Paul is going to Rome as God said he would.

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February 6, 2013
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2. Paul is imprisoned in
Caesarea and kept there by
the Roman Governor Festus.
He appealed to Caesar,
his right as a Roman.
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3. Acts 25:13 And
after certain
days king Agrippa and
Bernice came unto
Caesarea to salute Festus.
Festus is the new Roman
governor; Agrippa and
Bernice came to pay their
respects.
Agrippa was married to his sister – Bernice.
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4. 14 And when they had been
there many days, Festus
declared Paul's cause unto the
king, saying, There is a certain
man left in bonds by Felix:
“ I’ve inherited a problem from Felix.”
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5. 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief
priests and the elders of the Jews informed me,
desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom
I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to
deliver any man to die, before that he which is
accused have the accusers face to face, and have
license to answer for himself concerning the crime
laid against him.
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6. 17-18 Therefore,when they were come hither,
without any delay on the morrow I sat on the
judgment seat, and commanded the man to be
brought forth. Against whom when the accusers
stood up, they brought none accusation of such
things as I supposed:
From the hatred that the Jews expressed,
Festus was expecting serious crimes:
Murder, robbery, insurrection.
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7. 19 Buthad certain questions against him of their
own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was
dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Festus saw religion as mere superstition, as a
lot of people still do today.
In his mind, Paul’s assertion that a dead man
lived, was not criminal, but crazy.
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8. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of ques-
tions, I asked him whether he would go to Jeru-
salem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But
when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the
hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept
till I might send him to Caesar.
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9. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear
the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear
him. 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was
come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was
entered into the place of hearing, with the chief
captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus'
commandment Paul was brought forth.
Politicians love their pomp and ceremony. It
makes them feel so important.
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10. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men
which are here present with us, ye see this man,
about whom all the multitude of the Jews have
dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here,
crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But
when I found that he had committed nothing
worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed
to Augustus (Caesar), I have determined to send
him.
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11. He wanted this trouble out of his territory
and no longer his responsibility.
Festus cared nothing for Paul, but
he did care that his rule as
governor be approved by Rome.
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12. 26-27 Ofwhom I have no certain thing to write unto
my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth
before you, and specially before thee, O king
Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have
somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me
unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to
signify the crimes laid against him.
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13. Don’t lose sight of the Will of God in this.
God’s Plan had always been for Paul to testify
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Rome.
Paul had always submitted himself to the
Will of God in all matters.
God is using Festus -- no Christian --
to get Paul to Rome.
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14. Ephesians 5 17-18 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the Will of the Lord is. And be
not drunk (under the influence) with wine, wherein
is excess; but be filled (under the influence) with
the Spirit;
Let us be as diligent as the Apostle Paul was to
know and do the Will of God in all things!
Let us be totally under the influence of God’s
Holy Spirit all the time,
Obeying Him willingly.
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15. He will produce in us the fruit of His Spirit.
Galatians 5 22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the
Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Submissive Obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer and Worship in the Holy Spirit.
Prayerful study to obey the Word of God.
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16. When we live and walk in the Holy Spirit,
God will always work in us and through us to
accomplish His Good and Perfect Will.
The Good life is not about this world’s goods or
our accomplishments in this world.
The Good Life is about fellowship with our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Good Life is about basking in His Presence and
having Him use us for His Glory.
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