Acts 25:6-12

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. (7) And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. (8) While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all. (9) But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judge d of these things before me? (10) Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judge d: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. (11) For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. (12) Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

What an awful view we have here again of a corrupt judge. Festus, as well as Felix, plainly saw, that there was nothing in which those unprincipled men could criminate Paul. He knew also, that he had been unjustly detained in prison for more than two years by Felix. And in the face of these palpable cruelties, to propose another hearing at a distant day, and to be carried to Jerusalem for that purpose, was the grossest act of oppression and cruelty imaginable. Oh! Festus! how hast thou long since gone up to the Jerusalem, the Zion of God, which is above, and there been judge d before Paul's Lord, for thy cruelties to his dear servant? Thy conscience then was hardened past all feeling and thy pleasing the Jews at the expense of God's truth, amused thy unfeeling soul. But thy sins were only accumulating, like the gathering of gun-powder in the barrel, treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. And how long since, hath that fire seized upon thy full-bosomed soul of guilt, and sunk thee into that place of endless torment, which, kindled in God's anger, burneth forever to the lowest hell, Deuteronomy 32:22

This appeal of Paul, no doubt, was made from the encouragement he had derived from the Lord's vision to him; in which Jesus had told him, that he must bear witness for him at Rome, Acts 23:11. And very sweet, and seasonable, was that gracious visit of the Lord, to his poor prisoner. In the confidence of which, he demands a hearing before the then Emperor of Rome, who was Festus's lord. And, by this means, he not only pleaded his right, as a Roman, so to be tried; but he perfectly for the time, got free from his enemies at Jerusalem. Reader!! do not overlook the love of Jesus, on this occasion, to Paul. And, when you have thanked the Lord Jesus, for this grace to the Apostle then; connect with it the assurance, that the same grace Jesus sheweth to all his people now. Oh! how sweet are all the love-visits of Jesus!

Reader! even at this distance of time, I feel my poor heart disposed to bless God, for his timely instruction given to Paul, to make this appeal. Methinks I see the Governor, looking most pitiful indeed! He is obliged to take counsel with those around him, how to act. And he that just before had said: wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judge d before me? is now compelled to conduct himself towards his poor prisoner, as if Paul had said in answer: be judge d before thee? No! To your sovereign and master, I appeal for judgment. By Caesar only will I be judge d! And here the Court broke up. The Jews sent home disappointed. The Governor humbled, Paul triumphant. And how often doth the Lord thus baffle the designs of bad men, and deliver his people?