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ANOTHER GOVERNOR OUT OF HIS DEPTH (ACTS 25:13-26:1)

REFLECTION

“Another governor out of his depth ” is the theme for our reflection. To be out of one’s depth means not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation. In other words, a task or assignment outside one’s understanding or competence. Another governor out of his depth means a subsequent governor who lacked the competence or skill to deal with the issue at hand. After Governor Felix failed to pass a verdict on Paul, the new Governor, Festus also lacked the competence to adjudicate the Jewish authority and Paul’s case. We shall reflect on the fact that we render ourselves incompetent when we refuse to stand by the truth as adjudicators.

Dear friend, after listening to the accusations levelled against Paul, Governor Festus said to King Agrippa of Judea who had come to pay homage to him on his appointment as Governor, “When his (Paul’s) accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 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. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; (Acts 25:18-20). Dear friend, Governor Festus’ role is to adjudicate on issues of law and not a matter of religious discrepancy. He should have acquitted and discharged Paul for lack of evidence by the Jewish authorities, yet, he was biased, clueless and incompetent to deal with the case, therefore, he had to invite King Agrippa and others to rehear the entire proceedings. Friend in the Lord, once we fail to uphold the truth, we render ourselves incompetent to deal with issues. We must be fair and firm in our convictions and dealings with issues before us as leaders. The truth must always prevail.

Festus was out of his depth therefore “He said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him. (Acts 25:24-27) How do you hold that an accused is not guilty yet find it difficult to acquit and discharge him? Is it not interesting that Festus knew the truth yet chose to rely on the judgement or verdict of other people? We are already told in an earlier verse that “Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favour, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” (Acts 25:9). Dear friend in the Lord, we shall be seen as out of our depth or incompetent when we refuse to stand by the truth. Our integrity will be greatly marred because of our inability to stand firm. As believers, we must learn from the admonishment of King Jehoshaphat, after he had appointed judges for Judah, He said to them ““Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7 Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” (2 Chronicles 19:6-7) We must not be out of our depth when it comes to issues of integrity, justice and the protection of human dignity.

In summary, we have discovered that we render ourselves incompetent or out of our depth when we refuse to stand by the truth as adjudicators, leaders and believers. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit enable us to be competent leaders, adjudicators and mediators by strengthening us to stand for truth and integrity always. Amen.