Porcius Festus was confused with a prisoner name Paul whom he inherited from the previous governor. The prisoner was a Roman citizen charged with capital crimes by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. Like any good Roman politician he made plans to appease the local government who sought to quell any rebellion and planned to send this prisoner to Jerusalem for trial. But then he gave Paul a hearing. His account to Herod Agrippa as recorded in Acts 25:17-21 displays the confusion he must have felt. Apparently Festus had not been introduced to Christianity before this. The words he heard were unbelievable. The Jesus leaders said something out a dead man, but Paul countered that the dead man was alive again. How could a dead person come back to life? There were no government guidelines in the first century that would help him prepare charges to deliver to the emperor in order to review the case. The questions that must have been rolling around in Festus’ brain are just an critical today. Dead men don’t rise to live again by any natural power. It is only through the power of a supernatural God that this can be accomplished. I wonder if Festus lived the rest of his life in confusion about Christianity?
It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage.
Stuart
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