Wed.’s Devo - Paul’s Trial Before Festus

Read: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81; Acts 26:1-32; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 18:20-21 The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were separated from the other tribes by the Jordan River. They were the first line of defense against Israel’s enemies from the east, so they were valiant warriors who knew how to fight. They started out conquering the enemies of their land because they cried our to the Lord and trusted in him. Then they became fascinated with the gods of the land and abandoned the Lord to commit idolatry with them. So, they were defeated by the Assyrians and taken into exile. *** The Levites were divided into three clans: the Gersonites, Kohathites and Merarites. The priests came from the sons of Aaron which were Kohathites. Moses and Aaron were from that clan. The Levites were in charge of the worship and administration of the Temple. They were not given a lot in the promised land but were scattered throughout the tribes to minister to the people. They were always given pasturelands with their cities to keep animals for sacrifice. *** In Acts, it was Paul’s turn to make his defense against all the false accusations the Jews from Jerusalem were making about him. He began his opening statements telling his history as a Pharisee and his hope in the Lord of their forefathers. He asked them, ‘What is so incredible about the fact that God raises the dead?’ *** Paul explained that he opposed the name of Jesus of Nazareth at first and persecuted and arrested those who believed in him. Then he gave his story of meeting the Lord on the road to Damascus and his commission to spread the good news to the Jews and the Gentiles. That was what he had been doing since then and that was the reason he was arrested by the Jews and brought to trial. *** When Festus heard his story of the light that spoke to him, Festus told Paul he was out of his mind. Paul told Festus he was speaking the truth. He asked Festus if he believed the prophets? Festus was asked Paul if he thought he could convince him in such a short time to become a Christian. Paul told him he would love to do just that. *** Festus and the governor and Bernice his wife all stood and left. They reasoned among themselves that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment but since he appealed to Caesar, he would be sent to Caesar. *** Appealing to Caesar saved Paul’s life. He was put in protective service and sent far away from the Jews who wanted to kill him. It also got him to Rome where he could spread the Gospel there also. *** Lord, may we not be afraid of change if you are in it. May we use every opportunity to share our faith in you to others.