Saturday 26 January, 2013

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea. They came to pay a visit to Festus. 14 They were spending many days there. So Festus talked with the king about Paul’s case. He said, “There’s a man here that Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the Jewish chief priests and the elders brought charges against the man. They wanted him to be found guilty. 16 “I told them that this is not the way Romans do things. We don’t judge people before they have faced those bringing charges against them. They must have a chance to speak up for themselves. 17 When the Jews came back with me, I didn’t waste any time. I called the court together the next day. I ordered the man to be brought in. 18 Those bringing charges against him got up to speak. But they didn’t charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they argued with him about their own beliefs. They didn’t agree about a dead man named Jesus. Paul claimed Jesus was alive. 20 “I had no idea how to look into such matters. So I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem. There he could be tried on these charges. 21 But Paul made an appeal to have the Emperor decide his case. So I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” Festus replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

We will all face trials because of our faith in Jesus – something the Bible refers to many times. Paul was certainly not immune to this. He found himself in prison on a number of occasions,

and in fact suffered physical, mental & emotional abuse as well.

The one thing I’ve learnt from Paul out of this story and others, is that he never lost hope or faith throughout these trials. He always stuck firm in what he knew his calling was. If it meant death, then it meant death (see verse 11 in this chapter). We even find him singing songs of worship and praise during one night

in prison.

My prayer is that I will never shrink back when sharing about Jesus. That my life would be a testimony of His Grace & love towards me – no matter what circumstances may dictate.

May I (all of us) be bolder in 2013 when we speak out Jesus name!

Written by Ps. Mandy Miller