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You are

welcome

Stone

Creek

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

February 6, 2013

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Paul is imprisoned in

Caesarea and kept there by

the Roman Governor Festus.

He appealed to Caesar,

his right as a Roman.

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Acts 25:13 And after certain

days king Agrippa and

Bernice came unto

Caesarea to salute Festus.

Festus is the new Roman

governor; Agrippa and

Bernice came to pay their

respects.

Agrippa was married to his sister – Bernice.

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14 And when they had been

there many days, Festus

declared Paul's cause unto the

king, saying, There is a certain

man left in bonds by Felix:

“ I’ve inherited a problem from Felix.”

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15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief

priests and the elders of the Jews informed me,

desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom

I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to

deliver any man to die, before that he which is

accused have the accusers face to face, and have

license to answer for himself concerning the crime

laid against him.

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17-18 Therefore, when they were come hither,

without any delay on the morrow I sat on the

judgment seat, and commanded the man to be

brought forth. Against whom when the accusers

stood up, they brought none accusation of such

things as I supposed:

From the hatred that the Jews expressed,

Festus was expecting serious crimes:

Murder, robbery, insurrection.

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19 But had certain questions against him of their

own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was

dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Festus saw religion as mere superstition, as a

lot of people still do today.

In his mind, Paul’s assertion that a dead man

lived, was not criminal, but crazy.

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20 And because I doubted of such manner of ques-

tions, I asked him whether he would go to Jeru-

salem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But

when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the

hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept

till I might send him to Caesar.

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22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear

the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, thou shalt hear

him. 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was

come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was

entered into the place of hearing, with the chief

captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus'

commandment Paul was brought forth.

Politicians love their pomp and ceremony. It

makes them feel so important.

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24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men

which are here present with us, ye see this man,

about whom all the multitude of the Jews have

dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here,

crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But

when I found that he had committed nothing

worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed

to Augustus (Caesar), I have determined to send

him.

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He wanted this trouble out of his territory

and no longer his responsibility.

Festus cared nothing for Paul, but

he did care that his rule as

governor be approved by Rome.

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26-27 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto

my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth

before you, and specially before thee, O king

Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have

somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me

unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to

signify the crimes laid against him.

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Don’t lose sight of the Will of God in this.

God’s Plan had always been for Paul to testify

of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Rome.

Paul had always submitted himself to the

Will of God in all matters.

God is using Festus -- no Christian --

to get Paul to Rome.

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Ephesians 5 17-18 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but

understanding what the Will of the Lord is. And be

not drunk (under the influence) with wine, wherein

is excess; but be filled (under the influence) with

the Spirit;

Let us be as diligent as the Apostle Paul was to

know and do the Will of God in all things!

Let us be totally under the influence of God’s

Holy Spirit all the time,

Obeying Him willingly.

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Galatians 5 22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is

no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the

flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the

Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

He will produce in us the fruit of His Spirit.

Submissive Obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer and Worship in the Holy Spirit.

Prayerful study to obey the Word of God.

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When we live and walk in the Holy Spirit,

God will always work in us and through us to

accomplish His Good and Perfect Will.

The Good life is not about this world’s goods or

our accomplishments in this world.

The Good Life is about fellowship with our Lord

and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Good Life is about basking in His Presence and

having Him use us for His Glory.