Luke the beloved physician wrote how Festus was in Jerusalem with the Jewish people, and when he had, “tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twelve of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus said, “Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go”, where we read:
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered,
Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go.
The verse begins, “Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Festus” which means “at that time Festus whose name means festival and was the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea”, “when he had conferred” or “at the time and moment he, Festus, conversed, communed, talked and spoke” “with the council” which means “alongside the Sanhedrin which was an assembly of counsellors or persons in consultation”, “answered” or “responded and began to speak” with the following words. Luke shared how “Festus” consulted with the “Sanhedrin members” who brought the complaints against “Paul” and said the following words.
The verse continues, “Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go.” Luke added the words, “have you appealed” which means “have you, Paul, summoned or called” “unto Caesar” or “to Caesar whose name means severed and was the surname of Julius Caesar, which adopted by Octavius Augustus and his successors afterwards became a title, and was appropriated by the Roman emperors as part of their title”? “Unto Caesar” which means “to Caesar the Roman emperor”. “shall you go” or “will you be transferred, led and brought”. Luke shared how “Festus” asked “Paul” if he indeed “appealed” to “Caesar”, so “Festus” granted his request to send him to “Caesar”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” heard “Paul's” request to go to “Caesar” for his judgment. He conferred with the members of the Jewish “Sanhedrin”, reconfirmed “Paul's” request to go to “Caesar” and granted “Paul” his desire. All these things were leading step by step to “Paul” sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with more people, and because God loves people so much, He sent His Son Jesus to die for the sins of the world. This message is for everyone, and anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who consider this granted request of “Paul” see God working to share His good news with the world.
Next time Luke shares, “after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus”, 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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