“About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. 8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said. 9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?” 10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” 12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”” Acts 25:6-12 NLT
Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.” Acts 25:30-32 NLT
Father in Heaven,
When we read through these full chapters we see that the courts were more about stopping trouble before it started than letting the innocent go free. The Jewish religious leaders were just as persistent with Paul as they had been trying to silence Jesus.
And Paul speaks in his letters about being ready to die, “the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ( 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Scholars believe he was eventually executed by beheading (as he was a Roman citizen). And certainly he stops writing, after his second letter to Timothy, which I doubt he would have done otherwise.
He acknowledges the journey – a battle, a race and nothing has taken away his faith. Frightening, strenuous and stubborn faith? We know it has been because we are following his journeys and difficulties. I’m glad he does not gloss it over. You, God have not always answered his prayers and we are shortly to see how he nearly drowned, got bitten by a snake and had to live and earn his keep while awaiting trial in Rome. (Acts 27:42, Acts 28:3, Acts 28:30).
So perhaps I should not be surprised when it feels like a battle, or an endurance race. And I know how that feels having done marathons . . . It is past tiredness. I pray that I will stand on, lean on, rely on my faith. Which I cannot boast is from me but is the faith that You give me day by day as I need. And faithfulness is the fruit of Your Holy Spirt should I choose to feed it and let it grow (Ephesians 5:22). Thank You for Your great faithfulness O Lord.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Wednesday 10th December 2025
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hand hast provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.
Lyrics: Thomas O Chisholm