Acts 25:11

"If, then,. am. wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death,. do not refuse to die" Paul recognized that the death penalty was both lawful and biblical. There are crimes that deserve death as. punishment and when such crimes are committed the state has the right to execute the criminal. Paul is making it clear that he is not trying to circumvent justice or prolong his trial indefinitely. "But if none of those things is true" Yet Paul had not committed any such crimes. This verse makes it clear that Paul knew what the Jews wanted and they wanted to put him to death. "No one can hand me over to them,. appeal to Caesar" The appeal to Caesar was the right that every Roman citizen had. Such an appeal "was made to instantly suspend proceedings. the case, and to send the prisoner, together with his accusers, to Rome, that the case might be adjudged by the imperial court" (McGarvey p. 245). Such an appeal could only be made in extreme cases. Paul knew that in Jerusalem Festus would be up against powerful forces and pressure to rule in the Jews favor. and that's even if he ever arrived alive.

We learn. couple of lesson here:

Christians do have the right to make lawful use of the courts in order to defend themselves.

We have the right to use whatever legal maneuvering is lawful if we are indeed innocent.

God does not expect Paul to give in and sacrifice himself as soon as possible.

There is nothing wrong with being an citizen of an earthly kingdom.