QT 11/06/2026 Thu Acts 25 The Prisoner Without a Crime 无罪的囚犯

QT 11/06/2026 Thu Acts 25 The Prisoner Without a Crime
READ http://www.esv.org/acts25

An innocent man stands on trial. Corrupt leaders plot his death. Roman rulers can’t find a single crime. Sound familiar? In Acts 25, Paul walks the same path as Jesus—and the real issue isn’t politics or religion, but one explosive claim: Jesus Christ is alive. The question you have to deal with yourselves today—A Dead Jesus—or a Living Lord?

Acts 25 presents Paul standing before Roman authority under accusation from the Jerusalem leadership. Yet again and again, Luke emphasizes a striking conclusion: the Romans can find no real guilt in him. This echoes the Gospel accounts of Jesus Himself. Just as Pontius Pilate repeatedly declared that he found no fault in Jesus, Festus now admits that the charges against Paul are not crimes deserving punishment, but disputes concerning “their own religion” and “a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive” (Acts 25:19).

Luke wants us to see this parallel clearly. The Jewish leaders seek to ambush Paul and kill him on the road to Jerusalem, just as earlier leaders conspired against Jesus and arrested Him under cover of night. The servant walks the same road as the Master. Faithfulness to the risen Christ places Paul in the same stream of suffering that carried Jesus to the cross.

Yet there is another important emphasis. Christianity is not portrayed as a political threat to Rome. Festus himself is embarrassed because he has no legitimate criminal charge to write down: “For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” (Acts 25:27)

Luke’s apologetic purpose becomes visible here. Writing to Theophilus, he demonstrates that Christianity is not a movement of sedition or violence. Roman officials repeatedly conclude that the accusations against Christians are baseless. The issue is theological, centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And that is the true dividing line in Acts 25. Everything turns on one question: Is Jesus still dead, or is He alive?

Paul’s enemies can tolerate religion, ritual, and tradition. What they cannot tolerate is the proclamation that Jesus rose from the dead and reigns as Lord. The resurrection is not a minor doctrinal dispute; it is the explosive centre of the Christian faith.

For believers today, Acts 25 is both encouragement and warning. Faithfulness to Christ may invite misunderstanding, false accusation, and hostility. Christians should not be surprised when the world misrepresents them, for the same happened to Jesus and His apostles. Yet Luke reminds us that the gospel itself is not shameful or criminal. The message of Christ can withstand investigation because it is rooted in truth.

At the same time, God’s providence is quietly at work through every hearing, delay, and political maneuver. The Jewish leaders plot, governors hesitate, and kings deliberate, but none of them can stop Christ’s purpose for Paul. The gospel will reach Rome exactly as the Lord intended.

The risen Jesus governs history even through hostile courts and reluctant rulers. And because He lives, His servants can endure opposition with courage and hope.

Prayer

Heavenly Father. Thank You that Jesus Christ is risen and reigns forever. Give us courage to stand faithfully for the truth, even in the face of opposition and misunderstanding. Help us trust in Your sovereign hand, knowing that no power can stop Your purposes. Strengthen Your church to bear witness boldly to the living Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 11/06/2026 星期四. 使徒行传 25 无罪的囚犯
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/act/25/

一位无辜之人正接受审判。腐败的领袖们密谋要置他于死地。罗马统治者却找不到他犯下的任何罪行。听起来是否耳熟？在《使徒行传》第25章中，保罗走上了与耶稣相同的道路——而真正的症结不在于政治或宗教，而在于一个震撼人心的宣告：耶稣基督活着。今天你们必须面对的问题是——一个死去的耶稣，还是一个活着的主？

《使徒行传》第25章描述了保罗在耶路撒冷领袖的指控下，站在罗马当局面前的情景。然而，路加一再强调一个引人注目的结论：罗马人无法在他身上找到任何真正的罪证。这与福音书中关于耶稣本人的记载遥相呼应。正如彼拉多曾多次宣告在耶稣身上找不到任何过错，费斯都如今也承认，针对保罗的指控并非应受惩罚的罪行，而是关于“他们自己的宗教”以及“一位名叫耶稣的人，他已经死了，但保罗却声称他活着”的争论（使徒行传25:19）。

路加希望我们清楚地看到这一平行关系。犹太领袖企图在通往耶路撒冷的路上伏击并杀害保罗，正如早先的领袖们密谋反对耶稣，并在夜色掩护下逮捕了他。仆人走上了与主相同的道路。对复活基督的忠心，使保罗置身于那条将耶稣带上十字架的苦难之流中。

然而，还有另一个重要的侧重点。基督教并未被描绘成对罗马的政治威胁。费斯都本人也感到尴尬，因为他无法写下任何正当的刑事指控：“因为我觉得，在押送囚犯时，不说明对他的指控是不合理的。”（使徒行传25:27）

路加的护教意图在此显露无遗。他在致提阿非罗的书信中，证明了基督教并非一场煽动叛乱或诉诸暴力的运动。罗马官员一再认定针对基督徒的指控毫无根据。问题的核心在于神学，即耶稣基督的复活。这正是《使徒行传》第25章真正的分水岭。一切都取决于一个问题：耶稣是仍然死了，还是活着？

保罗的敌人尚能容忍宗教、礼仪和传统，但他们无法容忍的，是宣称耶稣从死里复活并作主掌权。复活绝非微不足道的教义之争，而是基督教信仰最具爆炸性的核心。

对于今天的信徒而言，《使徒行传》第25章既是鼓励，也是警告。对基督的忠心可能会招致误解、诬告和敌意。当世人曲解基督徒时，我们不应感到惊讶，因为耶稣和祂的使徒们也曾经历过同样的事。然而，路加提醒我们，福音本身并非可耻或犯罪之事。基督的信息能够经得起查验，因为它植根于真理。

与此同时，神的旨意正通过每一次听审、每一次拖延以及每一场政治角力，悄然运行。犹太领袖们密谋算计，总督们犹豫不决，君王们反复权衡，但无人能阻挡基督对保罗的计划。福音必将如主所预定的那样传到罗马。

复活的耶稣甚至通过敌对的法庭和不情愿的统治者来掌管历史。正因祂活着，祂的仆人才能怀着勇气与盼望，忍受一切反对。

祷告

天父，感谢祢，耶稣基督已经复活，并永远作王。求祢赐给我们勇气，使我们即使面对反对和误解，也能忠心捍卫真理。求祢帮助我们信靠祢主权的手，深知没有任何力量能阻挡祢的旨意。求祢坚固祢的教会，使我们能大胆地为那活着的基督作见证。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。