Day 412: Directly from the SourceActs 25:20-22
[Festus speaking:] "I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Thoughts for Today:When my daughters Rebecca and Natalie were teenagers, the younger Rebecca came to me in tears one day because "Natalie dragged me out of her room -- see the marks on my arms!" I asked why. Rebecca responded that she had done nothing wrong, in fact she had just been quietly listening to her sister talk on the phone when Natalie exploded. I thought I had better find out what really happened so I went to talk to my normally well-behaved daughter Natalie.
It seems Rebecca had left out one very important piece of information: she had been hiding under Natalie's bed in order to eavesdrop on Natalie's conversation with a friend. Rebecca had been using this information to coerce Natalie into letting her "hang-out" or she would "tell Mom and Dad." Apparently this happened one too many times and Natalie had discovered and dragged Rebecca forcibly from her room. (Isn't parenting a joy sometimes?)
In our passage today, after hearing Festus' description of his predicament with Paul, visiting King Agrippa replies, "I would like to hear this man myself." History tells us that King Agrippa was not a godly man or even a good ruler. He did however give us one small example we can apply -- hear a case defense directly from the source. It is always amazing to me how different a story can become when we do so.
Questions to Ponder:Have you been guilty of a "rush to judgment"? In other words, do you make up your mind about someone or something before you've gathered all the facts or talked to everyone involved? It is very hard to diligently pursue understanding of a problem before acting upon it. Proverbs 14:29instructs, "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Understanding comes from patience.
[Festus speaking:] "I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."
Thoughts for Today:When my daughters Rebecca and Natalie were teenagers, the younger Rebecca came to me in tears one day because "Natalie dragged me out of her room -- see the marks on my arms!" I asked why. Rebecca responded that she had done nothing wrong, in fact she had just been quietly listening to her sister talk on the phone when Natalie exploded. I thought I had better find out what really happened so I went to talk to my normally well-behaved daughter Natalie.
It seems Rebecca had left out one very important piece of information: she had been hiding under Natalie's bed in order to eavesdrop on Natalie's conversation with a friend. Rebecca had been using this information to coerce Natalie into letting her "hang-out" or she would "tell Mom and Dad." Apparently this happened one too many times and Natalie had discovered and dragged Rebecca forcibly from her room. (Isn't parenting a joy sometimes?)
In our passage today, after hearing Festus' description of his predicament with Paul, visiting King Agrippa replies, "I would like to hear this man myself." History tells us that King Agrippa was not a godly man or even a good ruler. He did however give us one small example we can apply -- hear a case defense directly from the source. It is always amazing to me how different a story can become when we do so.
Questions to Ponder:Have you been guilty of a "rush to judgment"? In other words, do you make up your mind about someone or something before you've gathered all the facts or talked to everyone involved? It is very hard to diligently pursue understanding of a problem before acting upon it. Proverbs 14:29instructs, "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly." Understanding comes from patience.
RSS Feed
