The beloved physician Luke 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”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die”, where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die:” Luke began with the words, “for if I be an offender” which means “because, since and on account whether I, Paul, exist as injurious or morally, socially or physically wrong”, “or have committed any thing” or “or practiced, accomplished and performed a particular and certain act or deed” “worthy of death” which means “having weight, value, befitting and congruous to the loss of life and separation of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”, “I refuse not to die” or “I, Paul, do not shun, decline or avoid loss of life or separation of the soul and the body by which life on earth is ended”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Festus” if he was guilty of being wrong or performing any act that merited him “dying”, he would not refuse to lose his life.
The verse goes on to say, “but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.” Luke continued with the words, “but if there be none of these things” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover whether there exists not one of the wrong doings or commission of acts or deeds” “whereof these accuse me” or “in which the Jewish people charge me, Paul”, “no man may deliver me unto them” which means “not one person whether male or female can be granted, freely bestowed and permitted to give me, Paul, to the Jewish people ”. “I appeal unto ” or “I, Paul, summon, invoke and call upon” “Caesar” which 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”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Festus” that since not one complaint against him was valid, nobody could grant that he be turned over to the Jewish people. He rather invoked and called upon “Caesar” to be his judge.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” knew he did nothing wrong for which the Jewish people could validate and verify. Since this was true, he would not allow himself to be given over to them, and as a Roman citizen, he could commit himself to the judgment of “Caesar”. “Paul” was told by God that he would be bear witness of Him in “Rome”, and this was “Paul's” ticket. We shall see how God fulfills His prophesy concerning “Paul” witnessing in Rome in our next few verses, but for now let us consider that God was purposed to share His salvation message through His Son Jesus to the world. God loves everyone, and with “Paul” sharing the gospel in Rome, the world would have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise yield to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Festus says, “Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go”, 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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