The Higher Calling

Acts 26:30-32

“30 Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; 31 and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”

When we read that Paul could have been set free had he “not appealed to the emperor,” we wonder what would have been Paul’s fate had he been released in Caesarea.  Almost certainly the Jewish religious authorities and the group that had sworn to kill Paul would have taken action against him.  They were not known to let matters of religion drop.

The Holy Spirit had been giving Paul visions of Rome prior to his imprisonment by government officials in Jerusalem and Caesarea.  These visions made clear to Paul that he was to go to Rome to be a witness for Christ and that he would be imprisoned and he would suffer.  

Despite this, Paul insisted that his case be presented to the Emperor, thinking that he would be allowed to share his story and the gospel with the highest ranking official in the known world.

Paul was willing to suffer for the higher calling of God.  

Next to God’s purpose, his discomfort meant very little to him.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)