Decisions, Decisions
Application
- “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”—Missionary Jim
Elliot. - Ignorance should never be a reason for stupidity! Pride could be; lack of resolve could be, but ignorance never should be!
- Festus must balance what he does here against his obligations to those he serves and his
- obligations to protect and benefit those under him—just like we do!
- Conclusion: May we never feel shame or inadequacy for seeking counsel. Apart from God alone, no one knows it all! The US President has advisors of many types in the Cabinet Officers and his personal advisors. Presumably, he receives a multitude of counsel, but he alone is responsible to make the decision.
Bible Text
Acts 25:13-27 (NASB) (pew Bible, NT pages 114-115)
(13) Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. (14) While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix; (15) and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. (16) I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. (17) So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be
-Acts 25:13-27
brought before me. (18) When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, (19) but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. (20) Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. (21) But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” (22) Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” (23) So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. (24) Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer. (25) But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. (26) Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. (27) For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate also the charges against him.”