Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul told Festus, “I appeal unto Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go. And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa, “there is a certain man left in bonds by Felix” where we read:
And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying,
There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
The verse begins, “And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had been there many days” which means “and at the time and moment king Agrippa and Bernice were in Caesarea for a good number of sunrises to sunsets”, “Festus” whose name means “festival” and was “the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea” “declared Paul's cause” which means “uttered and proclaimed the circumstance and situation of Paul whose name means small or little” “unto the king” or “to the ruler, leader, commander and lord of the land named Agrippa”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” about the situation with “Paul” after he and Bernice were in the city of Caesarea for a while.
The verse continues, “... There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:” Luke added the words, “there is a certain man” which means “there exists a particular male human being” “left in bonds” or “remaining as a captive and prisoner” “by Felix” which means “under Felix whose name means happy and was a Roman procurator of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius in A.D. 53. He ruled the province in a mean, cruel, and profligate manner”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” about “Paul” who was kept as a prisoner under “Felix” the former governor.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” decided to tell “king Agrippa” about “Paul's” situation after he and Bernice were in the city of “Caesarea” for some time. Once again God was broadening ability for people to know about His salvation plan through His Son Jesus. One by one “Paul” had opportunity to share the gospel, and he was on his way to “Rome” where he would share God's “good news” with the people who were there. God loves people everywhere, and anyone who yields to His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will see this plan of God through the witness of “Paul” and submit themselves to Jesus who came to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world.
Next time Luke shares how Festus tells King Agrippa how, “the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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