Living in a Political World

Acts 25:1-26:32

When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. – Acts 24:27

We have been going through the book of Acts, line by line, since the beginning of the year. Two weeks ago, we came to this verse at the end of the teaching. Paul had now been on several successful yet challenging missionary journeys. New churches were being planted and growing, entire towns were coming to faith in Christ, and the gospel was spreading as promised in Acts 1. After overcoming countless dangers, obstacles, and setbacks, the Holy Spirit made it clear to Paul that he was to go to Jerusalem, and that “bondage and affliction” awaited him. In city after city, as Paul got closer to Jerusalem, those around him begged him not to go and confirmed to him that, indeed, bondage and affliction awaited him. But Paul was determined to follow the leading of God wherever He led and whatever would become of him, and so at last he entered Jerusalem.

Withn a short time, Paul was attacked by Jews who falsely accused him, shouting and creating a riot. They were beginning to attack him physically, with the goal of killing him, when Paul was arrested (and, thereby, rescued) by a Roman commander. After a night in jail, Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court.

Paul, asked to speak, said very little before Sanhedrin erupted in a riot of their own because of something Paul said – that he was on trial for his belief in the resurrection of the dead. This simple comment exposed a deep rift in the Sanhedrin, between those who truly believed the Old Testament scriptures, the Pharisees, and those who didn’t, the Sadducees. Paul was brought back to jail.

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and told him to take courage. Paul was promised that he would testify about Him in Rome in the future. Soon after, God prevented from taking place a major plot to murder Paul. In this plot, many men had actually vowed not to eat again until Paul was killed. Because the situation was so dangerous and out of control, Paul was escorted by a Roman legion to Caesarea. Here, Felix, a corrupt and wicked man, was in charge. Paul's trial began here, and for political expediency Felix cut it short just as it was becoming clear the accusations were without merit. He did this to try to please the Jews. As we have just read, for two whole years, Paul remained in chains and nothing happened with regards to his trial. During this time, a big enough bribe probably would have had Paul released, but of course Paul would not do this.

It is difficult to imagine what these two years were like for Paul. Can you imagine it? Suppose you were charged with a crime you did not commit. Furthermore, suppose due process was simply ignored somehow in your case, and despite all your complaints, you never even went to trial for two long years. Two years in prison.

Your career, or your college career, is utterly ruined. You don’t know what is going on the world. Things you care about, people you love – for two long years you don’t have any idea what is going on. Imagine you entered right about now, in late summer. Except for occasional visits when you are given the opportunity to offer a bribe, which you don’t do, you spend day after day after day in your cell. The days become shorter and the nights become colder. Eventually, fall turns into winter, and your cell is cold. You haven’t had a good, nutritious meal in many months. There is nothing to do. No TV to watch. No books to read. Unless guards tell you, you may have lost track of the days or holidays. Now the days are getting longer and a little warmer. On and on and on. You hardly even think anymore. You just exist. Do you still pray for release? Or are you too numb to pray? The days are long and hot now. In all this you have not even made it a year. Paul was in for two.

Finally, after two long years, you are not the man or woman you once were. You don’t even know what you have become. But you learn that the leadership has changed. The old leader could have released you when he left, no questions asked, but he didn’t. Like Joseph of the Old Testament, you seem to be long forgotten. But the new leader, Festus, takes quick action.

Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong." – Acts 25:1-5

Paul probably didn’t know about this yet, but Festus had gone up to Jerusalem, to try to learn why he was sitting in his jail in Caesarea. The Jews acted a bit strangely. They really wanted him to transfer Paul to Jerusalem. Festus, as a new leader, wants to show that he is in charge now, and he is no pushover. So he tells them to come with him to Caesarea and press charges there.

Isn’t it amazing that after two whole years, the Jews still want to kill Paul? Why? I think part of it is that they are afraid of what will happen if he is released – that it will encourage the Christians and make Christianity continue to grow. Part of it is that they really hate Paul – they hate his religion, and he is a symbol of it. Historians and psychiatrists have documented how when people do evil things against people, their hatred grows even greater against those they have sinned against. In Germany during World War II, each cruel act the prison guards did against the Jews in the concentration camps made them hate them even more. Why does this happen? Perhaps partly it is a way to block out the pain you cause yourself when you sin, and without doubt some of it is purely demonic.

Remember the people who took the vow not to eat? I am sure they received some sort of “stay” or “permission to wait” from the Jewish priests, even though this would violate Jewish law. When they heard about the change of leadership and knew that Paul might be released, their two years of internal guilt for breaking their vow fueled their hatred even further, and without doubt they would be willing to do anything to fulfill their vows now.

After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. – Acts 25:6-7

This is a repeat of what had happened two years ago. Note that this is a violation of Old Testament laws; indeed, it is a violation of the Ten Commandments - you shall not make false witness against your neighbor.

I am fascinated with Luke’s supreme care with the truth. He says "8 or 10" days had passed. Not nine. This just shows how Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, didn't want even the smallest detail wrong. After questioning everyone he could, he was able to narrow down the time spent to 8 or 10 days, but no further. Thus, he writes what he knows. We are going to see how Paul was surrounded by people making "political" decisions that served their own interests. Not Luke. No embellishment or improvement to make him look better. Although it reads a bit awkwardly, since it is as far as Luke can figure it out, he writes "8 or 10 days." Doesn't that make you trust him, and thereby trust the truthfullness of the Bible?

Then Paul made his defense: "I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar." Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?" – Acts 25:8-9

This is much like a modern trial. It starts with the charges specified, and then the defendant may plead guilty or not guilty. Paul is pleading “not guilty” on each and every account. He declares he is not guilty of violating the Jewish law, not guilty of breaking a rule of the temple, and not guilty of breaking any law of Caesar.

Following Paul’s response, Festus asks if Paul was willing to go to Jerusalem and have the trial there. I am no expert in Roman law, but it appears that the choice was Paul’s. It apparently would have been a violation of Paul’s rights to force the trial to move to Jerusalem against Paul’s wishes. If this were not true, then wishing to do the Jews a favor, Festus would have simply forced the trial to move back to Jerusalem.

So how does Paul reply?

Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" – Acts 25:10-11

A Roman citizen, unless he was being tried for first-degree murder, rape, or kidnapping, could appeal to Caesar, if he felt he was not getting justice in his district.

Why did Paul do this? Scripture doesn’t say. Perhaps, after two years, he had had enough. Even if he didn't know the latest plot against his life, he too would wonder why there was this strange request to move the trial back to Jerusalem. The very suggestion probably made Paul distrust Festus, and rightly so. Perhaps also Paul thought about God’s promise that he would testify in Rome, and this was a way to go there. In addition to all this, I think the Holy Spirit guided him in his words and actions.

After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!" – Acts 25:12

There was nothing else Festus could have done at this point. Analyzing this politically, Paul's appeal to Caesar probably irritated Festus, because he didn’t want to get a bad reputation with Rome. (It wouldn't look good for one of his first cases to be appealed to Rome. The implication is that one couldn't get justice here.) As for the Jews Festus was trying to please, they really couldn’t hold this against him, as this was within the rights of a citizen. They certainly weren’t happy about it, though.

A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. – Acts 25:13-15

King Agrippa is Herod Agrippa II. He had quite a family tree. His great grandfather Herod was the one who ordered the death of all the innocent children at the time of the birth of Christ. His great uncle, also named Herod, was the one who had ordered John the Baptist’s head on a plate. His father was Herod Agrippa I, mentioned earlier in Acts, the one who ordered the death of James, arrested Peter, and was “eaten by worms and died.” Bernice was his sister, and apparently, also his wife. They had another sibling, Drusilla, who was the wife of Felix, the person Festus had just replaced. You can see that Agrippa and Bernice were not exactly savory characters. They were killers in a family tree of killers.

"I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." – Acts 25:16-21

Once again, there is a significant amount of politics here. Festus doesn’t mention the part about trying to please the Jews. Instead he says it is because he was at a loss how to investigate such matters. You have to admit he is smooth. This is the way the world operated then, and it still operates this way today. We live in a political world.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him." The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. – Acts 25:22-24

Note that this is not a trial – it is curiosity, entertainment, a show. Legally, Paul needs only to defend himself before Caesar. It is likely that the place where this took place was the arena in Caesarea, which still stands today. This was a public event, with the king and Festus in their royal purple robes, surrounded by the legionnaires, the elite Roman guards, selected for their height, and wearing fancy military uniforms. Politicians love a good "media moment," and this was nothing less.

I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him." – Acts 25:25-27

Politics, politics, politics! Do you know what is really going on here? Festus has a problem. You don’t arrest people when there are no reasonable charges, and you don’t hold them for two years. And you certainly don’t draw attention to that fact by sending them on to Caesar. Yet this is the situation for Festus. Paul appealed to Caesar in front of witnesses, and so Festus had no choice but to approve it. But when Paul will go to Rome and explains what is going on, it will look really bad for Festus. So what is Festus hoping for? He hopes that through the questioning by Agrippa some genuine charges will be found. Doesn’t this stink?

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. – Acts 26:1-3

I love Luke’s details here. Paul “motioned with his hand.” This was a traditional thing to do, so that people watching, even if they are not paying listening (say because they are talking) can see that Paul is about to speak and everyone can be quiet. Paul begins by addressing the king kindly and politely, not making up flattery, but simply stating the truth that he is one well-acquainted with Jewish “customs and controversies.” This was well known, and known to Paul, even with his two years of being shut off from the world.

After church, it was pointed out to me that Festus really did a no-no here. It was a huge political mistake to let Paul "have the floor" and say whatever he wanted to say. This opens up the possibility that something will be said that makes the visiting king look bad. Instead, Festus should have questioned Paul, controlling the dialogue so that nothing embarrassing can be said. Festus, new to the job, shows his inexperience here.

"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' – Acts 26:4-15a

What are goads? The Greek word also means “pricks.” It is used in I Cor. 15: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 15:55-57) Here the context is that of something you kick against. A goad was a metal pole with a sharp point. When a young ox was introduced to the plow, it of course wouldn’t like it, and it would kick. The goad was placed right behind its feet so that when it tried to kick, it would kick right into the goad. Ouch. It wouldn’t take too long for the ox to decide that kicking was not something that would help the situation. Goads were also sharp spikes on chariots used to prevent horses from kicking.What in the world did Jesus mean when he said this to Paul?

I think it meant that the Holy Spirit was working on Paul long before his conversion experience. He had seen the look on Stephen’s face when he died. He had seen the joy in the lives of these followers of the Way. And it made him angrier, the more he tried to fight what he had seen and heard. Paul was kicking. What were the “goads”? I think perhaps they were the fact that you couldn’t take these people’s joy away, the fact that people were getting saved faster than he could even begin to imprison them, that his persecution was actually spreading the gospel as people scattered into the whole region and shared their faith there. What a profound comment from our Lord: “It is hard to kick against the goads.”

How many of you could say somewhere in your conversion experience, you had a “you can’t kick against the goads” kind of moment? I can think of several I had. One was at a meeting at a Christian’s home where people were watching a video series together from Francis Schaeffer. After each video we would have a discussion. And after maybe the second or third, I just blew up. I remember shouting. I don’t remember what I shouted, but it included saying that these videos were ridiculous, that their whole religion was ridiculous. I wish I could remember what they said in response, but I don’t. What I do remember was that they were a little bit shocked, but they didn’t get angry or ask me to leave. They still had this peace about them, and didn’t even let it affect their friendship with me. In fact, they never mentioned it again. It was hard to kick against the goads.

"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' – Acts 26:15b-18

Do you know that you too are sent for this purpose? You are sent to those around you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and turn them from the power of Satan to the power of God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified (made holy) by their faith in God. This is your purpose on this earth. It is why you are here. You can praise God just as well in heaven. But you cannot do this job anywhere else but here.

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." – Acts 26:19-23

Remember that Paul has an audience. They are hearing this – and at last, after two years, Paul is finally getting to share the gospel in the context of his defense. All those people in the stands heard this. Paul no doubt looked at them, and then to the king, as he said “and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.”

At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." – Acts 26:24

Literally, “You are a raving lunatic!” Festus embarrasses himself here. His outburst reveals more about his own character than it does about Paul's.

"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." – Acts 26:25-27

There is no doubt that King Agrippa knew all that Paul was talking about. He knows what his great grandfather did at the birth of Christ. He knows what his great uncle did at the time of John the Baptist. He knows what his father did to James and Peter. And he knows how his father died. And yet this is also a man seeped in excess and sin, where he is what he is because of political favors, succeeding because he is a master of politics in a political world. Paul takes his speech to a very bold place, asking the king a very personal question and answering it presumptively for him. “Do you believe the prophets? I know you do!”

It was pointed out to me after church that this was an embarrassing and awkward moment for Agrippa. Things like this are not supposed to happen at "controlled media events." Who does Agrippa blame for this? Not Paul, because it is not really his fault. It is the fault of Festus, for allowing Paul free reign.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." – Acts 26:28-29

Now there just isn’t enough in the Greek here to know how Agrippa meant what he said. Was it said jokingly? Or was he serious? We just don’t know. Perhaps it was even hard for Paul to know. But Paul's answer, regardless, was absolutely sincere. He prays that everyone would come to faith in Christ.

The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment." Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." – Acts 26:30-32

Recall that Festus was hoping Agrippa would find some genuine crimes to accuse Paul of, so that he wouldn’t look bad when Paul went to Caesar. Festus didn’t get what he had hoped. Agrippa says there is nothing there, nothing at all! As we have discussed, Agrippa is not particularly happy with Festus right now, and certainly isn't going to do him any political favors. Live by politics, die by politics!

And then Agrippa makes the comment that would have stung Paul if he heard it. We don’t know if he heard it or found out about it later, but somehow it was made known to Luke. I think it is highly likely that, sooner or later, Paul heard it. “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

If you were Paul, how would that make you feel? Upset? Angry? Would you ask God, “What are You doing?” “Where are You?” “Why do You seem so weak?” “Why are You being thwarted by a political world?”

I don’t think Paul asked these things at all. Maybe he felt pangs of these questions from time to time, but he did not dwell on them or live under their weight. What did Paul say? “I pray that you all could be as I am, save for these chains.” Paul, in chains, was the freest man in that stadium. Paul, in the center of murder plots, political schemes, and corrupt leaders, was more at peace than anyone there.

How do we live in a political world, when our bosses scheme against us, when we are accused falsely, when we end up with enemies, when people just don’t like us? How many of you have some experience of this? I do. How do we live in the middle of this stuff? We live in Christ. Free in Christ. At peace in Christ.

Change your thinking so that you live in the freedom and peace of Christ. How do you do this? By trusting Him more. Trust Him even with the political world around you. Trust Him even with your chains.

Also, remember why you are sent to this world. Why are you sent to this world? It is not to excel in navigating the politics of modern life. It is not even to succeed in these things. It is to turn people from darkness to light, from Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are made righteous by their faith in God. You are sent into this world to be a part of sharing the gospel. This includes prayer. It includes showing care. It includes providing for needs. All these things are good and beneficial. But do not neglect that it also means speaking the truth about God.

Finally, remember Who it is that sends you. Jesus sends you. He is with you. It is not wrong to pray for help navigating through this political world, but do not expect Him to deliver you from it. Instead, expect Him to be there with you every step of the way.

Catherine Marshall has written the following:

There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of the angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why? “Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

May you all find the Shalom, or peace, of God, found only in relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.