God's Overruling Providence
Acts 25:10-12
The risen Christ told Paul, "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness" (26:16). Even as He made known His purpose, He gave also a promise to deliver him from the people (the Jews) and from the Gentiles. Whenever God makes known His purpose, He always gives a promise. As completely as anyone yields his will to God's purpose, so completely does God keep His promise. Paul fully obeyed the heavenly vision; therefore, God kept His promise.
While in Jerusalem with the threat of death hanging over him, in the night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" (23:11). Thus was God's purpose and God's promise reaffirmed. Paul knew his work was not done.
Both Felix and Festus evaded their responsibility to set Paul free even though they knew there were no valid charges against him. Therefore, when Paul saw his opportunity to get to Rome had come, he said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged... I appeal unto Caesar." Again he was claiming his rights as a Roman citizen. Festus, knowing that he had shirked his duty, had no choice but to say, "Hast thou appealed to Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." Both the purpose and the promise of God were fulfilled. The servant and prisoner of Christ was soon on his way to Rome.
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