Acts 25

1.  What is the Background?

Paul has been arrested at the temple after a commotion was started by Jews from the province of Asia who stirred up the Jews against him.  Roman officials bound him and brought him before various tribunals to ascertain the reason behind the tumult.  Once the Roman’s determined that the cause was related to the Jew’s religion, they were unsure how to process the matter.

Paul was eventually sent to Felix, the governor at Cesarea, who rather than pursuing justice for Paul, kept him in prison to use him politically with the Jews and hoping Paul would give him ransom money for his release.  After time expired, Felix was succeeded by Festus.

Festus first leaned by the Jews in Jerusalem about the charges against Paul.  Festus told them he would hear their accusation once he took his seat in Cesarea and after 10 or so, he went down and heard their many accusations against Paul, but no proof was given to substantiate the charges.  Paul was then allowed to give his defense, vv8.

Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

Festus after hearing the charges was inclined as Felix was to use Paul politically to gain favor with the Jews and send him to be tried against at Jerusalem. However, Paul used his political right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Ceasar, knowing this would take him as far as Rome and have the opportunity to preach the Gospel there.  Festus responded to Paul in verse twelve,

Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

However before Paul could be sent, he would have another opportunity to make a Christ for the risen Christ before “King Agrippa” and his sister Bernice, vv23.

2. What can we learn about God?

God desires Christians to face opposition to the Gospel. Though nothing is directly said about God’s desires in this passage, we are watching a story unfold of how the Gospel and it’s messengers face opposition.   It is a repeated theme in Acts and is expressly stated in Acts 4:25-26 by quoting Psalms 2.

²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Acts 4:25-26

So as we watch Paul make his many defenses for the gospel, we understand the charges and accusations brought against him are, in God’s eyes, charges against God and His Christ.  For someone who loves God, this is a great honor to be tried in Christ’s stead and to suffer with him the injustice of the world’s attacks.   For such suffering is not in vain.  The same faith that empowers God’s people to endure shame for the name is the same faith that rests on God’s ultimate victory in the end and our resurrection to life.

3. How does the passage point to Christ?

Jesus gains victory over all opposition to the gospel we face for Him. Why would God desire us to partake in the world’s war against Christ?  There are many reasons given in as we continue to read the Bible.  We know for one that a witness that suffers for the name of Christ is a powerful persuasion to all who believe, (see 1 Thess. 1:6-7).

⁶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: ⁷ So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

Ultimately, we partake with Christ in His fight because its a war that is already won, though there is a struggle until its final day.  Hitler knew he was doomed long before he took his own life, yet the worst fighting was after D-Day had been accomplished.  Satan’s days are numbered, yet he isn’t quitting the fight, still, Satan “rages” agist the Lord and His Christ.

But we and Paul serve a risen Savior whom Death cannot defeat, nor defeat us if our stand for the Gospel should cause our demise, for the Lord who dies and rises from the dead, will certainly call those to life who have suffered for His name.  All who oppose God and the Lord Jesus Christ oppose in vain (see Revelation 17:14).

¹⁴ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 17:14

4. Application:

The application of this passage is both straight forward and simple.  It takes little imagination to see Paul as an example for all who contend for the Gospel.  If the Gospel is your life’s work as it was Paul’s, you can expect persecution, yet Paul was able to withstand imprisonment for years and still have the mental strength to retain his testimony with integrity.  What is Paul’s secret?  Hebrews 12 points to Jesus,

³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 12:4

Of course, one cannot experience or come close to understanding these parts of the Scripture unless they are actively making the kingdom of God their sole purpose in life.  The life of being a witness for Christ is a radical decision that looks like wreckless abandonment to the nominal believer.  Paul said it would absolutely miserable for anyone who radically followed Christ if He did not truly rise from the dead.

¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:19

However if what Paul said about miserable pity is true, then the ones who ought to be pitied are the ones who do not surrender all to Jesus, for we know the sacrificial investment we make now for Christ is nothing to be compared to the glory that awaits us.

¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

Knowing this is what enables a Christian to experience joy even in painful times.  This is truly a mystery to anyone who does not surrender all to Christ.