Courage and Providence in Persecution: Paul's Trials Before Governors and Kings

2. Before Governors and Kings Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [46] Acts 25:1-27 March 3, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

3. RECAP: A SERIES OF PERSECUTION AND UNJUST TRIALS FOR PAUL • Acts 21: An angry mob attacks Paul; the Roman tribune arrests and takes Paul away from the mob. • Acts 22: Paul defends himself before the Jewish mob [#1]; Paul reveals his Roman citizenship and avoids flogging. • Acts 23: Paul defends himself before the Jewish Sanhedrin [#2]; more than 4o militant Jews plots to ambush and kill Paul. • Acts 24: Paul defends himself before Governor Felix [#3] • TODAY’S TEXT [Acts 25]: Paul defends himself before Governor Festus [#4] and appears King Agrippa & Bernice [#5]

4. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.  19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:17-20 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name  before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Acts 9:15

5. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.  19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:17-20

6. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 1)   Providential Protection: God providentially used Festus to protect Paul from the murderous conspiracy of the Jews. 1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authorityamong you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” (vs. 1-5) • The new governor, Festus refused the Jews’ request for summoning Paul to Jerusalem due to his inconvenience. • Yet unknowingly, Festus was being used by God’s providence. • The lesson for us is to trust and rest in God’s sovereign plan.

7. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 2)   Respect & Courage in relating to government: Paul respectfully submitted to the governmental authority yet he courageously appealed to Caesar. 6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor  against Caesar have I committed any offense.”9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” (vs. 6-9)

8. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 2)   Respect & Courage in relating to government: Paul respectfully submitted to the governmental authority yet he courageously appealed to Caesar. 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” (vs. 10-12) • As governor, Festus was more upright than Felix; yet his noble ideas were compounded by his desire for political gain. • Unlike Jewish zealots, Paul submitted to the Roman authority (Rom. 13:1-5); yet Paul’s courage was remarkable in this appeal.

9. 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  Romans 13:1-2

10. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 2)   Respect & Courage in relating to government: Paul respectfully submitted to the governmental authority yet he courageously appealed to Caesar. 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” (vs. 10-12) • Festus was more just and upright than Felix; yet his noble ideas were also compounded by his desire for political gain. • Unlike Jewish zealots, Paul submitted to the Roman authority (Rom. 13:1-5); yet Paul’s courage was remarkable in this appeal. • Both are important for us as well in relating to government.

11. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 3)   Power & Cost of Integrity: Paul’s integrity was powerful enough to render no punishable charges against him yet costly enough to keep him imprisoned. 13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. (vs. 13-18)

12. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 3)   Power & Cost of Integrity: Paul’s integrity was powerful enough to render no punishable charges against him yet costly enough to keep him imprisoned. 19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” (vs. 19-24) • Festus’ dilemma was that he still needed a sensible charge on Paul to write to Caesar, so he consulted King Agrippa II. • Even with his life, Paul didn’t compromise his integrity. • Our Christian testimony is strengthened by our integrity.

13. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 4)   Secret of Christian Dignity & Confidence: In spite of the great pomp of Agrippa and Bernice, Paul’s secret of confidence was in his total surrender to Christ. 23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. (vs. 23-25)

14. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 4)   Secret of Christian Dignity & Confidence: In spite of the great pomp of Agrippa and Bernice, Paul’s secret of confidence was in his total surrender to Christ. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”(vs. 26-27) • On the outward appearance, King Agrippa and Bernice had all the great glory and Paul looked pitiful in the worldly eyes. • But in the eyes of faith, the true lasting glory was on Paul’s humble yet confident inner strengths. What was his secret?

15. According to tradition, he was only a little fellow and unprepossessing in appearance, balding, with beetle brows, hooked nose and bandy legs, yet “full of grace”. Wearing neither crown nor gown, but only in handcuffs and perhaps a plain prisoner’s tunic, he nevertheless dominated the court with his quiet, Christlike dignity and confidence. John R. W. Stott

16. WHAT UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? 4)   Secret of Christian Dignity & Confidence: In spite of the great pomp of Agrippa and Bernice, Paul’s secret of confidence was in his total surrender to Christ. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”(vs. 26-27) • On the outward appearance, King Agrippa and Bernice had all the great glory and Paul looked pitiful in the worldly eyes. • But in the eyes of faith, the true lasting glory was on Paul’s humble yet confident inner strengths. What was his secret? • Paul’s secret was in his total surrender to Christ; the power and glory of Christ flowed in Paul through the Holy Spirit!

17. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,  our inner self is being renewed day by day.  17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

18. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE • In what ways can follow Paul’s example of respect and courage in relating to the authorities in my life? • How can I cultivate integrity more intentionally in my life? In so doing, what cost should I be willing to pay? • What would it mean for me to live out Paul’s secret of Christian dignity and confidence even in intimidating situations? What would be my first step?