being at a loss how to investigate these questions, i asked whether he wanted to go to jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. but when paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, i ordered him to be held until i could send him to caesar.” then agrippa said to festus, “i would like to hear the man myself.” “tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” [acts 25:20-22]
these men think they are making big decisions regarding paul and his life. but we know what is going on behind the scene. God is orchestrating a masterpiece in which the gospel goes to the ends of the earth. he is putting forward his purpose, which never fails.
many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. [proverbs 19:21]
God’s plan has been set forward into motion from the beginning of time, and paul, these rulers, and the accusers from jerusalem are all a part of this plan playing out exactly as God desires.
the Lord of hosts has sworn: “as I have planned, so shall it be, and as i have purposed, so shall it stand, [isaiah 14:24]
the outcome of these trials, the verdict of paul’s case, and the sentence on his life, is all known, planned, and carried out mightily by God in his perfect will.
that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; i am the Lord, and there is no other. i form light and create darkness; i make well-being and create calamity; i am the Lord, who does all these things. [isaiah 45:6-7]
even as paul awaits the verdict for or against him, he knows that these men are not above or outside of the control of Jesus, who has sent him to spread the good news of his name.
the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. [proverbs 21:1]
and so he trusts in the promises of his Almighty Father.
the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in jerusalem, so you must testify also in rome.” [acts 23:11]
in light of these truths, we can read this passage this way…
being at a loss how to respond to this gospel, i asked whether he wanted to go to jerusalem and preach the gospel there again. but when paul had appealed to be kept in custody to preach the gospel to the emperor, i ordered him to be held until i could send him to preach it to caesar.” then agrippa said to festus, “i would like to hear the gospel myself.” “tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear the gospel.” [acts 25:20-22]
take courage in the sovereignty of your Father who has bought you with the precious blood of his Son! he has made you his child, a citizen of his kingdom, and co-heirs with Christ. he has called you to be an ambassador for this same gospel, and has prepared gospel work for you, too, to walk in. so be bold, and walk in it! where is he calling you to take the good news?
~arwen eastman