Christians in court

But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?" So Paul said, "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."
Acts 25:9-11

Let us learn the following two lessons:

First, the judge’s obligation is to pursue justice. It is not to do any of the parties “a favor.” So: (1) Let always seek to judge justly. (2) Let us not be surprised when judges are corrupt (yes, that is what doing favors in court is!). And (3) as we vote on a long list of judges in the upcoming election (most of whom we know nothing about) let us pray that those who judge will do so justly.

Second, Paul relied on his privilege as a Roman citizen to ask that his case be brought before Caesar in Rome. Paul was both trusting in the Lord, and using every legal means to seek justice. We need to do both. We must trust in the Lord no matter what, but it is not only not wrong, it is in fact wise to use the available legal means in our quest for justice.

Why is this taking so long?

"Therefore," he [Festus] said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him." And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all." Acts 25:5-8

Let’s not forget that this court case originated two years earlier. Paul had been imprisoned ever since. Trial followed trial, followed trial. Now before Festus, the gears of justice continued to grind ever so slowly. I doubt that I am the only one, but I grow impatient when things take longer than they should. May the Lord grant us patience when our time table is faster than reality!

Note also that while Paul was in prison waiting needlessly for a verdict on a case that should already have been settled two years earlier, his accusers were ripe and ready to register their charges yet again. Like the devil who ever lives to make accusation, human false accusers seldom tire from whining their accusations. In this case, their accusations were without evidence, and therefore without merit!

The lesson again: When we can do something about injustice, we should do what we can. But when it is our of our hands, we must trust the Lord who is sovereign over all!

When I do not get what I want, may I be thankful I do not get what I deserve!

But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. "Therefore," he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him." Acts 25:4-5

Though the Jewish religious leaders made their request to move Paul to Jerusalem, Festus denied the request. Caesarea was the seat of the Roman government in Palestine and Paul was to be questioned there. Festus was planning to be there shortly and he planned to preside over the proceedings.

It is of interest that Festus said his intentions were “to see if there is any fault in [Paul]." Think if it. Paul had been imprisoned for over two years and the courts were still unsure if there was enough evidence to determine his guilt or innocence. And that after Paul had already presented testimony demonstrating that the charges were bogus! Human government. At best it is inefficient. At worst it doesn’t care about justice and is corrupt.

My wife once wrote a song stating “there will be no lasting peace until Shiloh comes,” referring to the time when Christ shall return and justice will reign. Until then, part of living in a fallen world means enduring injustice because of sin. Who besides me is glad that Christ’s kingdom, though we do not see it fully realized yet, is a kingdom of perfect justice?

And who besides me is grateful that the justice we deserve for our sins was poured out on Jesus while He was on the cross? While perfect justice will be suffered by the unrepentant who do not trust in Christ, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

We recently experienced a disappointing setback because of governmental imperfection. My solace is that this speedbump is nothing compared to the just wrath of God that I deserve because of my sins—but that Jesus graciously took for me.

Heavenly perspective makes life in this fallen world easier to bear and makes me thankful for God’s grace!

Bitterness, or forgiveness?

Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem--because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Acts 25:1-3

Let’s not forget that Paul had been imprisoned for a little more than two years—unjustly, based on groundless charges. Felix, the Roman authority, was replaced by Festus as successor. The Jewish religious leaders were still consumed with hatred toward Paul. Their hatred toward Paul was really hatred for Christ Jesus. They “laid out their case against Paul” again! Two years later!

They asked Festus to have Paul moved to Jerusalem where they could be sure that Paul would get an even more unfair trial, while in actuality they still planned to “ambush [and] to kill him on the way.”

Besides the history lesson, there is a great lesson here about hatred and bitterness. It is bad enough that after two years they were still consumed with hatred and bitterness toward Paul (and Christ) if the charges were true. But they weren’t! They had no doubt become true in their minds, since hatred and bitterness don’t depend on truth.

Friends, it is wise when we are confessing our sins (you do that regularly, I trust?) to also ask the Lord to show us who we need to forgive. Besides the fact that if we are not forgiving, we are rather presumptuous to expect the Lord to forgive us. When we are not forgiving, when we are hanging on to hatred and bitterness (whether we were wronged or not), we do ourselves harm—not the other person(s).

As the saying goes, “Bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die as a result.”

Suffering injustice

When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Acts 24:27

Two years?! That’s right, Paul was imprisoned for two years waiting for justice. Had justice been served, he would have been released because the charges against him were groundless. But alas, governments (and often large organizations) move slowly and are often insensitive to the plights of the individuals they are supposedly serving.

Though it is often hard to understand it, God is still in control. That does not mean that Paul’s extended wrongful imprisonment was according to God’s revealed will concerning justice. What it does mean is that even when people act wrongly, God can and does use even injustice to accomplish His greater plan. Make no mistake about it, those responsible for injustice (or any other wrongdoing) will answer to God for their sin.

What this kind of thing means for those who suffer wrong is that, though we may do what we can working through the proper channels to right the wrong, when we can do nothing, we must trust the Lord. And sometimes we may suffer loss and it may be prolonged.

There is perhaps no more dramatic example of this than the life of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s brothers did him wrong in a big way. He suffered for many years as a result. But in the end, God used the injustices suffered by Joseph (and there were several), to bring about God’s greater good. Let us remember Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

So the next time you or I suffer wrong, let us with Christ-like character do what we can to remedy the situation. But whether or not we can work the matter, let us trust that God has plans that may hinge on our dilemmas.

Liking good preaching may mean nothing

Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. Acts 24:26

Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, and ruler of Galilee in Jesus’ day liked to listen to John the Baptist preach (Mark 6:20). Yet when Herod’s stepdaughter asked Herod for John’s head, Herod had John beheaded (Matthew 14:6-12). Apparently, liking good preaching may mean nothing.

In Acts 24, Felix apparently liked talking with the Apostle Paul—while Paul was under arrest and unjustly imprisoned based on groundless charges. Knowing what we know about Paul, it is unlikely that when Felix brought Paul in for “conversation,” that the two jawed about news, weather, and sports. As Paul said, “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16-18).

Yet Felix continued to keep Paul imprisoned and eventually shipped Paul off to Rome as a prisoner. Paul was eventually beheaded in Rome.

Is there a lesson to be learned? Enjoying good preaching and conversation about the Lord does not guarantee that one is a child of God. I wonder how many will one day stand before the Lord and say, “Lord, Lord, I liked to listen to preaching,” and will then hear the words, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!”?

It doesn’t matter how much one enjoys good preaching if one fails to trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sin and salvation. The point of preaching is not entertainment or even mental stimulation. If those kinds of interests are why one likes to listen to good preaching, it will end up meaning nothing at all in the day of judgment.

"On the take"

Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. Acts 24:26

Felix was not only disinterested in what Paul had to say about Christ and the Gospel, he was a stereotypical government agent hoping for a bribe. Why would he think Paul had money to pay his way out of legal troubles?

Because “paying for justice” has always been a way out of trouble—for those who can afford it. Jesus spoke about this when He rhetorically asked, “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus was speaking of course about standing for the judgment of God. Clearly no amount of money can sway the Judge of all the earth.

Because Felix was probably aware that Paul had collected money from Christians in Asia Minor and Greece to give to the suffering Christians in Jerusalem and the rest of Israel. Maybe Paul would give some or all of that benevolence money to Felix for a speedy release from imprisonment. Felix failed to realize that Paul would never stoop that low. Maybe if Paul could raise a large sum for the poor, he could raise a large sum to buy his way out of legal trouble. Again, Felix didn’t know Paul, did he?

And Felix didn’t give up easily. He continued to ask not about religious matters, but about extorting money from Paul for his release.

A final thought: Are all people in positions of power “on the take”? Thankfully, no. But there are many who are, and given time and opportunity, many more are likely to end up becoming crooked.

When our words are not received

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Acts 24:24-25

Okay, one more post on when people do not want to hear. As Christians we speak the gospel to nonbelievers evangelistically. And we speak the Word to believers, offering biblical counsel. In both cases we should not be surprised when people do not want to listen. We have not always listened, have we?

When nonbelievers do not want to hear the gospel, let us remember how many times we may have had the same reaction before we were born again by the Holy Spirit. Let us not take offense. We are not being rejected but Christ is being rejected. Let us pray that what the person has heard will continue to convict them and that the Holy Spirit will convert them. Let us also pray that the Lord will send another person to proclaim the gospel from whom they may more readily receive.

When believers do not receive biblical counsel, let us remember the times when we rejected sound biblical counsel. Let us ask the Lord to show us whether our counsel was truly biblical, or just our subjective opinions. Let us pray that if the counsel was indeed biblical, that the Holy Spirit will work in the person’s heart to receive His words, not ours! And let us pray the Lord will send another person with sound biblical counsel from whom they more readily receive.

What is important is the gospel and biblical counsel—not the evangelist nor the counselor.

One more night with the frogs

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Acts 24:24-25

Last time we began thinking about putting things off until tomorrow that really need to be dealt with today. Our response to Christ and the gospel is no doubt the most important item in this category!

Felix’s spiritual procrastination reminds me of a similar event in Exodus. The plagues had begun and Pharaoh was stubbornly refusing to surrender to the God he could in no way defeat. Then came the plague of frogs (Exodus 8). Pharaoh didn’t want his land to be overrun by frogs so he told Moses to get rid of them and that he would let the Israelites go (Exodus 8:8). Moses asked the Egyptian king when he wanted to rid the land of the frogs, and when God’s people could depart from Egypt.

Pharaoh’s response is classic. “Tomorrow.” (8:10)

Pharaoh wanted the frogs go and he was willing to let the Israelites go—well, he was ‘kinda’ willing to let the Israelites go. But he was willing to endure one more night with the frogs.

We read that and think, “What’s wrong with you, Pharaoh?” But how often are nonbelievers willing to endure the frogs a little longer so repentance and belief in Christ can be postponed?

And what about we who are in Christ? How often do we delay repentance of some sins until “tomorrow?”

The extra day with the frogs resulted in Pharaoh reneging on his promise to let the Israelites go. And our delayed repentance often becomes no repentance at all!

“I’ll think about it tomorrow”

And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Acts 24:24-25

Scarlett O'Hara, the heroine of “Gone with the Wind,” famously said, “I’ll think about it tomorrow.” She didn’t want to deal with anything uncomfortable today, and so she figured tomorrow would be a better time. But when what needs to be done today is put off until tomorrow, tomorrow often never comes.

This appears to be the case with Felix. The Roman historian Tacitus described Felix, the Roman governor over Judea and Samaria, as “cruel, licentious, and base.” He was somewhat acquainted with “Jewish sect” (as it was understood to be at the time), of Christianity. Paul stood before Felix regarding Paul’s fate in the face of criminal charges. Rather than merely defending himself, the Apostle spoke about Christ and the gospel—including the judgement of God to come. (Please do not miss that God’s judgment is a part of the gospel!)

Luke records that Felix was “afraid.” Why? Because like all people (Romans 1:18-ff), Felix knew that God exists and that all will be judged by God. Felix was reminded by Paul that he was guilty before God and that judgment was coming. So Felix was correctly afraid.

Felix employed a common means of “suppressing the truth in unrighteousness.” He did this, as do so many throughout history, by saying, “I’ll think about it tomorrow.”

God’s Word warns us not to be so foolish since “Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Thank God for small favors

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. Acts 24:22-23

Sure, Paul was under arrest and being held as a prisoner. Not optimum, to say the least.

But, the Lord in His kind mercies, allowed Paul “liberty,” and allowed Paul’s friends to visit him any time.

In big picture matters I am an optimist. I know God’s Kingdom cannot fail. But in the little things, I can easily be more prone to fret over life’s inconveniences than to notice and praise God for His small, and therefore easily overlooked blessings.

If this resonates with you, lets you and I resolve to look for God’s blessings, no matter how small, and praise Him for these bits of kindness. And let us resolve not to major on the things we do not like, about which we have no control.

Life will be better, I’m sure!

Hurry up and wait

But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
Acts 24:22-23

About these verses one commentator wrote the following:

After Paul had defended himself, Felix explained that he would wait for the arrival of Claudius Lysias before deciding Paul's case. In view of Paul's defense, he should have dismissed the case for lack of evidence. Instead he adjourned the court. (Baker New Testament Commentary)

Hurry up and wait. This is the way of government and big business.

What about Felix “having more accurate knowledge of the Way [Christianity]”? Felix was not a Christian by any stretch of the imagination, but by this time Christianity was established enough that as a shrewd bureaucrat, he wisely must have educated himself about it. He was neither a spokesman nor an expert n Christianity, but he had a more accurate knowledge of the faith than most.

As previously stated, the law would have leaned toward releasing Paul since the charges were flimsy, having no evidence to support them. Why then was Paul held for more inquests into the matter? From a human standpoint, I cannot say. But from a divine standpoint, first, God wanted Paul to go to Roman (even as a prisoner). Second, it is while imprisoned that Paul would pen (God was the divine Author), a number of books that make up our New Testament.

We often do not understand God’s providential plans or His timing. When this is the case, let us by faith embrace what we cannot change, knowing that God has everything under control.

How's your conscience?

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16

As a footnote to Paul’s defense before Felix, I have been thinking about the Apostle’s words regarding conscience. A couple of thoughts:

Conscience is not always reliable. Everyone has a conscience. This is part of what it means to be an image bearer of God. Not everyone’s conscience is equally reliable since people believe all sorts of lies, and when a person’s mind is filled with lies, that person’s conscience reflects those lies. For our consciences to be reliable…

Conscience needs to be properly programmed by the Word of God. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 that believers need to have renewed minds. This renewing of the mind has two equally important phases: (1) Unlearning the lies we’ve believed, and (2) learning the truth as set forth in the Bible. The result is a properly (that is, biblically) programmed conscience.

Conscience (biblically programmed) needs to be obeyed. If we know the truth and habitually disobey the truth, we are in dangerous waters. Therefore, let us be serious about…

>>Learning the Word of God, which is the only pure source for truth. >>Saying “No,” to the lies the world is constantly feeding us. >>And “being doers, not just hearers of the Word,” lest we deceive ourselves.

Keeping the main thing, the main thing

However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin-- unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence:

'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
Acts 24:14-21

Please note that Paul’s defense before Felix had two points: (1) Paul’s proclamation of the gospel, and (2) Paul’s defense of regarding the charges made against Him

First, Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. This is first! Granted, Paul did not give a full presentation of the gospel in this case (though he certainly would in later legal proceedings), but Paul’s first point was that following Jesus was neither new nor novel as it was prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

Second Paul again explained that the specific charges against him were fallacious.

The lesson is just this: besides sticking with “just the facts,” while refraining from attacking his accusers, Paul made clear who he was and what he was doing because of his commitment to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us remember to “keep the main thing, the main thing.” And what is the main thing? Christ and the gospel—including the Resurrection!

"Just the facts"

When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. Acts 24:10-13

In the iconic radio, and then television show, Dragnet, LAPD detective Sgt. Joe Friday was famous for the words, “Just the facts.” He said these words to those he was interviewing when their statements got side-tracked from, well, the facts!

Paul’s accusers front-loaded their testimony with slanderous (and false) statements about him. When he had opportunity to answer the charges, he rightly and wisely refrained from returning evil for evil by making any personal attack statements about those who had verbally assailed him. Instead, Paul stuck with, “just the facts.” He simply stated that the charges were false, while pointing out that his prosecutors had no facts to substantiate their accusations.

The natural urge in most of us is to answer personal attacks with retaliatory personal attacks. Let us learn from Paul (and a host of proverbs) not to make things more personal than is prudent and simply stick with “just the facts.”

Those screaming for justice are frequently the farthest from justice themselves

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
Acts 24:5-9

The libelous attacks against Paul as a person aside, what about the actual charges? From the biased perspective of the Jewish religious leaders, they were as true as true could be. Though Paul was not out to create “dissension among the Jews throughout the world,” it is true that the gospel does divide. It divides those who believe from those who do not believe. And we shouldn’t be surprised about that. But that is never our aim when proclaiming Christ and the gospel.

As for “profaning the temple,” that accusation was not factual and was therefore simply not true! But understand that when people are exercised about what is dear to them, an absence of facts is small matter in their eyes.

Do not miss (v.9) “the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.” If there is anything more insidious than false accusations, it is the reality that the crowd is often easily aroused to join in. It reminds me of the sober and weighty warning in God’s Law, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2).

Let us be careful not to flatter people to win their approval, attack a person when the charges are untrue, and be on guard never to “follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.”

AND, let us praise God that our perfectly just God will have the final word on all cases of injustice!

Do you know what ad hominin means?

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
Acts 24:5-9

After the disingenuous flattery of Felix by Tertullus on behalf of Paul’s Jewish accusers, the character assassination of Paul began. Before considering the accusations, note the personal attacks on Paul. Flatterers are also character assassins! As much as they will lie to ‘butter up’ a person (for their own advantage), they have no compunction about lying about those they oppose.

One of the oldest and most insidious methods of debate is called ad hominin, Latin for “to the person.” The simplest explanation of the reason for, and method of ad hominin is this: When a person does not have facts to support his case, he resorts to simply attacking the person with whom he disagrees. This could also aptly be referred to as “verbal bullying!”

Go back and read Tertullus’ words and notice the absence of facts versus the wealth of personal attacks.

Those who specialize* in personal attacks of their opponents may have the right to speak, but they do not deserve to be heard. This is true in personal matters, as well as in formal public debate. Sadly, politics in our land has devolved into ugly name-calling instead of honest consideration of facts regarding issues.

Let us resist the temptation to practice ad hominin arguments, and may we refuse to be swayed by such tactics—even when we agree with what is being said. We need to think twice before voting for caustic bullies.

*I say specialize, because nearly all of us resort to ad hominin at times when frustrated. But if this is a person’s regular practice, that is another matter!

Do you know the difference between compliments and flattery?

Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. Acts 24:1-4

The accusers began their attack on Paul by flattering Felix, from whom they wanted favor. It is hard to miss the disingenuous flattery poured out on Felix by Tertullus, the chief spokesman for those accusing Paul. Flattery is a wicked attempt to manipulate those from whom something was wanted. Flattery is resoundingly warned against (and condemned) throughout the Proverbs.

First, it is not wrong to pay someone a legitimate compliment. Such compliments become flattery when they are excessive, over-the-top, and clearly duplicitous. It takes no super powers of discernment, as it is generally quite obvious.

Another indicator that a compliment is flattery is when the compliment is interwoven (or immediately followed) by a request for favor. When “giving” a compliment is intended to obligate a person from whom we hope to “get” something in return, we are “flatterers!”

Second, as Christians we do well to speak kind and even complimentary words to one another. But let us not venture into flattery. And especially as believers, let us acknowledge the Lord’s mercies when complimenting others. Instead of piling on about how great the person is/was, try telling the person how grateful you are to the Lord for blessing you through that one.

Let us neither be flatterers, nor by seduced by flatterers!

Could there be a greater concern than my convenience?

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will hear you when your accusers also have come." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.
Acts 23:31-35

Paul arrived in Caesarea, and Felix was handed the letter from Claudius explaining why Paul was being remanded to him. Felix wanted to know where Paul was from—probably in hopes that he could shuffle Paul off to another court in that locale. But Felix decided to hear the case himself. Why? Probably because Paul was from far away. The distance would make it burdensome to transport him so far, and to demand that Paul’s accusers travel so far themselves.

Felix likely saw this as a small matter since Claudius had assured him that Paul was not guilty of any serious crime. The wheels of justice were grinding slowly and with much bureaucratic red tape.

Paul was to remain imprisoned until his accusers could come from Jerusalem.

Why so many delays? We who are familiar with the rest of the story know that it was God’s will that Paul end up in Rome, and these were all part of a series of steps to get Paul there—on Rome’s dime.

When will I learn that God’s will does not depend on or promise my convenience?

The Lord's peace even when in trouble

And he called for two centurions, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor." He wrote a letter in the following manner: Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell. Acts 23:23-30

Because of Paul’s Roman citizenship, the Roman authorities were responsible to get Paul back to Caesarea for the Roman governor, Felix, to hear Paul’s case. Ironically, the Roman authorities previously had to rescue Paul from the Jewish mob. But at this point Paul’s safety depended on his departure from Jerusalem and return to Caesarea.

Don’t miss the size of the detachment of soldiers needed to transport Paul: “two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen”! Note also that the trip to Caesarea was planned to be under cover of darkness. Obviously, the Jewish threat was formidable.

Another point to note is that the letter to Felix makes it clear that from the vantage point of the Roman authorities, Paul was innocent of any wrongdoing that would warrant imprisonment, much less, death. From this let us be instructed that guilt is not the only reason to be in trouble—either with popular opinion (the Jews), or the law (the Roman authorities). But either way, God is in control. When we forget this, we may be tempted to despair. When we remember this, we may have the Lord’s peace.