Acts 25: Is Jesus Alive?
Verse of the Day: (V19) “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”

1. Agrippa (V1-18)
V13 “And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.”

The Jewish King Agrippa, and Bernice, his wife, paid a courtesy visit to Festus, the new Roman governor, and found out the unresolved issue of Apostle Paul, who had been kept in the Roman prison for more than two years. Agrippa then told Festus that he would cross-examine Paul, after Festus told him that Paul’s charges were more on superstition than criminal in nature and he could not sentence him to death as the Jews had expected it.

V18 “Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:”
 
2. Alive (V19-21)
V19 “But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”

Festus believed that the Jews’ main charge against Paul was that he kept claiming that Jesus was alive, while the Jews rejected his claim. However, when Festus suggested to Paul that he be sent to Jerusalem to be judged again by the Jews, Paul immediately declined, as he knew that he would be killed on the way to Jerusalem or in Jerusalem. Paul then requested Festus to let him appeal to Caesar Augustus, the Roman emperor.

V21 “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.”

3. Augustus (V22-27)
V24 “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.”

Festus agreed to let Agrippa cross-examined Paul before he sent him to Caesar Augustus. Indeed, God preserved Paul’s life so that he could share the gospel to all, namely, the leaders of the Roman Empire – the chief captain, the governor, and the emperor. Though the Jews wanted Paul dead, yet God preserved him until His appointed time of death.

V25 “But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I believe in You, and that Jesus is alive forever.