What can we learn from Festus about handling accusations against others? Setting the Scene Festus inherits Paul’s case from Felix and is pressured by Jewish leaders to condemn Paul without a proper hearing. Acts 25:17 records his response: “So when they had assembled here, I did not fail to convene the court the next day and order the man to be brought in.” What Festus Actually Did • Convened the court promptly—“the next day.” • Refused to act on rumor or pressure. • Insisted on the accused being present. • Guaranteed a formal setting where evidence would be heard. Key Principles We Can Learn 1. Ensure Due Process • Romans 2:11—“For God does not show favoritism.” • Deuteronomy 19:15—Two or three witnesses are required. • Festus models fairness that aligns with God’s own standards. 2. Act Promptly but Not Rashly • Proverbs 18:13—“He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” • Festus moved “the next day”—no procrastination, yet no snap judgment. 3. Require the Presence of the Accused • John 7:51—“Does our law judge a man without first hearing from him to find out what he is doing?” • Matthew 18:15-16—Face-to-face confrontation before wider involvement. 4. Resist External Pressure • Exodus 23:2—“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” • Festus did not “hand a man over” merely to please influential voices (Acts 25:16). 5. Uphold a Culture of Evidence, Not Rumor • 1 Timothy 5:19—“Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.” • James 1:19—“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Other Scriptural Reinforcements • Proverbs 12:17—Truthful witness saves lives; false witness is deceit. • Psalm 82:3—“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Fair hearings protect the vulnerable. • 1 Corinthians 13:6—Love “rejoices with the truth,” not with gossip. Putting It into Practice Today • When we hear a charge, gather facts before opinions. • Give the accused an immediate, fair opportunity to speak. • Resist peer or social-media pressure that demands instant judgment. • Measure every claim against Scripture’s call for two or three witnesses. • Keep proceedings transparent and accountable, aiming for reconciliation and truth. By following Festus’s example—as refined and commanded by God’s Word—we honor both justice and the dignity of every person made in God’s image. |
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