“PAUL CHOOSES ROME”
Season: Book of Acts
Episode 30: “Paul Chooses Rome”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 25
Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iQxBq4srTg (Mission Bible Class – Paul’s Trial)
“But Paul replied, ‘No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!’” (Acts 24:10-11, NLT)
After Paul was taken to safety from Jerusalem to Caesarea, he was kept as a Roman prisoner, but was still given permission to speak freely to people about Jesus. The Roman governor Felix had heard stories of “The Way” (that was what people called Christianity in Paul’s day) and liked to talk to Paul; unfortunately, Felix kept Paul in prison, hoping to get a bride from Paul to let him go free. After two years, Felix was then replaced by a man named Festus, and again the Jewish leaders tried to find a way to kill Paul. Festus asked Paul if he would be willing to stand trial in Jerusalem, but Paul refused. He knew that this would only put him in danger and so he appealed to Rome—that meant that as a Roman citizen, Paul wanted to go to the highest court and have his trial before Caesar himself. Festus had to agree, but didn’t know what kind of letter to send along with Paul to Caesar.
King Agrippa and his wife Bernice made a visit to Festus and he invited them to help him figure out what he should write and they agreed. The next day, Paul met with the court and he talked openly about his faith in Jesus and why he was teaching everyone about him. Festus thought Paul was talking nonsense; King Agrippa and Bernice, who understood the Jewish faith, understood Paul but refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. However, all three agreed that Paul had not done anything worthy of being imprisoned, and could have gone free if he had not requested to be sent to stand trial before Caesar.
Think about it...
• The Jewish leaders were determined to see Paul put to death. How did God protect him?
• Even though a prisoner of Rome, Paul was still given freedom to have friends over and to share his faith. Why didn’t Felix let him go free?
• Festus replaced Felix and asked Paul if he would be willing to stand for trial in Jerusalem. Why did Paul refuse?
• As a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to have his case judged by Caesar. Festus, King Agrippa and Bernice didn’t think he had done anything wrong deserving to be in jail. What do you think Caesar will decide?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for taking care of Paul, even while in prison. Thank you for his bravery and the opportunity you gave him to tell others about Jesus. Help me to remember to always be ready to tell others about you too.