Acts 25:1-22 Schemes

Acts 25:1-22 Schemes 

Paul before Festus

     1Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him, 3requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5“Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.”
     6After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, 8while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?” 10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. 11“If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

     13Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. 14While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix; 15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16“I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. 17“So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. 18“When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, 19but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20“Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. 21“But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”


The Jewish leaders were still scheming to kill Paul and pulled one over on Festus. 

Festus thought he would do them a favor by delivering Paul to Jerusalem but is that what really happened? I suspect there was a bribe involved. After all, didn't they have the reserves of the temple at their disposal? 

But Paul being born a Roman citizen appealed to Cesar the emperor as the law permitted. 
Jesus wasn't through with Paul, and He was going to use him to write most of the New Testament. Who else would be more suited for this task? Paul would also use his evangelical skills to start the conversion of Romans to the Way. Would God allow the schemes of the Jewish leaders to get in the way of Paul's mission?

What about you? What mission has Jesus laid at your feet and on your heart? Could it be a greeter or usher at church? A bible study leader or a children's ministry assistant? 
Would you allow someone's schemes to keep you from your mission? 
Only you can answer that question.

Or does Satan's schemes cause you consider Christianity to be about a dead man? Or a resurrected Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive? 

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for those reading this devotional that You bless and protect them. Put on their heart, their mission for Jesus and don't allow any schemes to get in the way of their assigned tasks for the Kingdom. Give them the words to speak at the proper time when they are confronted with a lost and dying soul.
In Jesus name I pray.

Blessings, David 
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com