Paul Appeals To Caesar

When last we met...Governor Felix had been relieved of his duties. Paul the Apostle is still being held prisoner. He has actually been a prisoner for two years, and up to this point in time...no one had ever proved that he had done anything wrong! As a matter of fact...Governor Felix had spent the past two years deliberating! Rather than declaring Paul guilty...Felix held him captive... in an effort to extort money from him... while he chatted with him! Now a new Governor has entered the picture. His name is Porcius Festus. And now that he has become governor...it is up to him to deal with Paul's case. Now...Festus has arrived in Jerusalem from Caesarea. The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews are already trying to convince Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem to "stand trial" once again. The intention of the Jewish leaders though...was not to allow Paul a trial. They had plans to ambush him...and kill him...on the way from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And they were pressing hard for Festus to give him up.