Acts 25 reminds me of the proliferation of fraudulent on-line reviews. You can now read someone’s opinion about the quality of service on every service imaginable. Some bad reviews are purposely deceptive and designed to damage. Business owners are forced to respond with details about the reviewer to overcome a one-star rating. Today’s chapter is about the damage caused by deception. We begin with Festus, the new Roman Governor, visiting Jerusalem to meet with the “Jewish leaders”. This was apparently his first priority. They “presented the charges against Paul”, and asked him “to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way”. We do not know if Festus was extra savvy, or just unwilling to be manipulated, but he declined and instead invited them to join him in Caesarea to press charges. Immediately upon his return from Jerusalem, “he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him”. The Jews who had come from Jerusalem “brought many serious charges… but they could not prove them”. Their only goal was Paul’s destruction. Hiding in a crowd or using on-line anonymity can encourage reckless behavior. Paul would not allow their false charges to stick. “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law… or against Caesar”. Wanting to do the Jews a favor, Festus asked Paul if he was willing to go back to Jerusalem to stand trial. Paul chose to go to a higher authority, “I am now… before Caesar’s court… I appeal to Caesar!” Festus had no choice, “To Caesar you will go!” Friend, do you have a higher authority?
A few days later King Agrippa and his “wife” Bernice came to Caesarea to welcome Festus. Festus quickly sought advice about Paul. “There is a man whom Felix left as a prisoner”. The Jews “asked that he be condemned… they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected”. He said their dispute was “about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive”. He added that Paul had appealed to Caesar. Agrippa was intrigued, “I would like to hear this man myself”. It is noteworthy to explain Agrippa was the great-grandson of Herod the great, the merciless king that slaughtered babies in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus. Agrippa had no jurisdiction over the region, but he was well versed in Jewish law. He was part of the political establishment. Festus agreed, “Tomorrow you will hear him”.
“Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp”. The room was full of “high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city”. Festus introduced Paul by using the terms of his accusers. Bias is often revealed in the introduction. “The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him… shouting that he ought not to live any longer”. Festus quickly excused himself any accountability, “I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome”. He essentially said that he has read all of the bad reviews and every complaint forum, but has been unable to verify anything wrong for himself. Festus had a bigger problem; he had to explain to Caesar why a Roman citizen had been in prison for two years with no proven charge. “I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him”. Festus concluded, “I have brought him before all of you… King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write”. Friend, are you supporting retaliation? Remember Samson’s final prayer was for revenge, “Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines” (Judges 16:28). He succeeded in killing the Philistines, and himself. My friend, if your motivation is to cause damage, you just might succeed.