong against—
- The Jewish law— He did nothing wrong against this religious group and we need to keep that in mind as we serve Jesus.
- The temple— He did nothing wrong against a holy place and we need to keep that in mind as we serve Jesus.
- Caesar— He did nothing wrong against the government and we need to keep that in mind as we serve Jesus.
Amazingly, Paul said that if he was “guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” This situation was being used by God to position Paul where He wanted Him. Our Lord had said to Paul one night, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11). So, in his appeal to Caesar, Paul would be traveling, at the government’s expense, to Rome to be a witness for Jesus.
Governor Festus has said of Paul— “I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.” And then after King Agrippa heard Paul’s defense, “they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” But it was in God’s sovereign will to move Paul to Rome for His purposes.
Brothers and sisters, fellow followers and disciples of Jesus, let us be faithfully focused on the work our Lord has for us and trust Him to guide us however He desires. Yes, Dear Father, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLDEt9KP2O0&list=RDBLDEt9KP2O0&start_radio=1