Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. The chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. Appealing to him, they asked as a favor from Festus that he summon Paul to Jerusalem. They were planning to ambush and kill him along the way. But Festus responded by keeping Paul in Caesarea, since he was to return there very soon himself. “Some of your leaders can come down with me,” he said. “If he’s done anything wrong, they can bring charges against him.” He stayed with them for no more than eight or ten days, then went down to Caesarea. The following day he took his seat in the court and ordered that Paul be brought in. When he arrived, many Jews who had come down from Jerusalem surrounded him. They brought serious charges against him, but they couldn’t prove them. In his own defense, Paul said, “I’ve done nothing wrong against the Jewish Law, against the temple, or against Caesar.” Festus, wanting to put the Jews in his debt, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me concerning these things?” Paul replied, “I’m standing before Caesar’s court. I ought to be tried here. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you well know. If I’m guilty and have done something that deserves death, then I won’t try to avoid death. But if there is nothing to their accusations against me, no one has the authority to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” After Festus conferred with his advisors, he responded, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go.” (Acts 25:1-12, CEB)
How many of us have ever been put on trial for our faith?
Not a fake trial, or “we are being persecuted” when we aren’t. I remember about 16 years ago I was teaching a confirmation curriculum at a camp with a bunch of other pastors and I had a shirt that said “This shirt is illegal in 53 countries.” Because it had a cross on it. There were and still are countries where it is illegal to display the cross, and that is persecution. And people in those countries still display crosses, knowing they will be arrested, tried, and possibly killed for those actions.
Would you do that? Paul was willing to die for his faith. He knew God was always with him and the promises were true.
Do you have this faith?
Are you willing to be so bold and outspoken, trusting in what you believe about God and what God is leading you to do, to face trial and possibly death?
I would like to say I am, but I might be wrong.
I pray I would have the faith of Paul to stand in front of accusors and go to death for God.
Know no matter where you are in this, God loves you and will always stand with you.
We need to be bold in our proclamation of love and seek justice for all.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 