I. INTRODUCTION
A. In keeping with the purpose of these lessons, we will see Christianity in contact with a certain frame of mind, as we study Paul before Festus. Festus thought that Christianity was a trivial subject and one with which he would not and should not have to concern himself.
B. We will examine Festus from two points of view:
1. How his class of mind regards religion in general and Christianity specifically,
2. Whether or not the attitude towards religion held by Festus (and his ilk) is the proper manner in which it ( especially Christianity) should be regarded and treated.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Festus is representative of a certain class of minds.
1. His general character Felix was removed from office for his failure as an administrator. Festus was chosen as his replacement because he was known to be honorable, incorruptible, and more likely to get along with the Jews.
a. He refused to give into the request of the Jews to bring Paul to Jerusalem, (Acts 25:1-6).
b. He was prompt in bringing the case to trial, (v.6).
c. He was ready to concede Paul's right of appeal to Rome, even though he personally believed the case was inappropriate for a Roman court, (vv. 12,16). Believing that the matter of religion could be better tried in Jerusalem (and wanting to placate the Jews) Festus proposed moving the trial there, (vv.7-9). Paul realized that he would never survive the trip to Jerusalem, so he appealed to Caesar, (vv.10-11).
d. He upheld the Roman law that: "every citizen has the right to face his accusers," (v. 16).
2. While Festus appears to be as honest, upright, and moral as any Roman, this seems to be his first contact with the religion of the Jews and the Christians. His thoughts concerning his first contact with Christianity can clearly be seen in his conversation with Agrippa, (vv. 18-20).
a. He regarded the disputes as pertaining to the Jews and not to himself "their own religion," (v. 19a). He did not want to interfere or meddle with their religion. He did not degrade it , even though he called it "superstition" (KJV).
b. He had no belief concerning Jesus. He could not tell whether Jesus was alive or dead, based on the arguments of the Jews and Paul, (v. 19b). He did not comprehend that the argument was about "Christ and Him crucified."
c. He did not try to settle these points of conflict, nor did they appear to make an impression on his mind as they did on the mind's of Felix and Agrippa.
B. Had Festus chosen the proper way to regard and treat the subject of religion?
1. Man is the only earthly creature that has an interest in the questions that belong to religion. The religious men of history, such as Abraham, David, and Paul, show us what man was made to be. Consider just a few of the questions that stem from religious thought: is there a God, what is His nature, is man a fallen being, has atonement been made for our sins, is the Bible inspired, is there a heaven, a hell, a judgment day. Each of these questions pertain to all men equally, not just the Jews or the Christians.
2. Every man is bound to perform religious duties prescribed by God, but men believe that they are only bound to a religion to which they profess. The mistake made by men is that they are already obligated to God's religion before they ever determine to profess it! Professing the religion only recognizes the obligation, it does not create it. No one is exempt from the worship of God, faith in Christ as our Redeemer, a life of piety, or the acknowledgment of God's mercies.
3. All men everywhere need the provisions which the Gospel has made for our salvation. Festus should have inquired as to what these provisions entail. Here men make another grave error they feel that they do not need salvation.
4. Lack of interest in God's religion is a sure sign of a man being lost. There is no substitute for the provisions of the Gospel or faith in Jesus Christ.
III. CONCLUSION
A. Men are not merely on-lookers in the world. We all have a deep personal interest in things that pertain to life and godliness, whether we realize it or acknowledge it.
B. Men cannot escape from God's religion and its precepts. It is a personal interest which God demands man's attention.
C. Men should not desire to drive the subject of God's religion from their minds. (See: Barnes, pg. 372, third point.)
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Contrast and compare Festus to Felix.
2. Do people today have the attitude of Festus "Christianity does not apply to me." Would you regard these people as moral or immoral, neither moral or immoral, or a mixture of both?
3. How can we convince people that Christianity is for them, as well as us? How can we show them that the mode of belief in God is as important as a moral, just, and honest life?
4. Show from the scriptures that all men need a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ. (Hint: What name is given under heaven, whereby men might be saved? Is that the only name?)