The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul told Festus, “I appeal unto Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Have you appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shall you go. And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, 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”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa, “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” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “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, ...” Luke began with the words, “to whom I answered” which means “to the chief priests and elders I, Festus, responded”, “it is not the manner of the Romans” or “it does not exist as the custom, law, institute, prescription or rite pertaining to the citizens of Rome” “to deliver any man to die” which means “to freely give or grant any person whether male or female to be put to death, made lifeless, be utterly destroyed and wasted” “before that he which is accused” or “in advance and prior to the person who charged with some offense” “have the accusers face to face” which means “have the complainants to appear directly before them”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that no person who was a “Roman citizen” was to be put to death before their “accusers” appeared before them personally.
The verse continues, “... and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him” Luke added the words, “and have license to answer” which means “and obtaining an opportunity and occasion to respond and make a verbal defense or reasoned statement or argument” “for himself” or “on behalf of his own self” “concerning the crime” which means “about and on account of the accusation or complaint” “against him” or “toward that Roman citizen”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that a “Roman citizen” also had the rite to defend himself “against” the complaints and accusations brought to him.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about how “Festus” was abiding by the “Roman law” when he maintained that every Roman should have their accusers of crime appear before them if they were being charged with a capital offense, and that person should also be able to defend themselves against any accusations made. Step by step God's provision for “Paul” to share His gospel was being revealed, and even the “Roman manner of custom or law” provided a path for him to share about salvation through Jesus Christ. Every person who yields to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise see the plan of God at work in “Paul's” life and are willing to receive Jesus in alignment with God's purpose, plan and provision for them.
Next time Luke shares how Festus tells King Agrippa, “without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth”, 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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