Jewish leaders claimed Paul deserved the death penalty, but he had not committed a crime.

Acts 25:24-25

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“And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him.” Acts 25:24-25

Today, cities all around the world are in an uproar against the testimony of Jesus Christ. If you are not hearing the uproar verbally, then it can be heard shouting through the absence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even then, we have not committed a crime against today’s culture nor against the governing authorities. We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit who says, “…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

Paul was setting in the courtroom listening to Festus speaking about him, and how Festus was not being completely truthful. Festus said that he determined Paul to be an innocent man, not deserving of being put to death, and therefore he granted Paul’s appeal to be tried in the highest court of the land. The truth is that the reason Paul appealed to Caesar is because Festus tried to return Paul’s case to the lower court of the Jewish leaders, Acts 25:9. Festus did this even after knowing that the Jewish leaders had already condemned Paul and planned to have him killed, Acts 25:1-3.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we will never hear the truth from government leaders about the intent to exterminate the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Christians, and Christianity in its entirety. We are like Paul who hear what the governing authorities are saying but nothing they say rings true. They portray themselves as being the Christ and savior that protects from the elements coming against God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They leave out the part that they realize there is the intent to extinguish Christianity on the grassroot level of the social network. They have no intention of reviving Christianity as they quietly let the Gospel of Jesus Christ die out.

We have to realize we live in a world where government leaders make their agenda look Godly, but at the same time they deny the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing they say can be accepted on face value. For example, the killing of the unborn is called “Reproductive Rights” or “Healthcare” or “Planned Parenthood”. The truth is, there is no reproduction, healthcare, or parenthood when the unborn child does not see the light of day. In the same way, the LGBQT+ agenda is disguised. For example, the “Respect for Marriage Act” has nothing to do with the family as God designed [with Jesus Christ as the head of the family] but has everything to do with promoting same sex marriages. In fact, the “Respect for Marriage Act” repeals the “Defense of Marriage Act” that designates marriage as being between a man and a woman.

We are seeing the beast with two horns like a lamb everywhere we turn nowadays [Revelation 13:11-12]. This is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit and is also known as the wolf in sheep clothing.

Our Lord Jesus has prepared us for these days when He said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:16-22

In coming verses, we will see how Paul did not focus on, or challenge, the lies and half-truths told by Festus when it was his turn to present his defense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we have to see our way past the stigma that society has placed on us so that we solely focus on our born-again testimony, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

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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