Festus explains that there was no guilt in Paul, talks to a religious expert to find a crime.

Acts 25:17-22

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“Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.” Acts 25:17

Festus went to Jerusalem and spent ten days with the Jewish leaders, who wanted Paul killed. The very next day, upon the return of Festus to Caesarea in Judea, all the Jewish leaders met Festus there, and Paul was brought in to begin his trial [Acts 25:6-7]. Today, the atheistic community culture, which is global, comes together in their judgment against Christians, Jesus Christ, and the entire Gospel of Christ. Those sitting on the earthly judgment seat, in the courtrooms, are also atheists. They are being governed by the atheistic entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. This is the entity “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

“When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed…” Acts 25:18

This verse explains the sole reason that Festus involved Agrippa into Paul’s case. There was no crime that Paul was guilty of, and he couldn’t send Paul to Caesar’s supreme court without specifying a charge against him. Therefore, the assistance of Agrippa was solicited, who was an expert in Jewish affairs, laws of Judaism, and customs of the Jewish culture [but not in being born-again through Jesus Christ]. Festus needed Agrippa to find a crime Paul was guilty of so that a charge could be specified [Acts 25:26-27].

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not guilty of any crimes against the community culture nor against the government authorities. We live by the words of the Holy Spirit who says, “…to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.“ Titus 3:1-2 Even then, those of today’s culture will find something in our words or behaviors to accuse us of violating humanitarian practices. Especially when it comes to not integrating into the customs of their atheistic culture. Although they have a form of Godliness, they deny the existence of a living God, scoff at the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and oppose the presence of the Holy Spirit.

About the worldly culture, Jesus said, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:9 Today, those doctrines are rooted in humanism and humanism is the fig leaf worn by those who live and govern for the entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Humanism is “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”

In our words and behaviors, today’s culture will find a wrongdoing because we put the word of God above the teachings of human beings, and we do not exalt the praise of people above our praise for God through Jesus Christ. We do not follow their humanistic doctrines because we believe the word of God, but we are judged according to humanitarian standards that leave out the standards of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus said, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” John 5:44 Today’s culture has “…exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

“…but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Acts 25:19

The issue that the Jewish people had with Paul was about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Festus phrased it in a different way by saying the Jewish people said Jesus had died but Paul saying that He was alive. Festus could not put the death and resurrection of Jesus into a sentence. Festus made it sound like a debate of whether Jesus was alive or not, not whether He had been resurrected from the grave after three days. Likewise, those of today’s culture do not believe in anything beyond the grave, death is final. The resurrection is not in their vocabulary, and they would not be able to explain what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means.

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is what our faith is all about. The resurrection is all about our born-again experience, dying to the ways of this world and being resurrected to life in the Spirit. The resurrection power of God is also how we will be resurrected from the grave into eternal life in the New Jerusalem, in the new heaven and earth.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-19

“And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.” Acts 25:20-21

Festus was holding his court in what would be the state level courts of today. Festus knew that the lower courts of the Jewish people had already condemned Paul and wanted him killed [Acts 25:1-3]. But he requested Paul to go to Jerusalem to be tried anyway. Of course Paul said he was not willing to put his life in the hands of the murderous Jewish leaders of the lower courts [God had already said to Paul that he must go to Rome to testify, Acts 23:11]. In today’s culture, Christianity stands no chance in the lower courts of this world.

Paul appealed to the highest court of the land, he appealed to Caesar, who was also known as Augustus, who was Nero [the brutal Christian-killing Roman Emperor of that day]. The name of “Caesar” is like the name “Pope”, the name “Augustus” is like the name that the Pope chooses to be known by, and the name “Nero” is like the actual name of the Pope. Paul appealed to Caesar in Acts 25:11-12

Today, if Christianity were to have any chance at all in America, it would be at the Supreme Court level. That’s because the Supreme Court decides cases based on constitutional law. The constitution used to be known as being founded on belief in God and rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why America is known as having a church built on every street corner, and Las Vegas is known as “sin city” because they have a gambling casino on every street corner, and every other fleshly vice as well. However, today’s Supreme Court seems to be governed more by “Nero” than being governed by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. The government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible into laws and policies. The governing authorities are focused on establishing the framework of the one world government through the goals of the United Nations.

“Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.” Acts 25:22

Festus wanted Agrippa to find a reason to charge Paul with a crime, as quoted, “I have nothing certain to write to my lord [Caesar] concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” Acts 25:26-27 As a religious expert, Agrippa was on a dirt finding mission, he needed to incriminate Paul before Paul was sent to Caesar’s supreme court. That’s the only reason they wanted to hear Paul make a speech.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1