Acts 25:1-18 NIV

[1] Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, [2] where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. [3] They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. [4] Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. [5] Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there." [6] After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. [7] When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. [8] Then Paul made his defense: "l have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar." [9] Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?" [1 0] Paul answered: "l am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. [1 1] If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" [1 2] After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!" [1 3] A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. [14] Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. [1 5] When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. [1 6] "l told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. [1 7] When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. [1 8] When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. [1 9] Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. [20] I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. [21] But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." [22] Then Agrippa said to Festus, "l would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him .

We are able to visualize the situation that Paul is in.

More lies and false teachings are being brought against him.

This sounds an awful lot like another person that was falsely accused.

Let's take a look at the similarities of what happened to Jesus and to Paul.

KNOWING THE FUTURE

John 18:4 NIV

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want ?"

Jesus knew what was going to happen.

How could he know?

Jesus is God. God is omniscient. God knows everything!

Acts 23:1 1 NIV

1 1 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testifyin Rome ."

Paul knew what was going to happen. He was going to go to Rome.

How did Paul know?

Jesus told him. Jesus is God!

THE CHARGES

Against Jesus

John 18:29-35 NIV

[29] So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" [30] "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." [31] Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," they objected. [32] This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. [33] Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" [34] "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" [35] "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

1 . Now we see the true reason for the charges.

2. Jesus was charged with being the King of the Jews.

3. Not a crime worthy of death under Roman law that Pilate could enact.

Against Paul

Acts 24:5-6 NIV

Jews speaking

[5] "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect [6] and even tried to desecrate the temple;

Festus speaking

Acts 25:18-19 NIV

[1 8] When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. [1 9] Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.

1. These charges all boil down to the fact that Jesus (King) rose from the dead.

2. Not a crime worthy of death under Jewish law.

FOCUS OF THE TEACHING

John 18:20-21 NIV

"l have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "l always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. [21] 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." Acts 17:1-2 NIV

17:1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and

Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Acts 25:8 NIV

8 Then Paul made his defense: "l have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar."

Both Jesus and Paul spent a lot of time teaching in the synagogues.

Why was this so important?

The Word of God was taught by the priests. But there was a major flaw in their teaching.

2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV

[1]But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them —bringing swift destruction on themselves. [2] Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of

truth into disrepute. [3] In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

THE SLAP

John 18:19-24 NIV

[1 9] Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. [20] "l have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "l always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. [21] Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." [22] When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. [23] "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" [24] 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Why was Jesus slapped?

He made the high priest angry by telling the TRUTH.

Acts 23:1-2 NIV

[1]Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.PlAt this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Why was the order given to slap Paul?

He made the high priest angry by telling the TRUTH.

NOTE: This is very interesting. In both cases it was the high priest getting angry. Jesus and Paul basically made the high priests see their own ignorance regarding the scriptures being taught in the synagogues.

THE AUDIENCE

Both Jesus and Paul were questioned by very high ranking officials.

These proceedings also included many every day citizens.

They were also recorded as official proceedings would be.

This guaranteed that the truth was heard, published and discussed.

NOTE: The scriptures are not the only place that these proceedings are published. Many historical writings and records are available.

THE FINAL RESULT

We know the record of Jesus' trial and eventual execution.

We also know the reason behind it all.

Our sin put Jesus through all of it!

Thank God that the final result was forgiveness of sins and life eternal.

So what is the reason for all of the things that are happening Paul?

He is definitely not able to pay our penalty for sin.

If he is executed it won't be as a savior.

But due to the promise of the resurrection, Paul is not worried about dying. In fact Paul will never die. He will live forever.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 NIV

[1] For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. [2] Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, [3] because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. [4] For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. [5] Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. [6] Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. [7] For we live by faith, not by sight. [8] We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. [9] So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. [1 0] 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Paul's missionary journeys are intended to spread this message to all who will hear.

BIG QUESTIONS???? Where does this leave Paul? His journey is not ended.

What happens to him in the future? According to Eusebius (A Corinthian Bishop) Peter and Paul went to Italy together to teach and both suffered martyrdom about the same time. Most likely by beheading for Paul. As a Roman citizen he could not be crucified.