Acts chapter 25 verses 1-3 (NIV)
Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. They requested Festus, as a favour to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
Leviticus chapter 19 verses 17-18 (NIV)
“‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.’”
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.’”
Festus had only been in the country for three days before he was being petitioned by the Jewish leaders to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem once again. He’d been in prison in Caesarea for two years by now. But the jealousy and hatred of him had not gone away. How miserable must these people have been as they waited for another opportunity to try to kill Paul? It must have been eating them up. No wonder they petitioned Festus at the earliest opportunity.
Yet the Old Testament teaching is quite clear about not hating a fellow citizen, or bearing a grudge. We even see in Leviticus chapter 19 the verse that Jesus taught His disciples about loving your neighbour as yourself.
It’s a reminder of how holding on to such things harms no one but ourselves, robbing us of peace and joy. The best thing that we can do is take them to the foot of the cross and leave them there.
Paul was the one that was in prison yet he was the one with peace in his heart and mind. The chains of jealousy and bitterness that bound the leaders of the people would be far more burdensome and restrictive than any holding Paul. Bearing a grudge is a terrible thing. Thank God, Jesus can deliver us from that.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for this reminder that although a prisoner, Paul was the one who knew true freedom. Thank You that we too are truly free when we give everything over to you. Amen.