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BIBLE STUDY LESSON 18

SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA

APPEAL TO CAESAR

FESTUS JUDGES PAUL

From Acts 25

Festus arrived at Caesarea to begin his new duties as governor, but three days later travelled to Jerusalem. The chief priests and Jewish leaders met with him concerning Paul, bringing charges and urging him to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial. They were, of course, planning to set up an ambush and murder him on the way. Festus told these men that Paul was being held at Caesarea, and that he was about to return there. [Let your influential men return with me, and if you can prove he has done something wrong, he will be punished,] he told them. After spending another eight or ten days among these men, Festus returned to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul’s trial to begin. The Jews who had come from Jerusalem made a number of serious charges, which they could not prove. When Paul gave his defence, he said, [I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish Law, the temple, or Caesar.] Festus, however, was trying to build good relationships with the Jewish leaders so he asked Paul if he was willing to return to Jerusalem for trial. [I am here in Caesar’s court, where I should be tried,] Paul replied. [You all know very well that I have done nothing wrong to the Jews. If you can prove that I am guilty, I am willing to die. But if the charges are not true, I refuse to be handed over to these men. I appeal to Caesar!] Festus talked this over with his council, then answered, [You have appealed to Caesar, so you shall go to Caesar.] This was the privilege of Roman citizens. Several days after this trial, King Herod Agrippa came with his sister Bernice to visit Festus. They stayed several days, and during their visit Festus told them about Paul and his troubles with the Jews and his trials. [Felix left this prisoner for me,] he said. [While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and other Jewish leaders tried to persuade me to execute him. I told them that Romans give a fair trial, with the accusers making their charges and the accused giving his defence. They came here and I held the trial the next day. But their accusations were all concerning their religion and a certain Yeshua Who died, but Paul claims is alive. These are not criminal charges, so I was not sure how to handle them. I asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem for trial, but he appealed to Caesar. I have ordered him held here until I can send him to Caesar.] [I would like to hear what he says,] Agrippa said. [Tomorrow you shall,] said Festus. The very next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived with a lavish ceremony, accompanied by the high-ranking military officers and prominent men of the city. At the proper moment, Festus gave the command, and Paul was brought in. Festus opened the occasion with a brief speech: [King Agrippa and gentlemen present, the Jews, both in Jerusalem and here, have complained to me about this man, insisting that he should die. I have found nothing in him to deserve execution, but since he has appealed to Caesar, I will send him. But I really have nothing to write to the emperor, since there is no charge. Thus, I have brought him before you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that you can help me decide what I should report to the emperor. It would seem strange to send a prisoner to the emperor without specific charges against him.]

COMMENTARY

THE FACES OF ROME: WOMEN

The Romans had their own version of Mother’s Day. Called [Matronalia,] it was celebrated on the first day of March. The women of Rome had much more freedom than their Greek sisters. Not confined to the home, they went shopping, visited friends, attended public events. Special seats were reserved for them in theatres and men made way for them on the street. A married woman was the mistress of her house and took active part in the life around her. She supervised the servants and entertained her husband’s guests. At dinner parties she, along with other women, sat at the table with the men and joined in the conversation. Her husband might consult her about business or government problems. The early education of her children was every Roman mother’s duty. Both boys and girls were taught at home until the age of seven. The boys then went off to school to complete their education. The girls remained at home, where their mothers taught them the skills needed to manage their own household someday.

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