Luke the beloved physician wrote how Festus told King Agrippa, “when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, you shall hear him. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa the Jewish people said Paul, “ought not to live any longer” where we read:
And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
The verse begins, “And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ...” Luke began with the words, “And Festus said” which means “and Festus whose name means festival and was the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “King Agrippa” or “leader, prince, commander and lord of the land Agrippa whose name means hero-like”, “and all men” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone both male and female” “which are here present with us” or “who are in the location for judgment alongside Festus and the people with him”. Luke shared how “Festus” addressed “King Agrippa” and everyone who was present within the place of judgment.
The verse goes on to say, “... you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here,” Luke continued with the words, “you see this man” which means “you, everyone in the judgment place, observe, notice, behold and discern this male human being”, “about whom all the multitude” or “who everyone in the large crowd and assemblage of people” “of the Jews” which means “belonging to the Jewish people as respects to birth, origin or religion” “have dealt with me” or “have intreated, conferred and made intercession with Festus”,“both at Jerusalem” which means “within the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “and also here” or “and even so and indeed within the city of Caesarea” shouted the following. Luke shared how “Festus” presented “Paul” before the large group of people who were gathered in the judgment place, and said he was confronted with a case against “Paul” in “Jerusalem” and “Caesarea”.
Finally the verse says, “crying that he ought not to live any longer.” Luke ended this verse with the words, “crying that he ought not to live” or “exclaiming and proclaiming aloud that it is necessary for Paul to be without life, breath, strength and efficiency” “any longer” which means “hereafter and no more”. Luke shared how “Festus” told the people who were gathered in the judgment place about being confronted by a multitude of Jewish people who were shouting aloud that “Paul” should be put to death.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” began the trial of “Paul” before the notable crowd by referring to how he was confronted by a massive group of people in “Jerusalem and Caesarea” who were shouting that “Paul” should not be able to live any more. We can imagine how this caught the attention of every person who was present in the judgment place, and this was a wonderful introduction for “Paul” to present the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we carefully examine each step of this trial of “Paul”, we notice God's hand within the details to allow people to hear about His “salvation” from sins through His Son Jesus. The “gospel” of Jesus Christ is that He came to the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and be granted everlasting life with God. This trial for “Paul” should set the stage for every person to pay particular attention to the words of “Paul” concerning Jesus and come to Him to be eternally saved.
Next time Luke shares how Festus says, “I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death”, 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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