Reading for Thursday, May 10: Acts 25

Chapter 25 continues Paul’s trial before the powers. Paul’s belief in Jesus — particularly in the resurrection of Christ — puts him in opposition with the ruling authorities. Festus’s comment to Agrippa sums it up well: “When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive,” (v18-19). Belief in the Risen Christ who conquers death goes against the grain. It always has. It always will. Empires will oppose it. Rulers will determine how to legislate against it. But as the conclusion of Luke’s writing shows us, this radical belief has always drawn the ire of “the world”.