Free Trip to Rome

 

Acts 25:9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul had been in protective prison for a few years when Felix was replaced by Festus in Caesarea. Having been frustrated all that time, the Jewish leaders quickly pressed Festus for a new hearing against Paul. Wanting to get off to a good start in his new post, Festus promptly arranged a date for the hearing. It was immediately apparent that the Jews had "no case" against Paul, but wanting to keep the Jews happy, he tried to send the "non-case" back to Jerusalem. Paul, as a Roman citizen, had the right to refuse. He also wanted the truth to be known about his innocence, and the Truth of the Gospel to be known in Rome. He was now going to have opportunity for both. Every objective observant of his case deemed him innocent, and many were intrigued enough by the Gospel to want to hear more.  May we have such a reputation.