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God often puts us in seasons of waiting. Even if we know He has led us to a particular place for a reason, the longer we wait, the harder it can be to see purpose in it.
Paul experienced this in Caesarea. He was put in prison because He spoke about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But because of political maneuvers, he was left there for years.
While this may seem like wasted time to us, Paul had the opportunity to witness to the truth of the gospel for years before three rulers: Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.
Paul spoke to Felix for two years about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. But whenever Felix began to feel convicted, he sent Paul away and refused to listen. He acted in disobedience to God, ignoring Paul’s urges to turn to Christ Jesus until it was too late—he let political favors occupy his attention, leaving Paul in prison when Festus succeeded him.
When Festus took over from Felix, the Jewish leaders again brought up Paul’s case. Because he had not yet been convicted, they plotted to have him brought to Jerusalem so they could kill him. Festus, like Felix, wanted to do the Jews a favor—these were influential leaders, after all. As a result, he would not release Paul.
Paul’s time of waiting continued. But who knows how many lives were transformed through his imprisonment? He would have been chained to different soldiers over the years, interacting with numerous people within the court. Whether they accepted it or not, Paul preached his testimony to many people during his imprisonment.
Agrippa is the third man before whom Paul testified. This was Herod Agrippa II, the great-grandson of the Herod who killed the children in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. Acts 26 records Paul’s response to Agrippa, a speech once again centered on the resurrection of Christ.
Paul’s witness to these three men shows that God’s plans are often different than our own, and His timing is not our timing (2 Peter 3:8), and His sovereign purposes will be accomplished. In the times of waiting, God calls us not to understand, but to trust and obey Him.
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Watch part 105 of the 365 Key Chapters of the Bible series, based on Ken’s Handbook to Scripture.
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