The beloved physician Luke wrote how Festus told king Agrippa concerning Paul, “when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. Therefore, when they were come here, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed. But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa what he did, “when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus” where we read:
But 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.
The verse begins, “But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, ...” Luke began with the words, “but when Paul” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment Paul whose name means small or little” “had appealed to be reserved” or “invoked and called to guarded, kept in custody and detained” “unto the hearing of Augustus” which means “until he could be examined and had a decision or judgment made upon him by Augustus whose name means reverend, venerable and imperial and was the title of the Roman Emperor”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that “Paul” desired to be kept in custody and protected until he could stand in judgment before the Roman Emperor named “Augustus”.
The verse continues, “... I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.” Luke added the words, “I commanded him” which means “I, Festus, ordered Paul” “to be kept” or “to be guarded, attended to carefully and observed” “till I might send him” which means “until I, Festus, could dispatch and assign Paul, “to Caesar” or “to the Roman Emperor whose title means severed”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that he ordered “Paul” to be guarded and overseen until such time as he could dispatch him to the “Roman Emperor” whose title was “Caesar”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” complied with “Paul's” request to be kept under guard until he could be sent to “Caesar Augustus” to be judged. Every “Roman citizen” was afforded the opportunity to have their case brought before “Caesar”, and “Paul” exercised his rite to do so. “Paul” knew “Caesar” was in Rome, and he was promised by God that he would eventually bear witness of Jesus in that city. Though this pathway is somewhat unconventional, “Paul” was destined to go to “Rome” to share the gospel with “Caesar” and anyone else with whom he could testify. God loves people, and regardless of whether they hold powerful positions or not, each of them need to be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life if they desire to have a relationship with God. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to offer salvation to everyone, and even as “Paul” was to be deployed to “Rome” for the spreading of the gospel, God will use people to bring His hope of salvation to the world.
Next time Luke shares how Agrippa says to Festus, “ I would also hear the man myself”, 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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