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 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. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus said, “it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him” where we read:
For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner,
and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
The verse begins, “For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, ...” Luke began with the words, “For it seems to me unreasonable” which means “because, since and on account that the following is accounted, judged and reputed by me, Festus, as absurd, destitute and contrary to reason” “to send a prisoner” or “to dispatch one who is a captive, in bonds and bound” without the following. Luke shared how “Festus” deemed it “contrary to reason” to dispatch a person to “Caesar” who was kept captive and there was nothing found according to the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.” Luke continued with the words, “and not withal to signify” which means “and in no way making known, indicating or giving a sign toward” “the crimes laid against him” or “the cause of accusation which is worthy of punishment that is charged in opposition to him, Paul”. Luke shared how “Festus” did not think it was a good thing to dispatch a “prisoner” to “Caesar” without having some indication as to what criminal charges he committed.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” was somewhat at a loss for how to send “Paul” to “Caesar” without having any criminal act for which he was charged. No one was to waste “Caesar's” time with such matters, and we can understand why “Festus” was confused. God, however, knew exactly what was happening, and He was preparing a venue for “Paul” to share His gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus. Anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words perceive how the confusion for “Festus” became an opportunity for the world to know about Jesus.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Luke share how Agrippa says to Paul, “you are permitted to speak for yourself”, 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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