On page 934, Acts 25.
Alright, let me read this for us, starting with verse 27.
When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus,
and desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Now three days after Festus had arrived on the province,
he went up to Jerusalem, to hold Caesarea.
And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews
laid out their peace against Paul and the Jews,
asking as a favor against Paul and he summoned him to Jerusalem,
because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
Festus replied that Paul was being come to Caesarea,
and he himself intended to go there shortly.
So, said he, let the men of authority among you go down with him.
If there is anything wrong about the man,
let them break charges against him.
After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days,
he went down to Caesarea.
And the next day he took his seat at the tribunal
and ordered Paul to be brought.
When he had arrived, the Jews were come down,
and Jerusalem stood around him,
bringing many serious charges against him
that they could not prove.
Paul argued in his offense,
neither against all the Jews,
nor against the temple, nor against Caesar,
have I committed any offense.
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor,
said to Paul,
Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem?
Can there be tried on these charges before me?
But Paul said,
I am standing before Caesar's tribunal,
for I ought to be tried.
To the Jews, I have done no wrong,
as you yourself know very well.
If then I am wrong,
you are going to have committed anything
for which I deserve to die.
I do not seek to escape death.
But if there is nothing but their charges against me,
no one can give me up to them.
I have to as a Caesar.
Then Festus came and conferred with his counsel,
answered,
To Caesar, you have a meal.
To Caesar, you shall go.
Now in some days in the past,
Agrippa the king and her niece
arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
And as they stayed there many days,
Festus laid a false case before the king,
saying,
There is a man left prisoner by feelings,
and when I was at Jerusalem,
the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
laid out their case against him,
asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
I answered them that it was not the custom
of the Romans to give up anyone
before the accused met the accusers face to face
and had opportunity to make his defense
concerning the charge of it against him.
So when they came together here,
I made no delay,
but on the next day,
I took my seat to the tribunal
and ordered the man to be brought.
When the accusers stood up,
they brought no charge in his case
of such evils as I supposed.
Rather, they had certain points of dispute
with him about their own religion
and about a certain Jesus,
who was dead,
but who all asserted to be alive.
Being at a false side of investigating
these questions,
I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem
and we tried there regarding him.
The colonel had appealed to be kept in custody
for the decision of the emperor.
I ordered him to be held
until I could save him to see him.
Then a crampus said to Festus,
I would look at the man myself.
Tomorrow's the end of the year.
Well, here we are.
We're nearing the end of the book of Acts.
And as Luke draws his account
from the early church to a close,
he's presenting us with the account
of Paul's trials and defense.
Five times, we find here,
Paul will be brought before various authorities.
And each time, he will offer a speech.
And here in chapter 25,
this is the fourth of these defenses.
Next week, we'll get to the climax
of Paul and chapter 26.
But for now, you know,
it's worth asking, isn't it,
why is Luke spending so much time
recounting this part of Paul's life?
Maybe you're wondering the same thing.
I mean, for the last four weeks,
if you've been following our sermon series,
Paul has been in prison,
defending himself against baseless charges.
I mean, for a whole month here at Trinity,
it's like the record has been skipping.
Each week, Paul in prison, in defense.
And you know what?
We have two more chapters to go.
Why is Luke spending so much time
on this part of the story?
Well, on the one hand,
he's building a case for Paul's innocence,
isn't he?
That's pretty obvious.
And in doing so, Luke is showing
that not just Paul,
but the church itself is innocent
of any accusations that are being thrown against it
as being perhaps bad for the state
or bad for society.
But you know, more than that,
we need to remember that Luke is writing
his two-volume work,
what we call the Gospel of Luke
and the Acts of the Apostles.
He's writing this two-volume work
to his young friend, Theophilus.
And he's writing so that Theophilus
and other Christians like him
might have certainty concerning the things
they've been taught.
That's what Luke says in the beginning
of this whole work of the chapter 1.
In other words,
this is a work of discipleship.
That is what he's writing.
And so there are important things
that we're meant to see in these chapters
so that our grasp of the faith
might grow deeper and more secure.
And I think one of the things
that we see dealt with here
in chapter 25 along these lines
is the issue of injustice.
After all, is it the injustice
of the world
and the injustice that we sometimes
face in our own lives
one of the things
that can shake our faith?
When things aren't right,
we can often wonder
whether there's any substance
to what we believe.
So let's take a look
at how this theme unfolds
in chapter 25
so that we might
grow in our certainty
concerning the things
we're being taught.
And I think as we open up
this chapter,
the first thing that we see
is this.
Don't let injustice
shake your faith.
Don't let injustice
shake your faith.
But chapter 25 opens.
Did you catch that?
Paul has been in prison
for two years.
And for no other reason
than the fact that Felix
was waiting for a bribe.
Paul is the evicta
of injustice.
There's no real case
against him
if you can follow it along.
The authorities of Jerusalem
are trying to condemn him
for flouting the law,
defiling the temple,
causing civil unrest,
but they can't prove
any of these charges.
They don't have a single witness
to bring before Felix
or Festus here in 25.
And Felix knows
that none of these charges
are true back in 24,
but he leaves Paul
in prison anyway,
hoping to get some money
out of all of his friends.
And that goes on
for two years,
and Felix finally
is replaced by Festus.
You know, historically,
we know that Festus
wasn't very much liked
by the Jews,
so they ended up
petitioning Rome
to have him removed.
They sent a delegation
to the capital,
made their case,
and Felix was fired,
so Festus gets the job.
Not exactly the kind of shoes
you want to be following him.
And as soon as Festus
arrives around 59 AD,
the authorities in Jerusalem
were making their move
against Paul once more,
again plotting
to kill him in an ambush,
just like they tried
back in chapter 23.
Of course, again,
there's a deep irony here,
isn't there,
that the ones who are
so zealous for the purity
of the law
are actually more than willing
to break the law
in order to get rid of Paul.
They're happy for the ends
to justify the means.
And isn't that so often
the reality of the unjust world
that we live in?
But you know, at first,
Festus seems like a breath
of fresh air, doesn't he?
He refuses their request
to have Paul transferred
to Jerusalem,
and as soon as he gets back
to Caesarea,
he opens Paul's case
and brings him in
for the hearing.
It seems that with Festus,
someone is finally
going to do the right thing
for Paul.
But how quickly
things change.
In verse 9,
Festus wares.
He sees an opportunity
to do the Jews' effect
for him.
He tries to send Paul
back to Jerusalem.
And it seems like the doors
of injustice are again
closing in around Paul.
Two years he's been waiting
for his just acquittal,
and now we think
from back to the Romans.
The world is an unjust place.
Of course, we know that.
You know,
read a newspaper,
watch the news,
live your life,
and you see injustice
all the time.
And yet, isn't Luke
taking all those
special pains here
to show us how Paul
is personally
undergoing injustice
in these chapters?
It's almost as if
to tell us
that we shouldn't be
shocked or surprised
if the same thing
happens to us.
The world's an unjust place,
Theophilus.
Don't be spiritually rocked
or emotionally devastated
or paralyzed to respond
if some of that injustice
hits you personally.
In fact, you can expect it
at some point or another.
Christians live in the world.
And if the world's an unjust place,
then it's something
we don't experience injustice.
And maybe all this seems obvious.
And it is.
But I wonder, friend,
have you ever questioned
your belief in Christ
when you've seen injustice
in the world
or experienced it
in your own life?
Has it ever rocked
your certainty
leaving a strain of doubt
rippling in its wake?
Well, Luke here
is trying to give us
a more robust
and realistic picture
of discipleship
and what it means
to really follow Jesus.
Creation groans
under the weight
of injustice
and believers
will often join
in that group.
Now, is that a cause
to abandon belief in God?
Certainly not.
After all,
the very cry
of your heart
for things to be made right,
the very cry
of your heart
for justice,
your very deep sense
that things are not
the way they're supposed to be,
all of that inner groaning
is a sign
that you're made
in the image
of the living God.
All of that
is a sign
that you're more
than just
a different matter
and time
and chance.
all that's a sign
to God's reality.
After all,
if life were just atoms
colliding into atoms,
what sense would we have
that things should
be different after all?
The strong would eat
the weak
and that's not
things would just be.
We might not like it,
but we couldn't say
it's unjust.
We couldn't say
it's not right.
But friends,
don't you see
that injustice
awaits in us?
a deep echo
of something
that many of us
have almost forgotten.
We see the injustice
of the world
and our heart
cries out for something
to be made right.
It's a deep echo
of something
that we've almost forgotten.
That this world
is God's.
And God is a God
of peace
and justice.
And as humans
made in His image,
we want the world
to be put right
with anger.
Like watchmen
long for the morning
of the Psalms
that said.
Like watchmen
long for the morning
we long for God's
kingdom to come
in place.
So Luke's reminding us
that the world
is an unjust place.
Not a reason
to abandon faith in God
but a reminder
that we will often
grow under its weight
so don't let
injustice surprise
and appreciate your faith.
The second point
we see here
is this
that in this
unjust world
we are to pursue
justice
with integrity.
Notice how Paul
in verse 8
responds to the charges.
It's quite simple
and straightforward
isn't it?
Neither against
the law of the Jews
nor against the temple
nor against Caesar
have I committed
any offense.
be calmly
clearly
and with integrity
declares what's right
and what's true.
You know this is not
the fourth time
as we've said
that he's had to
defend himself.
This is the second time
he's done it
before this very
same tribunal
in Caesarea
but isn't it amazing
that again
with the same
sort of
composure
and integrity
he lays out
his case.
And notice
he's not just
out to sort of
win an argument
and to save his skin.
Look at verse 11.
I mean it's not
if I'm a wrongdoer
if I've done
something that
deserves death
then I'm willing
to accept that sentence.
He's perfectly
willing to be
justly tried
in sentence.
He cares about
justice.
Paul cares about
what's right
but
he's also
willing to pursue
what's right
through the means
available.
And so he
appeals to Caesar.
Seeing that
Thessalonians
is not going
to judge
his case
with integrity
he uses
the means
available to him
as a running
citizen
to try
to get a fair
shame
to try
to get a fair
trial.
Send him to
Caesar
he says
send him
to him.
And notice
what Paul
isn't doing
here
as he appeals
to Caesar
on the one
hand
he's not
simply
resigning
himself
to the
injustice
around him.
That could
have been
easy to do
he could
have said
this must
just be
my fate
and given
up
and gone
to Jerusalem.
And on the
other hand
Paul wasn't
kicking and
screaming and
raging
demanding his
rights
he wasn't
disrespecting
all the
authorities
around him
Jewish
or Roman
he wasn't
seeking
any way
possible
to get
out from
under
this
kangaroo
court
I mean
after all
why not
escape for
jail
if you're
being
adjusted
to help
or not
break out
why not
escape
at night
why not
pay the
bribe
if you're
there
under
false
accusations
don't the
ends
justify
the
means
hasn't
all sense
of justice
utterly
collapsed
in this
bond
group
of law
but no
Paul wasn't
falling off
either side
of it
he wasn't
getting up
and he
wasn't
angerfully
using any
means
possible
instead he
was pursuing
justice
with integrity
now most
of us tend
to tip
one way
or the
other
don't we
some of
us avoid
conflict
like the
plague
I confess
I often
fall into
that category
we passively
accept our
faith
never speaking
up
never standing
up
maybe we
even kind
of dress
it up
in theological
language
this must
be the
Lord's
will
we say
but that's
not the
example
we see
here
is it
Paul
believes
in God's
sovereignty
oh yes
but he
still
acts
and pursues
what's
right
but if
some of
us avoid
conflict
some of
us
are
fighters
and we'll
do whatever
it takes
to stand
up for
what we
think are
our
rights
even if
it means
playing the
game
and bending
the truth
and fighting
fire
and yet
the example
of Paul
here shows
us a
calmness
confidence
a courage
to pursue
justice
with integrity
but you
know this
way that
Luke is
sort of
showing us
in the
apostle
Paul
pursuing
justice
doing the
right thing
doing it
with integrity
it's hard
isn't it
I don't
know about
you but
I often
feel more
like Festus
in this
story
than Paul
Festus
starts out
with really
good intentions
not willing
to be swayed
but when
the pressure
comes
when faced
with a hard
but clear
decision to
do the
right thing
when the
pressure
comes
he caves
look again
at verse
9
he knows
the case
against Paul
is not
a leg
to stand
on
and yet
he also
sees that
it would
be
advantageous
to keep
the Jerusalem
of the
four days
happy
why not
do them
a favor
and get
started
on the
right foot
he thinks
have they
made life
hard
for his
predecessor
Felix
have they
got him
fired
why not
do their
good side
Felix
knows
the
right
thing
and he
waves
instead of
pursuing
justice
with
integrity
he gives
in
the
pressure
and fear
haven't you
been there
I know
I have
enough
and look
at the
trouble
it creates
Festus
drives
his
end
all back
to Jerusalem
tries to
win some
favor
with the
local
authorities
and Paul
appeals to
Caesar
and suddenly
Festus
is in
trouble
because
as part
of this
appeal
Festus
has to
send a
report
to the
capital
as to
why
this
case
is
coming
to the
emperor
and what's
Festus
going to
say
ah
well
I wanted
to do
the Jewish
council
a bit
of a
favor
because
you know
how difficult
they can
be
and Paul
wouldn't
go along
with it
so he
killed
to you
so well
here he
is
your problem
now
not exactly
like I've had a
legal breach
that's going to
make Festus
a little
problem
clearly that's
not going to
work
so Festus
starts covering
these tracks
almost immediately
look at verse
20
he says
well I was at a
loss
I'm investigating
these things
that's why
I wanted
to send
Paul back
to the
first
really
Festus
we know
that was
the real
reason
we wanted
to do
the Jews
a favor
friends
haven't you
been there
you cave
under pressure
you don't
do the right
thing
and suddenly
the consequences
start unfolding
and you have
to start
weaving the story
and backtracking
and covering up
and Festus
is in a bigger
pickle now
than he was
at Paul's
hearing
he was afraid
of touching
the anger
of the authorities
of Jerusalem
now he's
about to face
the wrath
of Rome
itself
unless he
didn't come
up with
a story
now what
made these
men so
different
Paul
and Festus
what gave
Paul such
courage
while Festus
caved
it wasn't
wealth
that's not
what Paul
had
going for
Festus
was
aristocrat
Paul
was a
poor
tent
baby
missionary
was it
status
or power
that gave
Paul the
upper hand
Festus
was a
Roman
leader
one of the
highest
seeds of
the empire
Paul was a
traveling
rapper
what was it
what made
Paul
able to
pursue
justice
with integrity
while Festus
wavered
and caved
out
fear
and
is this
a problem
that in an
unjust world
where more like
Festus
and Paul
you and I
are good
intentions
often give
way
under pressure
and very
little seems
to have
there is
a
there is
one last
point
that Luke
wants us
to see
and the
last point
here in
chapter 25
is this
that in
this unjust
world
God
is
accomplished
his just
purpose
and plan
that's the
difference
between Paul
and Festus
one had
come to
see this
truth
with blazing
clarity
and the
other had
thought
Festus was
probably a
good Roman
and as a
good Roman
you appeased
the gods
and you did
your best
Roman civic
life was
very pragmatic
ah but the
God of the
Bible
was a
different
sort of
God
altogether
the God
that called
him
was the
sovereign
creator
of all
things
who was
able to
use
even
injustice
to bring
about
his
purposes
think of
God's
history
with his
people
when Joseph
was sold
by his
brothers
into slavery
God was
there
to put
Joseph in
Egypt
and then
into power
and the
rest of
his team
when Daniel
was sent
into exile
by the
Babylonians
and he
was thrown
into a
lion's
den
there
God
was
working
to
exalt
Daniel
put him
in a
position
of
authority
and
broadcast
throughout
the
Persian
empire
as a result
of that
event
the greatness
of Daniel's
God
for think of
when Esther
was taken
from her
family
and put
into the
king's
herald
even there
God was
worthy
to make
her the
queen
so that
at the
right time
she could
advocate
for her
people
and save
them
from
destruction
this was
the God
that Paul
had
this is
the God
that Paul
had now
come
to know
in a new
way
you see
now Paul
had come
to know
what all
this history
was pointing
toward
now he
knew about
the one
who brought
Israel's
history to
its surprising
finale
now Paul
knew Jesus
God's
very son
and Jesus
who was
innocent
in every
way
was betrayed
and was
unjustly
condemned
by his
own people
and was
crucified
in a
miscarried
pro-injustice
class
in and
through that
most severe
and blatant
act of
injustice
God
was working
his just
delay
and at
the cross
God was
carried
away
our sin
and our
death
and death
Christ
and God
demonstrated
that fact
by raising
Jesus from
the dead
overturning
the just
unjust
verdict
that had
been cast
and in
overturning
that verdict
breaking
righteousness
and life
and vindication
to all
the world
you see
this God
that Paul
knew was
the God
who worked
out his
just purpose
in an
unjust
world
and now
Paul had
to know
this God
or better
put to be
known
by this
God
in Jesus
the crucified
and risen
world
in verse
19
Festus
recounts
a little
more of
what Paul
had said
in his
defense
Festus
is a bit
confused
he says
it seemed
to be all
of us
serving
Jesus
who was
dead
but
he
called
out
to be
alive
why was
calling
to pursue
justice
with
integrity
and not
give
into
pressure
or fear
and what
will allow
us to
do the same
because in the
light of the
resurrection of
Jesus our
living king
we can know
that no matter
what happens
God
is at work
to bring
about his
just kingdom
even through
injustice
and that means
that the rulers
of the nations
are not beyond
the control
of the Lord
of the universe
you know as
Paul was in
prison in
Caesarea
I wonder how
often he
remembered
the words of
Jesus that
Ananias told
him right after
his conversion
Jesus said to
him Paul
you're a chosen
instrument of
mine to
carry my name
before Gentiles
and kings
and the children
of Israel
and I will
show you how
much he has
suffered
a saving
right here
you see
Paul's suffering
wasn't in vain
it was for
Jesus sake
he was testifying
to kings
our passage ends
with Agrippa
the Jewish king
at the time
wanting to hear
Paul
wanting to listen
to what he has
to say
and hear the
words of Jesus
coming true
testifying to
kings
and again
I wonder how
often the words
that Jesus spoke
to Paul
in prison
in Jerusalem
just two years
earlier
was comforting
to Paul
during those
years in
Caesar
take courage
Jesus
for as you
have testified
to the facts
about me
in Jerusalem
so you
must also
testify
in Rome
you must
testify
in Rome
no matter
what happened
Paul knew
that the
Lord was in
control
and that no
matter what
happened
he was going
to testify
to the grace
of God
in Christ
see if you
and Paul
appeals to
Caesar
in our
chapter
here
it's more
than just
a last
ditch
effort
to try
to save
his skin
it was
Paul
realizing
that the
words
of Jesus
were coming
true
this probably
wasn't how
Paul originally
thought he was
going to get
there
he probably
wasn't thinking
that his
trip to Rome
would be in
chains
but what Luke
has been trying
to show us
through this
whole section
of Acts
is that
Paul's chains
are the
gospel's wings
and the
injustice
that he suffered
only served
to advance
the gospel
and that gave
Paul great
reason
not only
to worship
Jesus as
the Lord of
Lords
but it gave
him incredible
courage
not to cave
but to waver
in the face
of injustice
the Lord
is my helper
Psalm 118
6 says
what can
man do to
me
who
shall I
fear
friends
if Christ
died
and rose
again
for me
for you
if his
resurrection
proves that
he's going
to work
out his
just life
even through
injustice
what if
we
do
you know
if that
truth goes
deep for
us
just like
it did
for Paul
and we'll
find that
in the face
of injustice
we don't
need to
avoid
conflict
and give
in to
passivity
we'll find
that the gospel
actually gives us
the confidence
to appeal
as a
God
like Paul
because we
know that we
stand with
the king
and the guy
that was a
king
and his
just plan
cannot be
overthrown
isn't that
the confidence
that we
need
and at the
same time
we need not
fight fire
with fire
and use
unjust means
to fight
injustice
the gospel
gives us
the courage
to suffer
for the one
who died
and rose
again
stands
with us
and his
kingdom
will advance
even
through
suffering
there's the
courage
that we
need
and here's
why we can
do the right
thing even
under pressure
even when
it's hard
because no
matter what
trouble may
come as a
result
the risen
Lord's
working through
to advance
his kingdom
in our lives
and the world
his kingdom
of grace
and of peace
and of the
justice
our hearts
are so warm
Lord Jesus
we thank you
that in your
resurrection
there is
great courage
and great
confidence
for us
Lord we
confess this
morning that
we're often so
fearful
and so weak
God that so
many of our
response
fall so harsh
and yet
Father we
thank you for
your Holy
Spirit
that you
poured out
in the
house
through
Jesus
that helps
us to see
and to know
that your
kingdom is
going for
and that
nothing
is wrong
God grant us
the courage
that we need
and the confidence
that we need
in you
Lord Jesus
so that we
might be people
of justice
so that we
might be people
of righteousness
and truth
of mercy
and compassion
so that we
might bind
out of the
hearts of the
broken
so that we
might go to
the needy
and believe
you to stand
with them
so that we
might be able
to face
hope
with calmness
and composure
and grace
Lord knowing
that the very
people who
often sit in
the seat of
judgment are
really just
like us
or may
this be
the long
end of the
life of
my
everything
I pray
this in
Jesus
friends let's
stand
as the
music scene
comes out
and let's
use this
closing song
as an
opportunity
to respond
and worship
to Christ
our King
and let's
return
and proclaim
thank you
Alleluia, sing to Jesus
Here's the scepter, here's the throne
Alleluia, here's the china
Here's the victory in me alone
I will come to thee to Zion
Under thy almighty fire
Jesus, our every nation
That's redeeming us by his love
Alleluia, God and so on
Are we glad in sorrow now?
Alleluia, keep his spirit
Faithfully, the blessed sound
All the doubts of sight receding
When the Lord is the Lord
Shout out our hearts, forget his confidence
I am with you evermore
Alleluia, let our better
Through all earth, our fruit are saved
Alleluia, keep the simple
Will flee to you from day to day
Intercessor, friend of sinners
First redeeming early on me
Where the Santa, Father, the Lord
We are the best of sin
Alleluia, keep the simple
You, the Lord
You, the Lord, the Lord
We are the best of sin
Alleluia, Lord, O Mary
Heard your force to heaven
Your crown
You, with the end of the world
As an angel
And broken
Broken death
I bring thy feet
I, O Spirit
Be the song
For the love
In heavenly peace
Amen, friends, well, that's the end of our service
Feel free to stick around
Fellowship up here
Downstairs
Don't forget
The pick-up in the park
Is happening
In Worcester Square
Right there, Worcester Square
So, grab some lunch
Take it over
Have a good time
Of just fellowshipping there
Don't forget to come back tonight
For our brief service
We're working our way
For the opening chapters
Of the book
Of Revelation
And Greg's gonna pick up that tonight
Let me end
With a benediction
From the book of the Decients
A place where we've been landing
Of the most these days
At the end of our service
Now to Him
Who is able to do
Far more above
And all we ask
With faith
According to the power
Of work and fitness
To Him
The glory of the church
And in Christ Jesus
Through all generations
Forever and ever
Amen
Friends, go on, please
quase
Thank you
An ata
り
Thank you.