3 June 2022

When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting. Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

From Acts 25:13-21, NRSV 

These words were spoken by Festus when he was the newly appointed Roman Governor of the region of Caesarea. Festus had inherited a problem from the previous governor Felix. Paul had been sent to Caesarea for his own protection following a threat to his life whilst he was in Jerusalem. Felix had kept Paul in protective custody but had not taken any decisive action for about two years about what should happen to him. Festus, according to the Roman law, had arranged for Paul to be brought before a tribunal where he would have the opportunity to defend himself against the charges being made against him. Festus claimed that he felt unqualified to deal with the issues that arose at the tribunal. Even if he had felt that Paul was innocent of the charges, Festus would probably not have wanted to take any action that would  upset the Jews of his region. Festus tried to pass the problem back to Jerusalem but Paul appealed for his trial to be heard before the Roman Emperor and so was remanded in Caesarea until this could be arranged. Festus shared this problem with King Agrippa who had more understanding of matters relating to the Jews. After listening to Paul’s defence, neither Agrippa nor Festus found that Paul had committed any crime but as he had appealed for his case to be heard in Rome, this was set in motion.

• How do you think Paul felt about this long delay in his trial?
• What is your experience of meeting obstacles or delays to the plans you have made and how did you cope with this?

Pray for all who are held captive on unjust charges and for those awaiting trial.

Image – St. Paul – Rembrandt