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Acts 25:1-12 NKJV– Paul Experiences Déjà vu while Testifying Before Festus:

No Matter the Type of Spiritual Attack, Just Stand Firm on God’s Unchanging Truth.

It is normal to want to prepare for every scenario. A nation’s military prepares potential war plans for various scenarios. Businesses prepare contingency plans in case there is a disruption in their workflow. Families prepare their members for how to connect with each other should there be a breakdown in communication. People even overpack for a vacation to be prepared for any changes in the weather (Of course, some people just always overpack because, well, that is just what they do!).

But Scripture emphasizes that when any type of spiritual attack comes, we are to execute only one spiritual plan – Run to Christ! This is accomplished through prayer and standing firm upon God’s Word! We are to be strong in prayer and take courage to stand on the same, unchangeable truth of the Word of God and repeat it again and again and again, no matter what the circumstances. We run to Christ and embrace His Word because that is the only thing the Evil One and his demons listen to. They do not listen to or fear anything else. Paul never diverted from this one war plan – Run to Christ! Stand firm on God’s Word. Be strong and take courage in prayer. Believers have this one war plan to combat spiritual attack, and there are no contingency plans.

It is actually foolish to think we are able to take on the evil spiritual realm ourselves. The Bible is clear that our human minds are not capable of understanding or successfully navigating the spiritual realm. Even the Scriptures must put supernatural visions and spiritual concepts into human terms (called “anthropomorphic” language; “anthro” = man, “morphic” = form) so that our finite minds can even come close to grasping the spiritual concept (just read the book of Revelation). In fact, the only reason why there is a description of any kind of spiritual realm (Colossians 1:15-18, Ephesians 6:10-13) is to simply let us know that the evil realm is real, it is organized, and it is way out of our league to handle. The only aspect of the spiritual realm human beings are to personally engage is the Almighty God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). God is the only One with whom we as human beings are called on to engage our hearts and minds. We are not called to bind demons, ponder the intimate goings on of the demonic realm, nor communicate with any members of the spiritual realm. Demons only listen to God and God alone (Zechariah 3:2; Jude 1:9). That is because they are more powerful than we (Mark 14:38), are able to destroy us with ease if given their way (John 10:10; I Peter 5:8), and only listen to God (Job 1-2; Luke 22:31; II Thessalonians 2:6-7).

When Paul was in front of Festus to defend his case, he noticed that once again he was going to be attacked for his faith. But Paul resorted to the same approach. He focused everything on the truth of Christ, stood firm on God’s Word, and was strong and courageous. In fact, he virtually repeated himself from two years prior when he stood in the very same hall defending himself in front of former Governor Felix. Only this time, he was in front of a new governor named Festus.

The parallels of Paul’s encounter with Festus and the Jewish people here in Acts 25:1-8 have many parallels with the encounter Paul had with Felix and the Jewish people in Acts 24:1-21 approximately two years earlier. Of course, when you repeat yourself, you find you are able to recite the same words a bit more succinctly, and your presentation is often clearer. Paul rehearsed the same truths that he presented two years prior (Acts 24:10-21) while standing in the same location, but just a bit more succinctly. “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all…To the Jews, I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them” (Acts 25:8, 10b-11 NKJV). Paul simply knew to point people to Christ, to stand firm on the Word of God, and to be strong and courageous. And bold he was.

While standing in front of the new governor, Festus, Paul saw through his weaknesses. Paul knew Festus wanted to do well in his brand-new job and keep the peace. He also knew that Festus feared what people thought of him and did not want to offend anyone, like his predecessor, Felix, was known for doing.

Paul had been in prison for two years, and the Jewish leaders were still bitter about the impact Paul made upon the city. It implies that they had rehearsed for two years what went wrong in the previous case and what could have been done better. They were looking to see if, in the future, there were any forthcoming opportunities that could give them a strategic advantage, and were there any weak links in their plan that could threaten their success (a literal Sanhedrin S.W.O.T. analysis!). They would tighten them up for the next time they would see Paul in court. Their goal was to trap Paul and, hopefully, receive a legal verdict against Christianity once and for all.

Upon hearing that Felix was removed from his post (Acts 24:27) and that Festus was taking his place, the Jewish leaders realized this might be their opportunity to get to him first and cozy up to this new governor and express their support for him should Festus accommodate their wishes. So, while Festus was on his way to his new post, the Jewish leaders engaged him warmly and invited him to spend some time with them (25:1-6a). Festus received their warm, welcoming invitation and spent approximately 10 days with them (Acts 25:6a). At which time, they informed Festus of their intention to ambush Paul and kill him and asked Festus to move the hearing to Jerusalem so that they could execute their plan (Acts 25:23). Their plan was similar to a plan that was concocted by 40+ men two years prior (Acts 23:12-22), but they were more brazen about admitting it. And they were hopeful that, in essence, they were able to speak to the jury before the trial.

So, when Paul stood in front of Festus, he could sense that as soon as Festus offered to send him to Jerusalem (Acts 25:9), this was simply a well-orchestrated plan to kill Paul (Acts 25:3), just as was the case two years prior (Acts 23:11-22). Festus also was tempted to compromise his position and be complicit in the killing of Paul (which Felix was guilty of when he hired assassins to take out a Jewish Priest named Jonathan because he was calling into question Felix’s questionable reputation). And even though Festus had a reputation for using fair judgment, he started his tenure as governor by demonstrating he was also able to be easily compromised.

But Paul did not worry about what type of attack was going to come his way this time. He knew what his war plan was for any and every spiritual attack: Run to Christ! Stand firm on God’s Word. Be strong and take courage. Paul did not fear man. He knew the truth God wanted him to stand upon, and he knew what his mission was (Acts 1:8 and Acts 23:11). And while Paul delivered the same truth in various tones of voice and demeanors, he never shied away from speaking the truth. He spoke tenderly when the inquirer sincerely wanted to learn about Jesus Christ (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 2:8), but he maintained a bold posture when people did not have sincere motives. On this occasion, it called for a strong and courageous response.

Ultimately, Paul declared that he was going to go to Rome just as the Lord told him he would. Simultaneously, Paul deflated the religious leaders’ scheme of receiving a verdict from Festus upon which they could act immediately. Paul declared, “I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25:11 NKJV), which was a prerogative of every Roman citizen to have their case heard by the Roman Emperor. And in doing so, Paul secured his all-expense-paid trip to Rome on Rome’s nickel. Paul facilitated a trip to Rome, which was a destination he not only wanted to travel to but knew God wanted him to minister there (Acts 19:21, 23:11; see also 15:23-28, Romans 1:9-23, which was written in Corinth during Acts 18:11).

In appealing to Caesar in Acts 25:11, Paul was not putting his faith in the wicked Emperor Nero to declare him innocent. But rather, he saw this as the window of opportunity to fulfill God’s calling to be His witness in Rome somehow, someway (Acts 23:11). Paul probably never thought that by obeying God, he would possibly get a hearing with the most powerful man in the Roman world, but he was very open to the opportunity. In addition, Paul was not at all interested in how Festus might have thought about being let off the hook from making a difficult decision about his situation (Acts 25:12). Paul let God deal with Festus as he continued to put his focus on Christ, stood on God’s Word, and was strong and took courage!

Ponder & Pray Today…

Reflect on how Paul was in prison for two years, only to be called up to stand in front of another governor and the same Jewish Leaders and go through the same attacks that he experienced two years prior with Felix. Remember how swift, clear, and decisive his response was, as he knew exactly how to respond based on previous experience. Think about how God had given Paul repeated experiences to become stronger in his witnessing presentation. Now ponder how God might have allowed you to experience repeated scenarios. In what situations and scenarios do you think God could be equipping you to be stronger and prepared?

Pray to God and tell Him to open your eyes to the repeated situations He allows you to experience. Tell Him you will learn all you can from them, believing He is using them to prepare you to become stronger in these areas in order to fulfill His divine purpose through you. Then thank Him for His continual teaching and guidance. Tell Him you welcome Him to do it in your life