Wednesday
Wednesday
Paul the Defendant
I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.
Acts 25:8
Luke enables us to follow Paul’s three successive trials—before the procurators Felix and Festus and King Agrippa II. He portrays him in two guises—first and negatively as a defendant, then secondly and positively as a witness.
Before Felix Paul vigorously denied the charge of sectarianism and of trying to desecrate the temple. He emphasized the continuity of his gospel with the Old Testament Scriptures. He served the God of their fathers with a good conscience. He believed everything written in the Law and the Prophets. He cherished a firm hope in the fulfillment of God’s promises about the Messiah. Not apostasy but continuity summed up his attitude to Moses.
Before Festus, who succeeded Felix, Paul rejected the charge of sedition. He had not been responsible for any breaches of the peace. So certain was he that he had done nothing against Caesar that he judged it necessary to appeal to Caesar in order to clear himself. He could say, “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar” (v. 8). Not anarchy but loyalty summed up his attitude to Caesar.
Before Agrippa and his queen Bernice no fresh charges were produced. Paul seems rather to be responding to the unspoken question of why the Jews were so anxious to get rid of him. It had to do with his ministry to the Gentiles, to which, however, he was inescapably committed out of obedience to the vision and voice of Jesus.
Paul’s three defenses were successful. Neither Felix nor Festus nor Agrippa found him guilty. Instead, each indicated that he was innocent of the charges. Paul was not content with this, however. He went further. He proclaimed in court his three-fold loyalty—to Moses and the prophets, to Caesar, and above all to Jesus Christ, who met him on the Damascus road. This was his self-defense. He was a faithful Jew, a faithful Roman, and a faithful Christian.
For further reading: Acts 25:1–12