February 19th, 2022

This Sunday is the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, and we are getting very close to the end of the Epiphany season. The Epistle Reading is again from 1 Corinthians [15:21-26, 30-42], and we are continuing to see how, in the past, Christianity was spoken against in some very important places. St. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, and in that important city, by some powerful people, Christianity was being put down. And Paul is getting closer to making his trip to the extremely important city of Rome (see Acts 19:21). Will anyone else say something positive about Christianity?

After the arrest of St. Paul, and after his insistence that he did not sin against the law, the temple, or against Caesar, he then appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:8, 11). And this seems to be an excellent way to make his start toward Rome. But before Paul leaves on his boat trip to Rome, he will make his case before King Agrippa and his wife Bernice. A king is obviously an important person, even with an emperor. Paul will have an important (and long) defense to make before him, and we will look at that next week.

This time we will be looking at the words of the new governor, Festus, and his perspective of the situation. The somewhat-literal translation will begin at Acts 25:14.

And as [King Agrippa and Bernice] stayed there more days, Festus set out the things regarding Paul to the King, saying, “There is a certain man, having been left before by Felix, a prisoner, about whom, on my being in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders for the Jews informed, asking against him a sentence [of condemnation]; toward whom I answered that it is not a custom with Romans to grant [this is connected to the word for ‘grace’] any man, before the one being accused, against his face, should have the accusers place [i.e., opportunity] and receive an apology [i.e., defense] concerning the charge. Therefore, they coming together, here, having made no delay, on the next one [i.e., day] sitting on the tribunal, I commanded the man to be brought; concerning whom, the accusers standing, brought no charge of things which I suspected evil, but certain questions concerning their own demon worship [i.e., religion], they had with him and concerning a certain Jesus, having died, whom Paul asserted to live. And being perplexed concerning this, a searching, I said if he wished to go into Jerusalem and there to be judged concerning these things. But Paul, having appealed, himself to be kept into the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I may send him up toward Caesar.”

It may be helpful to read the above verses (25:14-21) in other translations. What comes across is that this is an unusually fair perspective to the current situation of Paul.

The next day, before King Agrippa and his wife, and others, and this includes St. Paul, Festus makes this presentation, and he also gives another fair summary (and what follows is also in a somewhat-literal translation, starting at Acts 25:24; it should be noted that the importance and what the whole problem ‘boils down to’ is shown by starting out this talk with a historical present, to introduce this important perspective, ‘And Festus SAYS….’):

“King Agrippa and all those men, present together with us, you are beholding this one about whom all the multitude of the Jews pleaded with me in both Jerusalem and here, crying out that it is not necessary, him to live longer. But I having perceived nothing worthy of death he had done, but he himself, this one appealing to Augustus, I decided to send. Concerning whom certain I have nothing to write to the lord; so I brought forth him before you all and, most of all, before you, King Agrippa, so as there, having been an examination, I may have what I write; for it seems unreasonable to me, sending a prisoner, not also the against him, to signify charges.”

There is a wide range of things covered here (Acts 25:24-27). There are Jews that are saying that this person must die. That idea of necessity has been prominent throughout Luke-Acts (see Luke 2:49; Acts 17:3). And Festus is saying that he does not know of a charge that would deserve death for this man.

This is, quite literally, a life-and-death situation. But perhaps a better name for it is a death-and-life situation. St. Paul does not seem put off by the fact that he might be killed. And Jesus was the same way. They were both on the same side—along with the Christians today who are being persecuted for the Faith.

Jesus said things that were different. His words continue to ring true, even after his death and resurrection. Jesus SAYS things that are different.