APPEALING TO CAESAR
When dealing with Paul, Festus acted cunningly and proposed that Paul go to Jerusalem to be judged there before him. Concerning this, we read in 25:9: “But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning these things?” This proposal exposed the corruption of yet another Roman politician. Here again, we see the corruption of Roman politicians.
Paul was wise and perceived the subtlety in Festus' proposal. According to verse 10, Paul strongly responded: “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.” Paul’s words concerning “Caesar’s tribunal” indicated to Festus that he intended to appeal to Caesar.
In verse 11, Paul continued, saying: “If, then, I am doing wrong or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to the things of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” The Caesar to whom Paul appealed was Nero.
To defend himself, Paul wanted to appeal to Caesar. Without this appeal, the apostle Paul could have been killed by the Jews through Festus' unfair treatment of him, and thus his life might not have been preserved to complete the course of his ministry. Paul’s appeal to Caesar fulfilled his desire to see Rome for the advancement of the Lord’s testimony (19:21; 23:11). Without this appeal, he would have been killed by the Jews' conspiracy (23:12-15; 25:1-3, 9) and would not have been able to write the last eight Epistles.
Before his appeal to Rome, Paul had written only six Epistles: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Galatians, Romans, and 1 and 2 Corinthians. It was during his first imprisonment in Rome that he wrote Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon. It was after his first release that he wrote 1 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews. Then, during his second imprisonment, he wrote 2 Timothy.
What a lack there would have been in divine revelation, and what a loss the church would have suffered, if these last eight Epistles had not existed! His appeal indeed brought great profit and benefit to the Lord’s interest. In Acts 25:12, we read: “Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.” The council here referred to the council of the Roman province, composed of advisors or assessors chosen by the provincial governor, whom the governor usually consulted regarding appeals like Paul’s.
Why was Paul so bold in appealing to Caesar? Paul was bold in this matter because, as a Roman citizen, he knew Roman law. He knew that if he appealed to Roman law, Festus would have no choice but to honor his appeal. Undoubtedly, Roman politicians were corrupt, but the Roman government had strong laws that allowed Paul to appeal to Caesar.
On two previous occasions, Paul used his Roman citizenship. In chapter sixteen, Paul said to those who had imprisoned him: “After publicly beating us without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, they threw us into prison; and now, are they going to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” The police officers reported these words to the magistrates, who were afraid when they heard that Paul and his companions were Roman citizens (16:37-38).
Later, when Paul was about to be interrogated under flogging, he said to the centurion standing there: “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and said: “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!” (22:25-26). Paul knew the value of Roman citizenship. He knew that Roman law protected its citizens and that it did not allow anyone to mistreat a Roman citizen. Now, in chapter twenty-five, Paul, according to Roman law, appealed to Caesar.
Enjoy more: Hymn 47
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