Paul Appeals to Caesar
“Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem.” In making this request they intended to ambush Paul along the road and murder him.
ULe 156.1
But Festus had a high sense of responsibility, and he courteously declined. He declared that it is “not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself” (Acts 25:16).
ULe 156.2
The Jews had not forgotten their earlier defeat at Caesarea. Again they urged Festus to send Paul to Jerusalem for trial, but Festus held firmly to his plan to give Paul a fair trial at Caesarea. God controlled the decision of Festus, to lengthen the life of the apostle.
ULe 156.3
The Jewish leaders immediately prepared to testify against Paul at the court of the procurator. Festus, “sitting on the judgment seat, ... commanded Paul to be brought. ... The Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.” As the trial went along, Paul clearly showed, calmly and openly, that his accusers’ statements were not true.
ULe 156.4
Festus recognized that nothing in the charges against Paul would make him subject to death or even imprisonment. Yet he saw clearly the storm of rage that would follow if he did not condemn Paul or turn him over to his accusers. And so, “wanting to do the Jews a favor,” Festus asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem under his protection, to be tried by the Sanhedrin.
ULe 156.5
The apostle knew that he would be safer among the heathen than with those who had rejected light from heaven and hardened their hearts against the gospel. So he decided to exercise his right, as a Roman citizen, to appeal to Caesar: “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
ULe 156.6
Festus knew nothing about the conspiracies of the Jews to murder Paul and was surprised by this appeal to Caesar. However, the words of the apostle put a stop to the court’s proceedings. “Festus ... answered, ‘You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!’”
ULe 157.1
1980
ULe
Unlikely Leaders
[{"para_id":"1980.18","title":"Foreword","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0003_eng_m_foreword_1980_18.mp3#duration=169&size=1506089"},{"para_id":"1980.30","title":"God\u2019s Purpose for His Church","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0004_eng_m_god_s_purpose_for_his_church_1980_30.mp3#duration=322&size=2727242"},{"para_id":"1980.51","title":"The Training of the Twelve","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0005_eng_m_the_training_of_the_twelve_1980_51.mp3#duration=416&size=3481521"},{"para_id":"1980.75","title":"The Good News to Go Everywhere","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0008_eng_m_the_good_news_to_go_everywhere_1980_75.mp3#duration=534&size=4425929"},{"para_id":"1980.104","title":"Pentecost: The Apostles Begin Their Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0011_eng_m_pentecost_the_apostles_begin_their_work_1980_104.mp3#duration=696&size=5717397"},{"para_id":"1980.147","title":"The Gift of the Spirit Is for Us","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0016_eng_m_the_gift_of_the_spirit_is_for_us_1980_147.mp3#duration=579&size=4784651"},{"para_id":"1980.179","title":"Peter and John Forbidden to Do Christ\u2019s Work","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0019_eng_m_peter_and_john_forbidden_to_do_christ_s_work_1980_179.mp3#duration=729&size=5986473"},{"para_id":"1980.219","title":"A Dishonest Husband and Wife Punished","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0023_eng_m_a_dishonest_husband_and_wife_punished_1980_219.mp3#duration=389&size=3266244"},{"para_id":"1980.241","title":"Peter and John Freed From Prison","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0025_eng_m_peter_and_john_freed_from_prison_1980_241.mp3#duration=561&size=4641808"},{"para_id":"1980.274","title":"Why the Seven Deacons Were Chosen","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0029_eng_m_why_the_seven_deacons_were_chosen_1980_274.mp3#duration=548&size=4537574"},{"para_id":"1980.306","title":"Stephen, the First Martyr for Christ","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0033_eng_m_stephen_the_first_martyr_for_christ_1980_306.mp3#duration=341&size=2878217"},{"para_id":"1980.327","title":"The Gospel Reaches Samaria and Ethiopia","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0036_eng_m_the_gospel_reaches_samaria_and_ethiopia_1980_327.mp3#duration=565&size=4675137"},{"para_id":"1980.363","title":"From Saul to Paul: Persecutor to Disciple","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0040_eng_m_from_saul_to_paul_persecutor_to_disciple_1980_363.mp3#duration=740&size=6070013"},{"para_id":"1980.402","title":"How God Educated Paul","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0044_eng_m_how_god_educated_paul_1980_402.mp3#duration=487&size=4047796"},{"para_id":"1980.428","title":"The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0047_eng_m_the_gospel_goes_to_the_gentiles_1980_428.mp3#duration=696&size=5723175"},{"para_id":"1980.473","title":"An Angel Delivers Peter From Prison","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0051_eng_m_an_angel_delivers_peter_from_prison_1980_473.mp3#duration=727&size=5969196"},{"para_id":"1980.521","title":"Dramatic Success at Antioch","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0056_eng_m_dramatic_success_at_antioch_1980_521.mp3#duration=651&size=5357073"},{"para_id":"1980.558","title":"Heralds of the Gospel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0060_eng_m_heralds_of_the_gospel_1980_558.mp3#duration=585&size=4829908"},{"para_id":"1980.596","title":"The Apostles Are Both Persecuted and Adored","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0064_eng_m_the_apostles_are_both_persecuted_and_adored_1980_596.mp3#duration=629&size=5181786"},{"para_id":"1980.637","title":"Thorny Problems Settled by the Holy Spirit","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0068_eng_m_thorny_problems_settled_by_the_holy_spirit_1980_637.mp3#duration=770&size=6313105"},{"para_id":"1980.677","title":"Paul\u2019s Secret: Exalt the Cross","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0072_eng_m_paul_s_secret_exalt_the_cross_1980_677.mp3#duration=539&size=4461990"},{"para_id":"1980.706","title":"Angels Open a Philippian Prison","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0075_eng_m_angels_open_a_philippian_prison_1980_706.mp3#duration=605&size=4987906"},{"para_id":"1980.745","title":"A Revival and a Riot at Thessalonica","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0080_eng_m_a_revival_and_a_riot_at_thessalonica_1980_745.mp3#duration=602&size=4969654"},{"para_id":"1980.790","title":"Paul Preaches in Berea and Athens","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0082_eng_m_paul_preaches_in_berea_and_athens_1980_790.mp3#duration=728&size=5977879"},{"para_id":"1980.832","title":"Preaching the Power of the Cross in Corinth","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0088_eng_m_preaching_the_power_of_the_cross_in_corinth_1980_832.mp3#duration=694&size=5701101"},{"para_id":"1980.874","title":"Two Important Letters to the Thessalonians","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0093_eng_m_two_important_letters_to_the_thessalonians_1980_874.mp3#duration=715&size=5870791"},{"para_id":"1980.918","title":"Church Politics at Corinth","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0097_eng_m_church_politics_at_corinth_1980_918.mp3#duration=721&size=5917603"},{"para_id":"1980.955","title":"Witchcraft Books Burned","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0101_eng_m_witchcraft_books_burned_1980_955.mp3#duration=629&size=5179502"},{"para_id":"1980.989","title":"The Silversmiths Riot at Ephesus","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0105_eng_m_the_silversmiths_riot_at_ephesus_1980_989.mp3#duration=452&size=3771256"},{"para_id":"1980.1016","title":"Paul Challenges Lawsuits and Sexual Looseness","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0108_eng_m_paul_challenges_lawsuits_and_sexual_looseness_1980_1016.mp3#duration=572&size=4726644"},{"para_id":"1980.1046","title":"Paul Strengthens the Church for All Time","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0112_eng_m_paul_strengthens_the_church_for_all_time_1980_1046.mp3#duration=797&size=6531372"},{"para_id":"1980.1091","title":"Corinth Accepts Paul\u2019s Counsel","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0116_eng_m_corinth_accepts_paul_s_counsel_1980_1091.mp3#duration=719&size=5904799"},{"para_id":"1980.1130","title":"The Joy of Liberal Giving","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0120_eng_m_the_joy_of_liberal_giving_1980_1130.mp3#duration=652&size=5371632"},{"para_id":"1980.1168","title":"Working Under Great Difficulties","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0124_eng_m_working_under_great_difficulties_1980_1168.mp3#duration=700&size=5753393"},{"para_id":"1980.1204","title":"The Joy of Working With Christ","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0128_eng_m_the_joy_of_working_with_christ_1980_1204.mp3#duration=692&size=5691065"},{"para_id":"1980.1240","title":"God\u2019s Special Plan for the Jews","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0132_eng_m_god_s_special_plan_for_the_jews_1980_1240.mp3#duration=541&size=4477479"},{"para_id":"1980.1271","title":"Paul\u2019s Timeless Letter to the Galatians","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0136_eng_m_paul_s_timeless_letter_to_the_galatians_1980_1271.mp3#duration=308&size=2615020"},{"para_id":"1980.1289","title":"Paul\u2019s Farewell Journey to Jerusalem","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0139_eng_m_paul_s_farewell_journey_to_jerusalem_1980_1289.mp3#duration=580&size=4789012"},{"para_id":"1980.1327","title":"Paul Receives Bad Advice","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0143_eng_m_paul_receives_bad_advice_1980_1327.mp3#duration=1194&size=9706098"},{"para_id":"1980.1395","title":"Paul\u2019s Trial at Caesarea","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0152_eng_m_paul_s_trial_at_caesarea_1980_1395.mp3#duration=511&size=4235576"},{"para_id":"1980.1426","title":"Paul Appeals to Caesar","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0155_eng_m_paul_appeals_to_caesar_1980_1426.mp3#duration=275&size=2350329"},{"para_id":"1980.1442","title":"The King Who Refused the Cross","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0157_eng_m_the_king_who_refused_the_cross_1980_1442.mp3#duration=378&size=3174644"},{"para_id":"1980.1469","title":"Paul Experiences Shipwreck in a Storm","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0160_eng_m_paul_experiences_shipwreck_in_a_storm_1980_1469.mp3#duration=550&size=4551613"},{"para_id":"1980.1503","title":"Paul in Rome: Big-City Evangelist in Chains","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0164_eng_m_paul_in_rome_big_city_evangelist_in_chains_1980_1503.mp3#duration=835&size=6834757"},{"para_id":"1980.1552","title":"Paul Wins Converts in the Emperor\u2019s Palace","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0169_eng_m_paul_wins_converts_in_the_emperor_s_palace_1980_1552.mp3#duration=417&size=3488291"},{"para_id":"1980.1575","title":"The Letters Paul Wrote From Rome","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0172_eng_m_the_letters_paul_wrote_from_rome_1980_1575.mp3#duration=857&size=7008357"},{"para_id":"1980.1622","title":"Paul Is Free Once More","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0177_eng_m_paul_is_free_once_more_1980_1622.mp3#duration=201&size=1755053"},{"para_id":"1980.1635","title":"Paul\u2019s Final Arrest and Imprisonment","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0179_eng_m_paul_s_final_arrest_and_imprisonment_1980_1635.mp3#duration=148&size=1332519"},{"para_id":"1980.1643","title":"Paul Again Before Nero","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0180_eng_m_paul_again_before_nero_1980_1643.mp3#duration=352&size=2969795"},{"para_id":"1980.1661","title":"Paul Pours Out His Heart in His Last Letter","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0182_eng_m_paul_pours_out_his_heart_in_his_last_letter_1980_1661.mp3#duration=659&size=5425358"},{"para_id":"1980.1697","title":"Paul Dies for the One Who Died for Him","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0187_eng_m_paul_dies_for_the_one_who_died_for_him_1980_1697.mp3#duration=300&size=2547937"},{"para_id":"1980.1710","title":"The Apostle Peter, a Faithful Undershepherd","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0189_eng_m_the_apostle_peter_a_faithful_undershepherd_1980_1710.mp3#duration=828&size=6775774"},{"para_id":"1980.1757","title":"Peter Crucified at Rome","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0194_eng_m_peter_crucified_at_rome_1980_1757.mp3#duration=550&size=4549356"},{"para_id":"1980.1786","title":"John, the Beloved Disciple","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0198_eng_m_john_the_beloved_disciple_1980_1786.mp3#duration=407&size=3403269"},{"para_id":"1980.1810","title":"John, Faithful Witness for Christ","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0201_eng_m_john_faithful_witness_for_christ_1980_1810.mp3#duration=680&size=5589295"},{"para_id":"1980.1846","title":"John\u2019s Secret of True Sanctification","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0205_eng_m_john_s_secret_of_true_sanctification_1980_1846.mp3#duration=666&size=5479067"},{"para_id":"1980.1880","title":"John Is Exiled to Lonely Patmos","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0208_eng_m_john_is_exiled_to_lonely_patmos_1980_1880.mp3#duration=557&size=4604902"},{"para_id":"1980.1908","title":"John Sees the Visions of the Revelation","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0212_eng_m_john_sees_the_visions_of_the_revelation_1980_1908.mp3#duration=842&size=6888782"},{"para_id":"1980.1951","title":"A Glorious Future Is Before Us","mp3":"\/mp3\/1980\/0217_eng_m_a_glorious_future_is_before_us_1980_1951.mp3#duration=551&size=4560490"}]