ACTS 25
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
Further Attempt to Assassinate Paul is Thwarted
Luke is totally silent concerning the relatively long period of two years during which Paul was held prisoner. It provides further evidence concerning the point made early in this exposition that Luke is not writing a historical account. Anything related to the overall purpose of the Acts narrative would surely have been recorded.
As no hint is given as to what occupied Paul's time and attention,we can but assume that he would busily engage himself in the writing of letters to the ecclesias, and the penning
of personal letters to various individuals, whilst continually engaging in the regular study of the Word.
The "principal men of the Jews" (RV) pressed their case to Festus. They begged for special consideration. They were men of high standing and wealth, whereas Paul was an inconspicuous, unimportant person, of no account in the eyes of the authorities.
Festus may well have been moved to accede to the Jews' attempt at coercion, being in ignorance of the fact that they still cherished their ambition to assassinate the apostle.
Festus remained firm and refused to be coerced. The reason for this is simple, yet sublime. Yahweh had a purpose with Paul, and the powerful Jewish leaders were no match for the angels of God.
Paul would have been well aware of these circumstances. It is of importance that the saints of Yahweh, in whatever era or circumstances they may find themselves, should remain ever aware of the presence of the divine Hand through the presence of angelic beings.
Concerning the Hand of Providence Paul wrote on another occasion:
"The Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work" (2Tim. 4:17-18).
The exercise of faith requires an enduring belief in the reality of the Hand of Providence, and of Yahweh's constant watchfulness over His people.
Bro John Ullman - The Christadelphian Expositor