An Acts-ive Faith (Part 25)

Acts 25: Innocent and Hated

Acts 25:10 But Paul said, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you can see very well. If then I am doing wrong. or have done anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die, but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

The Jewish leaders accused Paul of many things. as they stood before Festus in Caesarea. They were not able to prove them. Paul had not done anything wrong. He had gone to many cities in which Jews lived and told people about Christ, encouraging them to repent. The Jews wanted Paul dead, and Paul knew it. Remember Paul’s nephew in Acts 23 who overheard a plot to kill Paul? They had planned to kill him before he got to Jerusalem. Paul knew the level of their hatred. He appealed to Caesar so that he would not be turned over to the Jews. He also remembered what God had said to him: “Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11).

Paul was a travelling apostle. He knew God wanted him to speak in Rome. How nice it would be if he could travel to Rome in a first class cabin, with all the luxuries — but no, he was going to Rome as a prisoner. Paul wanted to fulfill God’s call on his life. It did not matter to him if he fulfilled it as a free man or as a prisoner. I marvel at Paul’s dedication to the Lord.

Question: Will I be that dedicated to the Lord when my trials comes? Will I still follow the Lord, even if I am hated by others for no reason?

Prayer: Lord, Help me to follow you fully. Help me to serve you even if (and when) my outside circumstances are not so pleasant. Help me to know Your call on my life and to fulfill it.

Photo credits: M or K Carswell,

CC: K Carswell 2022

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by Permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.