The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 25:11, “…I appeal to Caesar.”

Were you ever in a situation that seemed hopeless whatever

you said or did? This was where the Apostle Paul found himself,

as he stood before Festus. It is difficult not to second-guess the

Apostle Paul; but we were not there, nor are we knowledgeable

in either Jewish or Roman law. Remember that Paul was in

Caesarea because the Jews were set to kill him. The Roman

official delivered him from the would-be assassins by taking

him from Jerusalem to Caesarea. Maybe Paul had received

word that they were again planning to kill him if he returned

to Jerusalem. They were, you know (Acts 25:3).

In any event, Paul, as a Roman citizen, possessed some

powerful rights. One was his right to appeal directly to Caesar.

It was indeed a risk. Caesar (Nero) was the equivalent to our

Supreme Court, but he also had the power of execution. Paul

was absolutely confident that he had broken no law, so he

trusted what the LORD allowed him to do and appealed to

Caesar, the highest human authority in the Roman world.

It is not wrong for us to go to court in our own defense. But

courts are not always right in their judgments. Thus, our

only ultimate authority in in Jesus Christ. He alone is our

defense attorney (1 John 2:1). Trust always in Him!

Our love and prayers follow you always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas