The beloved physician Luke wrote how Festus told King Agrippa, “when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, you shall hear him. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus said, “I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death” where we read:
But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death,
and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
The verse begins, “But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, ...” Luke began with the words, “but when I found” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment I, Festus, discovered and discerned” “that he had committed nothing” or “that Paul did not exercise, practice, undertake, accomplish or perform not one thing” “worthy of death” which means “having weight, worth, befitting, congruous and meriting dying or having the separation of the soul and body by which the life on earth is ended”. Luke shared how “Festus” told the crowd who gathered in the judgment place that he didn't discover anything that merited “Paul” being put to “death”.
The verse continues, “... and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.” Luke added the words, “and that he himself” which means “and that Paul his own self” “has appealed to Augustus” or “has made request, invoked and summoned to be judged before Augustus whose name means reverend, venerable and refers to Augustus Caesar”, “I have determined to send him” which means “I, Festus, approved, was of the opinion, resolved and decreed to dispatch and assign Paul to Augustus”. Luke shared how “Festus” told the group of people assembled in the judgment place how “Paul” made a request to be sent to “Caesar Augustus”, and he decided to dispatch him as he asked.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” continued to share an introduction to why the people were assembled within the judgment place, and because he did not discover any reason why “Paul” should be put to death as the Jewish people requested when he spoke to “Paul”, “Paul” asked to be sent to “Caesar” for his judgment. After that request, “Festus” was resolved to dispatch him to “Caesar”. All these words served to prepare the people to hear “Paul” speak for himself and to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. God's desires are eternal in nature, and because every person will eventually “die”, He wants them to believe and trust in His Son Jesus who will forgive them for their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him. God loves people, and when He prepares an opportunity for His good news to be spread, all who are involved should be open to receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Festus says, “Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord”, 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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