Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself

was about to go there shortly. “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority

go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”(Acts 25:4-5)

Yesterday, as we pulled back the curtain on Acts 25 we discovered the Apostle Paul

standing squarely at intersection of Faith and Helplessness. On one hand, Paul is

fueled by his faith in Jesus whom he encountered on the road to Damascus following

the resurrection. However, 25 years have passed since then and Paul’s mission and

ministry seem to have come to a screeching halt in a Caesarean prison cell. The only

good news in Paul’s life is Festus refusing to send him back to Jerusalem; thereby

thwarting the assassination plot devised by The Chief Priest and Jewish leaders.

Next, verse 5 introduces one of the main themes that we need to keep in mind when our

circumstances seem helpless. Look at this verse again with me and I’ll highlight the

words that we need to focus on:

Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse

him, if he has done anything wrong.”

So here’s the question… “who is the authority in Paul’s life and who has the authority

to accuse Paul of wrong doing?” There was a time in Paul’s life that he would have

wholeheartedly submitted to the authority and accusations of the Chief Priests and

Jewish leaders. In fact, he once relied on that same authority and approval to persecute

and kill Christians. However, at the heart of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 was a

fundamental relocation of authority in Paul’s life. As we discover in Galatians 1:10, Paul

is no longer seeking to please people. Instead, he recognizes that Jesus is the only true

authority and that his efforts should be spent seeking to please Christ, alone.

So, who has the authority to accuse Paul of any wrongdoing? The answer is

“NOBODY.” Any past, present or future wrongdoing Paul has committed has been paid

for, in full, by the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul is now clothed in the righteousness of

Christ and the only rightful judge (God Himself) is completely satisfied with Paul who is

“In Christ.” Any accusations that God the Father may have rightfully leveled at Paul (and

there were a bunch) have been covered by the Grace of God through Jesus, applied by

the Holy Spirit who now resides in Paul’s heart. Paul remains confident at the corner of

“Faith and Helplessness” because He know that Jesus (His ultimate authority) is

working all things for His good.

Q: Whose accusatory voice do you sometimes give more weight to than you should?

Q: Who is the authority in your life? Yourself, another imperfect person or Christ alone?

By Jimmy Carter