Devotional Guide the book of Acts #6: Acts 24-28

Monday: Read Acts 24

In Acts 24, Paul has the first of several trials before a Roman governor. We must bear in mind that the governor’s job was to maintain peace in the region. The fact that Paul spent 2 years in prison in Caesarea (AD 57-59) was a direct result of the fact that those in power were seeking either a bribe from Paul (26) or to make the Jewish leaders happy (27).

Paul is convinced that he is on trial because of the resurrection of Jesus (15). Interestingly, Paul claims that while he was in Jerusalem, “I was not arguing with anyone at the Temple or in the synagogues” (12). This is quite a break from his custom of arguing Sunday-Friday in the marketplaces (17:17) or lecture halls (19:9) and every Saturday in the Synagogues (13:5, 14, 42-44; 14:1; 16:13; 17:3, 10; 18:4, 19; 19:8).

Paul remained detained under Felix for two reasons: he probably wondered why a man (Paul) who had just come to Jerusalem with a large amount of money (17) did not offer him a bribe. Secondly, Felix was recalled to Rome by Nero in AD 59 for the bloodshed he caused among the Jews of Caesarea. So, because he wished to “grant a favor to the Jews” he “left Paul in prison” (27).

Questions to ponder/discuss:

• I suspect that we would not have had the composure that Paul displayed. We would be much more vocal about the injustice of our being imprisoned and how we are unworthy. This, of course, is a sign of our privilege. For myself, I would be enraged because I have so much to do and being imprisoned hampers my ability to “fulfill my calling.” What about you? How would you have handled it?
• The significance of Paul’s maintaining “a blameless conscience” (16) is that it enabled him to continue to preach about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” (25). Paul’s witness was not hindered by his actions!
• I am not suggesting that we are called to be silent in the face of injustice, or that we should accept whatever comes our way. I am suggesting how we react to such matters. We can cry out against injustice, but how we do so is important.

Tuesday: Read Acts 25

The new governor was a man named Porcius Festus (AD 59). It is important to recall that the tensions between Rome and Jerusalem were very high. The war between Rome and Jerusalem was just around the corner. The threat of revolt was extremely high. The poor leadership of Felix and now Festus did not help.

The new governor decided to pay a courtesy visit to Jerusalem. The Jerusalem authorities informed him of Paul and their desire to have him tried in Jerusalem. Luke notes that “they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way” (3). We do not know how Luke knew this, but it is quite likely that Paul also knew that something of this nature was planned.

Paul appears in court before Festus. “Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor,” asks if Paul would be willing to go to Jerusalem for trial (9). Paul likely feared that if Festus was willing to make such a concession to the Jews—that is to have Paul tried in Jerusalem and not in Caesarea—what else might he be willing to agree to? Therefore, Paul exercises the right of all Roman citizens and appeals to Caesar (11: Nero). Paul may have concluded that he stood a better chance of a fair trial before Nero in Rome than he did before Festus and the Jews in Jerusalem.

The chapter closes with the visit of another Roman official: King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice (grandkids of Herod the Great). Agrippa pays a courtesy visit to the new Governor Festus. Festus informed Agrippa of Paul.

Questions to ponder/discuss:

• Paul’s appeal to Caesar is an example of exercising one’s rights. The notion that Christians should just suffer willingly and not make a defense is abhorrent to the biblical text. The text calls us to suffer well. This does not mean that we must suffer needlessly. We should exercise all legal recourse for the defense of the innocent. Those who counsel otherwise should not be allowed to counsel anymore.
• I am thinking in particular of pastors and church leaders who counsel women that their role is to love their husbands and endure the abuse well so as to be a witness to them. No, in such instance their job is to get out of there and to protect themselves and any children they might have.

Wednesday: Read Acts 26

Paul’s speech before Agrippa is one of his most autobiographical speeches. Again, note the stress on the resurrection of Jesus (6-8). Paul contends, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (8).

Paul explains that “I thought I was to do all that was possible to oppose the Name of Jesus of Nazareth” (9; see 22:4, 5). He recounts his efforts to arrest the Christ-followers. In fact, he says, “when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them” (10). [we do not know if Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin who actually had a vote]

Paul adds, “Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished” (11). He was so convinced that the Christ movement was blasphemous before God that “I tried to force them to blaspheme” (11) [which may mean that he was trying to compel them in a manner in which they wouldn’t succeed: i.e., not to blaspheme].

Everything changed when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus (12-18). The conflict, of course, was the result of the fact that he was commissioned to preach to the Gentiles: “that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” (20). Paul adds that this is what the prophets spoke about: “Christ would suffer” (Isa 53); “rise from the dead” (Ps 16:10); and, “proclaim light to the Gentiles (Isa 49:6).

Agrippa and Festus conclude: this man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (32). The result of Paul’s appeal to Caesar, however, is that all other authorities no longer have jurisdiction over his case.

Questions to ponder/discuss:

• The resurrection of Jesus is the central pillar of Christianity. We are good at arguing all kinds of secondary and tertiary matters (baptism, communion, music, etc.). We would do well, however, to learn from Paul. He was eminently focused on Jesus and the resurrection. The resurrection, and living in accord with it, does not mean that we are detached from the present world. In fact, the resurrection and our hope in it point to the restoration of this creation (We will see this especially in Colossians). If you struggle with all the periphery matters that so often bog Christians down (politics, theological debates about the end of the world, etc.), I encourage you to read this speech again (and perhaps Philippians 3 or 1 Corinthians 15).
• Ask God to show you what resurrection living looks like. Then ask for the Spirit to empower you to live in accord with it!

Thursday: Read Acts 27

Today’s reading recounts Paul’s journey to Rome. Because the fall was upon them, it was “already after the Fast” (9; in AD 59, the fast was Oct 5. Sailing in the Mediterranean was considered dangerous after Sept. 14. The wisest course would have been to wait until the Spring to venture onwards.

Despite the fact that Paul warned them of danger if they were to sail on (10), they did so anyway. The result is that they encountered a hurricane (14). After two weeks they managed to arrive on the Isle of Malta (28:1).

Note: the extensive details of Paul’s voyage to Rome is likely the result of Luke’s presence.

Questions to ponder/discuss:

• Note that Paul’s speech before Agrippa and his upcoming appearance before Nero fulfills what Ananias was told about Paul: he would bear witness before “kings” (9:15). Doing so as a prisoner is probably not what Paul envisioned.

Friday: Read Acts 28

Paul eventually arrived in Rome (AD 60-62). There he was allowed to have his own rented apartment (16, 30), which enabled him to have all the visitors he would like. Paul remained in Roman custody for 2 more years (30). This is perhaps the setting of four of Paul’s letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

There is some debate as to whether or not Paul was freed from this imprisonment. It is generally thought that Paul was released from this imprisonment (whether he met Nero or a delegate of Nero is not certain) and that Paul then ventured on to Spain and perhaps back to some of the churches he established previously. If this is so, then he ministered for 2 more years (AD 62-64) before being arrested in 64 (it is believed that Peter and Paul were arrested in 64 by orders of Nero for the burning of Rome). Paul either died in AD 62 or 65.

Questions to ponder/discuss:

• What do you do when life doesn’t go as planned? Paul may be the single most important person in the history of Christianity (aside from Jesus of course: and Peter for those who are Catholic), yet he spent a significant portion of his ministry years in prison. Surely, he must have thought that he would be more valuable to the kingdom if he were free to travel to Spain and who knows where else.
• I can only speak for myself, but I am quite certain that I would have been beyond frustrated—though if they had Wifi in his rented house in Rome maybe I could have got some work done! Perhaps, Paul’s time in prison enabled him to train others to go out and do the work of the kingdom. Regardless, there is much to learn from Paul and the fact that he spent so much time in prison.
• This raises the question that we should all ask: why does God have me here (or allow me to be where I presently am)? and how does He want to use me in the present? Should we be appealing to Rome in order to get out of our present circumstances? Whatever the answers may be, do it well!

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[1] This guide is meant to be done either as a group study over the course of 2 or 4 meetings (Day 1-5; 6-10; 11-15; 16-20), or as a private devotion over the course of 4 weeks (or a calendar month—5 lessons per week).