Paul seems a helpless pawn. He’s arrested in Jerusalem, whisked away to Caesarea under Roman guard, left in prison for two years. When Festus replaces Felix as governor, he wants to do a favor for the Jews by sending Paul back to Jerusalem, where Jews lie in wait to kill him.

Throughout Acts, Rome protects the church. But a different Rome is emerging. At the beginning of Paul’s expeditions, Sergius Paulus converts. In Corinth, Gallio dismisses the charges. But Felix wants Paul to bribe him, and Festus uses Paul as a bargaining chip in political games with the Jews. Roman officials begin to take on the features of a sea monster.

Paul isn’t helpless. He’s a shrewd legal and political operator. He divides the Sanhedrin by announcing his belief in resurrection. He defends himself skillfully before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. He reveals his Roman citizenship at opportune moments. Before Festus, he appeals to Caesar.

Paul is a model political operator because he uses his political and legal privileges to extend the kingdom. As a Roman citizen, he has rights, but he doesn’t start a movement to defend those rights. Instead, he uses his rights to carry on the mission of Jesus.

But there’s a deeper reason why Paul isn’t a pawn. When Paul is first arrested in Jerusalem, he has a dream. Jesus stands at his side, in the position of a servant, to say: “Take courage; as you have witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, it is necessary that you witness at Rome.”

Whatever the Romans think they’re doing, what they’re actually doing is accomplishing the Lord’s will. They fulfill Jesus’ plan to send His witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes. He still does.

– Pastor Leithart