The Acts of the Apostles
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 40: Paul Appeals to Caesar
This chapter is based on Acts 25:1-12.
"When Festus was come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief
of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favor
against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem." In making this
request they purposed to waylay Paul along the road to Jerusalem and murder
him. But Festus had a high sense of the responsibility of his position, and
courteously declined to send for Paul. "It is not the manner of the
Romans," he declared, "to deliver any man to die, before that he
which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for
himself concerning the crime laid against him." He stated that "he
himself would depart shortly" for Caesarea. "Let them there
. . . which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man,
if there be any wickedness in him." [429] {AA 428.1}
This was not what the Jews wanted. They had not forgotten
their former defeat at Caesarea. In contrast with the calm bearing and forcible
arguments of the apostle, their own malignant spirit and baseless accusations
would appear in the worst possible light. Again they urged that Paul be brought
to Jerusalem for trial, but Festus held firmly to his purpose of giving Paul a
fair trial at Caesarea. God in His providence controlled the decision of
Festus, that the life of the apostle might be lengthened. {AA 429.1}
Their purposes defeated, the Jewish leaders at once prepared
to witness against Paul at the court of the procurator. Upon returning to
Caesarea, after a few days' sojourn at Jerusalem, Festus "the next day
sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought." "The Jews
which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous
complaints against Paul, which they could not prove." Being on this
occasion without a lawyer, the Jews preferred their charges themselves. As the
trial proceeded, the accused with calmness and candor clearly showed the
falsity of their statements. {AA
429.2}
Festus discerned that the question in dispute related wholly
to Jewish doctrines, and that, rightly understood, there was nothing in the
charges against Paul, could they be proved, that would render him subject to
sentence of death, or even to imprisonment. Yet he saw clearly the storm of
rage that would be created if Paul were not condemned or delivered into their
hands. And so, "willing to do the Jews a pleasure," Festus turned to
Paul, and asked if he [430] was willing to go to Jerusalem
under his protection, to be tried by the Sanhedrin. {AA 429.3}
The apostle knew that he could not look for justice from the
people who by their crimes were bringing down upon themselves the wrath of God.
He knew that, like the prophet Elijah, he would be safer among the heathen than
with those who had rejected light from heaven and hardened their hearts against
the gospel. Weary of strife, his active spirit could ill endure the repeated
delays and wearing suspense of his trial and imprisonment. He therefore decided
to exercise his privilege, as a Roman citizen, of appealing to Caesar. {AA 430.1}
In answer to the governor's question, Paul said: "I
stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I
done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have
committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none
of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal
unto Caesar." {AA
430.2}
Festus knew nothing of the conspiracies of the Jews to
murder Paul, and he was surprised at this appeal to Caesar. However, the words
of the apostle put a stop to the proceedings of the court. "Festus, when
he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar?
unto Caesar shalt thou go." {AA 430.3}
Thus it was that once more, because of hatred born of
bigotry and self-righteousness, a servant of God was driven to turn for
protection to the heathen. It was this same hatred that forced the prophet
Elijah to flee for succor to the widow [431] of
Sarepta; and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn from the Jews to
proclaim their message to the Gentiles. And this hatred the people of God
living in this age have yet to meet. Among many of the professing followers of
Christ there is the same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit of
oppression, that held so large a place in the Jewish heart. In the future, men
claiming to be Christ's representatives will take a course similar to that
followed by the priests and rulers in their treatment of Christ and the
apostles. In the great crisis through which they are soon to pass, the faithful
servants of God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel
determination, the same unyielding hatred. {AA 430.4}
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All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God
according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a
knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be
persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted,
and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power
to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good,
and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer
their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up
against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample
upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic
purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. {AA 431.1}
God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming [432]
crisis. Prepared or unprepared, they must all meet it; and those only who have
brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand firm at
that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of
religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really
fear and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike
character will shine the brightest. When every other trust fails, then it will
be seen who have an abiding trust in Jehovah. And while the enemies of truth
are on every side, watching the Lord's servants for evil, God will watch over
them for good. He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land. {AA 431.2}
Click here to read the next chapter:
"Almost Thou Persuadest Me"
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