The Wait

After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy visit on Festus. Since they stayed there many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the King, saying, "There's a man who was left in prison by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and asked for a judgement against him. I answered them that it is not the Romans' custom to give any man up before the accused confronts the accusers face to face and has an opportunity to give a defence concerning the charges. Therefore, when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judges bench and ordered the man to be brought in. Concerning him his accusers stood and brought no charge of the sort I was expecting. Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."

Then Agrippa said to Festus, " I would like to hear this man myself." "Tomorrow you will hear him," he replied. Acts 25:13-22

Agrippa was the last Herod and Bernice was his sister. Bernice had a chequered past in regard to sexual and marital history. For Festus to tell Herod about Paul, he was being clever as he had to write to Rome about the prisoner Paul and as the why he was a prisoner being sent to Rome in the first place. Also not knowing the Jewish beliefs or ways Festus would have been at a loss as to how to approach the accusations against Paul.

As a logical Roman Festus sees the trumped up charges against Paul for what they are. Yet because the Jews are so enraged against Paul, he knows he must tread delicately.

How was Paul in all this? He as already been in prison in Caesarea for two years, he wants to go to Rome and yet he is still in Caesarea. I wonder where his faith was up to? Do you imagine God was reshaping him, preparing him for the next task. Paul would be learning patience, quietening his spirit and learning to enjoy the wait, perhaps worshipping through the wait.

I have times like this. I am there at present. God has me worshipping in the wait and then surprise me with something out of left field. Last night as I returned from a church meeting where we worshipped and prayed, my son called. It was 10pm and I am usually in bed. He asked that I fly to Brisbane on Friday to mind the five children while he and his wife go to an event at Hillsong. As he was paying I was happy to oblige, I was hanging out to see the grandees anyway. Now, this was not the breakthrough I wanted, it was a delightful surprise.