Luke the beloved physician wrote how Festus told king Agrippa, “There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix. About whom, 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”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse nineteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa the Jews, “had certain questions against him of their own superstition”where we read:
But had certain questions against him of their own superstition,
and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
The verse begins, “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, ...” Luke began with the words, “But had certain questions” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover had particular debates and words” “against him” or “in opposition to Paul” “of their own superstition” which means “pertaining to their own personal reverencing of god or the gods”. Luke shared how shared how the complaints of the “chief priests and elders” were according to their own religious beliefs.
The verse goes on to say, “... and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Luke continued with the words, “and of one Jesus” which means “and pertaining to a certain person named Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “which was dead” or “who was among the non-living, lifeless and non-breathing”, “whom Paul affirmed to be alive” which means “that Paul, whose name means small or little, alleged, portended and professed to be living, active, strong and efficacious”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” how the “chief priests and elders” also said “Paul” was speaking about “Jesus” who had died but “Paul” said was “alive” again.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that rather than bring some kind of “criminal” charge against “Paul”, the “chief priests and elders” brought complaints against him because he was speaking in opposition to their own religious preferences and about “Jesus” who “died” and “rose again”. Without knowing, the “chief priests and elders” were being used to prepare “Festus” and “king Agrippa” for the witness and testimony of “Paul”. “Paul's” commission by Jesus was to tell others, particularly the Gentiles, about the saving grace and forgiveness of God through Him, and because “Paul” was in prison, he would be able to speak to people many times about God's good news. God loves people, and although His ways are not always as people expect them to be, He is constantly inviting people to have a loving personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Festus tells King Agrippa, “ because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem”, 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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