1) After being falsely accused of numerous crimes and evil deeds, Paul didn’t throw a tantrum. Instead, Paul simply stated, “I’m not guilty. It’s not true. I don’t care.” Sometimes, we might feel the need for a grand public display to deny accusations. Perhaps, we should keep it simpler.
2) Then, for strategic reasons, Festus asks Paul if he’s willing to go to Jerusalem. This is akin to asking Donald Trump if he wants to have a court hearing in New York. Most people are astute enough to realize it won’t be fair. You don’t have to like or dislike Donald Trump to know it’s not going to be fair, and Paul understood that having a court appearance in Jerusalem was the wrong venue.
3) Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals to get relief from an unjust court scenario. Ironically, he acknowledges that if he did anything wrong, he’ll pay the price. But because he knows he did nothing wrong, he has nothing to fear, and that God is the ultimate judge. Paul’s appeal was much more rooted in the divine than it appears at first glance. By making his appeal to Caesar, he will spread the gospel in Rome, reaching even further places than before. It seems God knows what He’s doing after all.
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free