Acts 25:7

Sunday, 25 February 2024

When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, Acts 25:7

In the previous verse, Festus had returned to Caesarea and sat on the judgment seat the next day, commanding Paul to be brought forward. With that remembered, it next says, “When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about.”

Saying that they “stood about” seems to imply that there were quite a few who came down. It was a grand show that they put on for Festus. This was certainly intended to make it appear that all of the Jewish leadership was in complete agreement concerning the need to have Paul judged and removed from society. Therefore, it next says that they “laid many serious complaints against Paul.”

These allegations would have been the same as before and which Paul will refute, such as him being a defiler of their religion, which was the sanctioned religion of the province. They would accuse him of being a defiler of the temple, which Rome had sanctioned as an acceptable edifice for worship by the Jews.

They would also certainly accuse him of being one who disturbed the peace. As such, he was supposedly a threat not only to Jewish society but Roman rule as well. Further, they would certainly note him as one who would question the rule of Caesar because he claimed there was another king.

These, and any other such accusations, would be proclaimed against him, things “which they could not prove.” They could not prove them in the past, and they were not able to prove them at this time either.

Life application: The reason they could not prove the charges against Paul is because what they charged him with was not true. If he was tried in Jerusalem, this would not have mattered. They would have unjustly found him guilty and dealt with him accordingly. However, at the Roman judgment seat, reliable evidence of guilt would be needed.

Assuming that you were to be given a fair trial today concerning a matter, would you be found innocent or guilty? Paul had done nothing wrong because he lived his life in a manner that was in accord with the laws of the land.

This is what is expected of Christians. If we do wrong, we can expect to be judged according to our wrongdoing. If we act responsibly and in accord with the laws of the land, as long as a trial is fair and impartial, we can expect to be judged accordingly and be exonerated.

Obviously, not every trial is fair. In fact, fair trials are becoming less and less likely in the world because of biases, political agendas, a perception that Christians are somehow wrongdoers, etc. At such times, there is not much that can be done about it. However, for normal conduct in life, we should be obedient to the rules and laws that govern the society in which we live.

Lord God, regardless of what comes about in our lives, as long as we are living for You in a manner that is in accord with Your word, we can expect You to judge our lives accordingly. In this life, that may not be the case, but what happens now is just a temporary blip on the way to eternal glory. So, Lord, help us to live lives that honor You now. Amen.