So far, we have learned from the previous chapter that Paul stood before the Roman governor Felix and represented himself by simply speaking the truth in a very accurate and systematic way. There were no eyewitnesses who had come forward to testify that he had committed a crime. As far as the Romans were concerned, it was not a crime to believe in the resurrection. The Sanhedrin Council was also not able to find him guilty.
But Felix was afraid to offend the Jewish leaders. So, instead of just dealing with the truth as it was, he tried to avoid the truth, to run away from the truth, to shift the responsibility to Festus. Therefore, the case was adjourned until Festus would come down to Caesarea from Jerusalem. There was also no record that he had indeed called Festus to come down to Caesarea. I believe that he was just trying to buy time to get out of this tight situation. In order to please the Jewish leaders, Felix had kept Paul imprisoned or under house arrest for almost two years. History tells us that within those two years, there was a riot in Caesarea, and he handled it so badly that Emperor Nero had to recall him back to Rome and deal with him very severely. From then onwards, he vanished from history altogether. This name, Felix, was never mentioned again.
Now, fast forward two years later. Porcius Festus took over his office; he became the new Roman governor. Unlike Felix, who was a former slave, Festus came from a noble family. There are very few biblical details about Festus, but Josephus, the Jewish historian, described him as better than his predecessor Felix. He was known to be a very capable leader.
The title of our message is "Paul's Defense Before Festus." Our first point is "The Persistent Persecution."
Let us begin with verse 1, chapter 25: "Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem." Indeed, he proved himself to be a capable leader because whenever a new governor took over the office, he would inherit all the political problems left behind by his predecessor. Notice he did not procrastinate. Within three days of taking office, he left Caesarea and went up to Jerusalem. His purpose was to meet the Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin Council, in order for him to establish peace in Judea. If you remember, during Felix's time, there was a riot created by the Jews, which I have just mentioned briefly. Felix handled it so badly that there was hostility and suspicion between the Jewish people and the Roman authorities. As a new Roman governor, to maintain peace, stability, and harmony in the region, Festus needed to establish a relationship with the religious leaders. That was why he came to Jerusalem to talk to the Jewish leaders.
Look at verse 2: "Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him." To besought means to call, to summon someone to come alongside, which means they wanted Festus to revive those charges that were brought against Paul. You see, it was a common practice in ancient times, and even in modern times, that a new king or a new governor would release some of the prisoners as a sign of clemency to win the favor of the people. So these Jewish leaders were afraid that Festus would do that and release Paul.
Can you imagine? Two years had already passed, and yet these religious leaders still could not get Paul out of their minds. We have learned in the past that forgiveness only takes one party; we are willing to forgive, as our Lord Jesus had taught us to forgive no matter how many times. But reconciliation is different; it takes two parties to be reconciled. You may be willing to forgive someone who has wronged you, who has done wicked things to you, but if that person refuses to let go and keeps holding on to the past, do not be surprised if many years later he or she may still attack you again, just like these Jewish leaders. Two years had gone past, and they would not be able to let it go. They still persist in attacking Paul.
Look at verse 3: "And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him." Two years ago, the Jewish leaders had tried to kill Paul, and that plot was exposed. Now, two years later, they were still trying the same old trick again. They requested Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem, pretending that they wanted to question him regarding those charges. But their main intention was to ambush and kill him. As the saying goes, "Old habits die hard." If a person does not repent and change, he or she will still make the same mistakes again.
Verse 4: "But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly." Caesarea was like the headquarters of all the Roman provinces. As a Roman citizen, Paul should be tried at Caesarea, not Jerusalem. Festus himself would soon return to Caesarea. The Bible does not tell us the reason why Festus rejected their request, but it is safe for us to say that it was by God's providence.
Festus went on to say in verse 5: "Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able to go down with me and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him." Would the Jewish leaders take the trouble to go down all the way to Caesarea, just as they did two years ago? Most certainly. People who are wicked and malicious often times have their hearts consumed with anger, so much so that they are obsessed with achieving their wicked deeds, and they would be persistent. They will not give up. So these Jewish leaders would go down to Caesarea to accuse Paul.
Our second point is "The Presentation of the Charges."
Verse 6: "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." Festus was a man of action. After he had spent more than ten days at Jerusalem, he returned to Caesarea. Upon his arrival, the very next day, he sat on the judgment seat. The original Greek word for judgment seat is "bema." This is the bema seat of men, and Paul was ordered to be brought before him. In other words, the official trial had begun.
My friends, one important lesson we can learn from Festus is that he was very serious with his work. No procrastination, no reluctance, no hesitation, no delays. He was always on the job all the time. Sometimes, when we consider those people working in the secular world—how they deal with their businesses, their projects, their commitments, their efficiencies—they put those people in the Lord's ministry to shame. Whether they are serving as pastors, deacons, or fellowship leaders, how they deal with the Lord's ministry is so careless. They are not committed; they do things at the last minute. They want the office but are not willing to fulfill their responsibilities in the designated office. It is so sad. Such people should never be in the Lord's ministry. It takes someone like a Gentile Festus to teach people who are serving in the Lord's ministry. Look at him—someone who is not serving in the Lord's ministry, yet so committed. When he took over the office, immediately after three days, he went and did his work. After spending ten days, immediately he returned, sat, and judged this particular case. What a shame. Sometimes people in the Lord's ministry would have to learn from someone outside the ministry.
Verse 7: "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." The grievous complaints mean serious charges and would consist of the three main charges brought against Paul. The first charge was that Paul had violated the Romans’ law by causing sedition in the Roman Empire. The second charge was that he had violated the Jewish law in that he was the ringleader of the heretical group known as the Nazarenes. The third charge was that Paul had blasphemed the Jewish temple.
But as they had tried two years ago through the trial, the auditor, the lawyer, they could not prove that Paul was guilty. When the Jewish leaders accused Paul and the Christians of being a heretical group, creating a riot in Jerusalem, committing the crime of sedition, the interesting thing was that ultimately they were the ones who had committed the crime of sedition. Several years later, the Jews openly revolted against the Romans in Jerusalem. It was so bad that Rome had to send the Roman general Titus to come down to Jerusalem and brutally kill and disperse the Jews. And that was how Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in AD 70. Ultimately, they were the ones who had committed the crime of sedition.
For the Christians, the Romans persecuted and killed them not for sedition but because they refused to participate in the worship of the emperor. You know, this is the irony. Sometimes the things people accuse others of are the very things they themselves are committing. I remember a Baptist pastor whom I knew in the Philippines, a friend of Reverend Reggor. Many years ago, when another preacher had committed fornication, he was so vocal about it. He preached against it. He even went around the churches, sort of petitioning how they ought to deal with that preacher. Even when that preacher eventually died—can you imagine, a person had already died—he still constantly preached and reminded the people of what that person had done. Subsequently, he himself was caught in adultery, his wife divorced him, and he disappeared from the scene quietly. What a shame. What an irony. The very thing he would accuse others of was the very thing he himself had committed. Just like these Jews accusing Paul of committing sedition in the Roman Empire, but ultimately they were the ones who had committed this very serious crime.
Our third point is the postponement of the trial. Verse 8: "While Paul answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all." Regarding the three charges that Paul had violated the Jewish law, blasphemed against the Jewish temple, and committed sedition in the Roman Empire, Paul testified that he had committed none of those things, just like his predecessor.
Verse 9 says, "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favor or a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?" As a new Roman Governor, Festus was trying his best to maintain peace and stability in the region, so he tried to strike a compromise. He asked Paul if he was willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there. Obviously, he would guarantee Paul's safety and protection if he was willing to go up to Jerusalem. But Paul knew the Jewish leaders far better than him. That compromise would give them everything they wanted. They were not interested in the trial; they were not interested in seeking the truth. They were only interested in his life. They wanted Paul dead; Paul knew that.
So Paul by now had no choice but to invoke his rights as a Roman citizen. Verse 10: "Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat,"—again the same word, Bema, the Bema seat of Caesar—"where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest." That was actually a rebuke to Festus. In a sense, Paul was like saying, "You know very well. You have tried my case; you know I am innocent. I am not guilty of any crime. I have not done anything wrong to the Jews. Why should I stand trial at Jerusalem? Instead, I should be released." By this time, Julius Caesar and his son Augustus Caesar had already died, so the name Caesar, or the Judgment seat of Caesar, the Bema seat of Caesar, that name actually was just a general reference to the Roman Emperor. So Caesar does not mean Julius Caesar; it simply means the Roman Emperor.
Some people think that Paul was afraid for his own life, or he was very evasive, or he was afraid of facing the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem. Do you know, at this point in time, who was the Roman Emperor sitting on the throne when Paul said, "I appeal to Caesar"? Who was that Roman Emperor? It was Emperor Nero, one of the worst Emperors the world has ever known. Yet Paul was willing to stand before him. In a sense, Paul was like saying, "Regarding truth and justice, it is better for me to stand before Emperor Nero than these Jewish leaders. I stand a better chance with the wicked Emperor than all these religious leaders." So he boldly said in verse 11: "For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar."
Some people think that Paul should appeal to Christ instead of Caesar. Obviously, as believers, we all know that our Lord Jesus is the ultimate Judge. As believers, you and I should always use Matthew 18:15-17 when we deal with believers. I believe all of us are very familiar with Matthew 18:15-17: We first go to the believer one-on-one and try to resolve the matter. And if it cannot be done, then we bring one or two witnesses with us to help to resolve the matter. And if that also fails, that is when we bring it to the church; it will become an official matter. And if the person still refuses to repent, then church discipline would have to be exercised: that person will be excommunicated and be treated as a publican, as an unbeliever.
But these Jewish leaders were not even believers. If they were true believers, they would not have planned to assassinate Paul. On top of that, this matter was already in a secular court, in the Roman courts, and within the Roman courts, there will be different levels, whereby the highest level would be the Judgment seat of Caesar. Paul was standing trial in a secular court; as a Roman citizen, he had the right to appeal to the highest court. I think most of us here are very familiar with modern day's court system. In Singapore, you have the District Court, then the Subordinate Court, followed by the Supreme Court, and finally the High Court. In Victoria, the Supreme Court is the highest. The point is that Paul had the right to appeal to the highest court, which is the Judgment seat of Caesar. Here, Matthew 18 is not applicable, as he was already in a secular court, in a Roman court, and he was not dealing with believers.
Verse 12: "Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council,"—which means he discussed with his legal counsel—"answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." In other words, since you have appealed to Caesar, right, then to Caesar you shall go. Perhaps at this point in time Festus would be thinking, "What a relief! I do not have to be placed in a tight situation whereby, on one hand, I have to please the Jewish leaders; on the other hand, I have to fulfill my duty as a Roman judge, my obligation to a Roman citizen." The Jewish leaders would be thinking, "What a crazy man Paul was! Even if we are not able to kill him, at least he'll be killed by the wicked Emperor Nero."
My friends, did anyone realize that several years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ had already appeared to Paul, and he had told him ultimately he would go to Rome? Turn with me to Acts 23: two chapters before this passage, Acts 23:11, let us read together: "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." Our Lord Jesus, He knew the end from the beginning. Nothing happens by chance or coincidence; it is by His appointment. Think about this: our lives, our marriages, our children, our families, our jobs, our migration to Australia, our health, our sicknesses, including our deaths, are all by God's appointment.
Festus might be thinking, "I am the one who sent Paul to Rome to stand trial before the Emperor." The Jewish leaders might be thinking, "We are the ones who forced Paul, so much so that he had no choice but to appeal to Caesar." Even Paul himself might be thinking, "I am the one who appealed to Caesar." But, my friends, they were all instruments by God's appointment. Jesus said, "Just as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." Do you believe that God is in control of every aspect of your life? Every aspect. Nothing happens by chance or coincidence; God is in control. Even this very moment you are sitting in church, it is by His sovereign appointment.
Another important lesson for us to learn is that in life, we will be judged by men in one way or another, just as Paul had to stand before the Bema Judgment seat of Festus and the Bema Judgment seat of Caesar. People may judge us: "He's a good pastor," or "He is a bad pastor," "He's a wonderful deacon," or "He is an irresponsible deacon," or "She's a good Christian," or "She's an ungodly Christian." As believers, some of these judgments we know may not be true; some of them may be true. But one thing for sure, all these judgments will not last for all eternity. In the final analysis, there's only one judgment that will last forever and ever. That is the judgment when we stand before the Bema Judgment seat of Christ, not the judgment that man would render to us, but what our Lord Jesus would say of us.
2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ"—the Bema seat of Christ—"that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad." This Bema Judgment seat of Jesus Christ is reserved for all the believers. They will be judged for their works. For the unbelievers, they would have to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne judgment, be judged, and sent to the eternal Lake of Fire. As a believer, are you ready to stand before the Bema Judgment seat of Christ and let all your works be revealed? Think about this: everything you have done, things that you have said, even the thoughts—everything will be revealed. The Bible says on that day everything will be revealed by fire. Not just the physical works, not just the physical giving of our tithes and offerings, not just our physical services, our worships, singing of hymns. Including the intentions, the motivations, the reasons behind why we do what we do will all be revealed. The Bible says some of our works will be like gold, silver, and precious stones, and they will endure the fire. Others will be like wood, hay, and stubble, and they will vanish like a puff of smoke. Can you imagine all our works will go up in a puff of smoke? God forbids!
The question all of us as believers we have to ask ourselves is: Will my work stand the test? Will my works be gold, silver, and precious stones? Or will my works be wood, hay, and stubble? We may not lose our salvation if we
are true believers, but there may be no rewards awaiting us for all the things we have done. So, my friends, do not be afraid of the judgment seat of men. There may be words spoken against us; there may be things that they will render about us. Be concerned about the Bema seat of Christ because that will be a judgment that will last forever and ever. May the Lord help us to understand and apply spiritual things into our lives. Let us close with a word of prayer.
Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for allowing us to consider this portion of Scriptures. Indeed, how Paul stood before Festus. Thou hast enabled us to draw valuable spiritual lessons that we may apply into our lives. Help us that we will not just read it like the way we read secular books. This is Thy infallible and inerrant Word, and Thou hast recorded for us for a sovereign purpose, that we may learn, be encouraged, be edified, and to draw spiritual lessons from the saints of old. So help us that we will learn and apply into our lives, that we may learn from Thy beloved servant the Apostle Paul. And ultimately, that we will always remember, our Lord Jesus, He is in sovereign control. Nothing happens by chance nor coincidence. Every aspect of our lives are in His hands. It is by His appointment. Help us to believe and understand that, live our lives in accordance to His will. All this we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.