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”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus told King Agrippa how, “the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him” where we read:
About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
The verse begins, “About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, ...” Luke began with the words, “about whom” which means “concerning whom, Paul”, “when I was at Jerusalem” or “at the time and moment I, Festus, was in the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “the chief priests” which means “the high and principal priests” “and the elders” or “and the senior in rank and members of the Sanhedrin” “informed me” which means “manifested, declared and showed to me, Festus”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” that the “religious leaders” in Jerusalem told him about “Paul”.
The verse goes on to say, “... desiring to have judgment against him.” Luke continued with the words, “desiring to have judgment” which means “asking, begging and craving that he execute a sentence and punishment” “against him” or “toward Paul”. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” wanted “Festus” to execute a sentence and punishment against “Paul”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” told “king Agrippa” while he was in Jerusalem the religious leaders came to him with complaints about “Paul”. They wanted “Festus” to bring about judgment and punishment upon “Paul”, and now their accusations against him were reaching the ears of “Agrippa”. It is interesting to note how God spreads His word through people, and although “Festus” and “king Agrippa” were not believers in Jesus, they were being used by God to have His good news of salvation spread to mankind. God loves people, and He will use natural circumstances and people to share about His forgiveness of sins and everlasting life through belief and trust in His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will perceive that God is behind the scenes in “Paul's” story, and they should yield themselves to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. .
Next time Luke shares how Festus tells 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”, 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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