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?”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul answered, “I stand at Caesar's judgement seat”, where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged:” Luke began with the words, “then said Paul” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed Paul whose name means small or little”, “I stand at Caesar's” or “I, Paul, exist, happen and will be present at 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 ” “judgment seat” which means “the platform, tribune or throne for judging”, “where I ought to be judged” which means “in the place and location that I, Paul, of necessity, duty and equity to be determined, resolved and decreed”. Luke shared how “Paul” declared that he desired to be “present” before the “throne of judgment” which belongs to “Caesar” which was the place he believed he should be “judged”.
The verse continues, “to the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know.” Luke added the words, “to the Jews” which means “toward the Jewish people as respects to birth, origin or religion” “have I done no wrong” or “have I, Paul, not violated, done hurt, damaged or harmed”, “as you very well know” which means “even and like you, Festus, are fully aware, understand and perceive”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Festus” that he did nothing “wrong” to the Jewish people and that he was fully aware of that truth.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told “Festus” that he “appealed” to “Caesar” which was his right as a Roman citizen. He declared once again that he did nothing wrong to the Jews, and he was aware that “Festus” knew this too. “Paul” was headed to “Rome” according to God's predetermined plan, and this was his path for doing so. This was another example of God using the natural events to fulfill His plans, and “Paul” would be used to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with “Caesar” himself. God loves people who are well-known and little known, and He offers salvation from sins to everyone who yields to His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words submit to Jesus and align with the good news of Jesus Christ.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die”, 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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