1. Paul’s Trial and the Decision of Governor Festus
Pastor David Jang draws a profound meditation on how God’s providence and the gospel of Jesus Christ unfold within human history by examining the trial of Paul as recounted from Acts 25 through 26. In this passage, Paul finds himself in a situation where, in essence, he had already been declared innocent in his previous trial. Yet when the new governor Festus takes office, the Jewish leaders again attempt to bring charges against Paul. Under God’s plan, however, this ultimately serves as the instrument to send Paul to Rome, further expanding the reach of the gospel.
Pastor David Jang first discusses the existence and character of the Roman governors. Although they wielded immense administrative and military power, some were known for harsh tyranny, heavy taxation, and violence, creating significant conflict with the Jewish populace. Surprisingly, though, Festus did not simply hand Paul over to Jerusalem. When the Jews pleaded, “Send Paul back to Jerusalem,”—where assassins lay in wait to kill him—Festus upheld the principle of Roman law that one cannot punish someone without evidence. Pastor David Jang notes that this was no accident. Even during an era of imperial authority and iron rule, the mere fact that Festus adhered to the minimal principle that “one cannot convict without evidence” demonstrates God’s hand at work, preserving Paul so that he might reach Rome.
Pastor David Jang explains that Paul’s declaration “I appeal to Caesar” is decisive. To escape sudden attacks or assassination plots by the Jews, and, more importantly, to fulfill the very word spoken by the Lord—who said in Jerusalem, “You must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11)—Paul boldly exercised his rights as a Roman citizen. Having lived both as a Jew and a Roman citizen, Paul repurposed his dual identity to best serve gospel proclamation. Above all, Pastor David Jang emphasizes that Paul did not appeal solely for personal safety or to avoid suffering. Rather, he laid down his own will, fully convinced that “this path is already determined by God and mandated by the risen Jesus.” Thus, it was not merely a tactic to remove himself from unjust accusations; rather, he recognized it as a step he must take for the sake of the gospel, knowing that he had to go to Rome.
Here, Pastor David Jang reiterates that “God’s absolute plan (providence) was already in effect.” Regardless of whether Governor Festus was good or evil, whatever his personality or political ambition might have been, God used a single legal principle—“one cannot punish a man without proof of guilt”—to keep Paul safe. Pastor David Jang points out that from this, we too should learn how to view the trials and afflictions we face in life. Even events we deem ‘coincidental’ operate under God’s meticulously sovereign hand, and even the merciless powers of this world cannot obstruct God’s plan of salvation. This is vividly demonstrated in Paul’s trial.
Pastor David Jang describes this episode not merely as “a trial to resolve Paul’s personal grievances,” but as “the pivotal tool in God’s design to complete the gospel’s journey.” Although the newly appointed Governor Festus re-examined Paul in Caesarea on his way to Jerusalem, he could find no proof of wrongdoing. The Jews falsely accused Paul of breaking the Law, defiling the temple, treason against Caesar, and numerous other offenses, yet they could prove none of these charges. This was because Paul was in fact innocent, and also because God had a clear providential purpose in directing Paul to the Roman court. Pastor David Jang highlights how this process transforms a “trial” into a paradoxical stage for spreading the gospel.
Finally, Pastor David Jang notes that even though Festus concluded that “no crime can be found,” he still tried momentarily to please the Jews by asking Paul if he truly wanted to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial. Paul responded immediately by appealing to Caesar. Pastor David Jang sees this as a significant “act of faith.” In Jerusalem, the plot to assassinate him was already openly known, and as a Roman citizen Paul had every right to seek trial before Caesar. For the purpose of further expanding the gospel, this was the best option. Ultimately, through this choice, Paul eluded all Jewish schemes and attacks, and gained the chance to stand before the Roman emperor himself, bearing witness to the gospel at the highest level of authority.
Pastor David Jang then expounds on the posture that every proclaimer of Jesus Christ must have. When hardship or conspiracy arises, instead of succumbing to despair or fear, we must look earnestly to the providence God has already set before us and obey by faith. Paul’s appeal to Caesar was not an act of cowardice but a “bold commitment to walk the path the risen Lord had prepared.” In this regard, Pastor David Jang challenges us that even when we face unjust or painful crossroads in life, if that path is ordained by God, “it will inevitably lead to the expansion of the gospel and the fulfillment of God’s plan.” This is the spiritual insight we gain from Paul’s appeal.
2. The Final Testimony Before King Agrippa and Bernice
Pastor David Jang next discusses the appearance of King Agrippa and Bernice at the end of Acts 25 and throughout chapter 26, pointing out that these figures represent the last remnants of the Herodian dynasty. Having fallen under Roman rule, the Jewish kingdom was on the verge of dissolution, with a lineage spanning Herod the Great at the time of Jesus, his subsequent tetrarchs, and Agrippa I—who executed James. Here we meet Agrippa II and his sister Bernice, whose background is complicated by rumors of incest and a political stance focused on Roman interests. Yet paradoxically, it is before this final, corrupt monarch that Paul proclaims the gospel at its zenith.
Pastor David Jang notes that when Agrippa II declared, “I would like to hear this man myself,” Paul, in effect, was already placed in a situation where Governor Festus had stated, “He has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment.” Though the event maintained the outward form of a “trial,” it was in reality more like a “public hearing.” Paul seized this opportunity to preach the gospel. Seated before Governor Festus, King Agrippa, Bernice, tribunes, and other high-ranking officials, Paul issued a proclamation of the resurrection as though standing not in a “Roman court” but in “God’s court.”
Pastor David Jang draws attention to the detailed account Paul gives of his conversion. Among the three accounts of Paul’s Damascus road experience in Acts (chapters 9, 22, and 26), in Acts 26 we find the unique expression, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Pastor David Jang interprets this as revealing that, while Paul persecuted believers in Jesus, God had already chosen him. No matter how fiercely Paul resisted, that opposition amounted to “an impossible struggle” in which he only hurt himself. When the risen Lord said, “Why do you persecute me?” it was not merely a surprise for Paul, but a total upheaval of his very being. His conversion was both a result of repentance and an unconditional surrender to the saving event of Jesus’ personal appearance.
Pastor David Jang reflects on how Paul boldly shares this truth before King Agrippa. The Lord’s words—“I have appointed you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see,” “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles,” and “to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God”—were not meant for Paul alone; they apply to all who proclaim the gospel today. Pastor David Jang emphasizes here that Paul’s preaching, “Repent and turn to God,” was directed not only at the Jews but at the entire Gentile world in need of salvation.
Upon hearing this testimony, Governor Festus shouted, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane.” Pastor David Jang observes that this reveals just how powerful Paul’s message was. To expound at length to a Roman governor on “the resurrection of Jesus” and “God’s providence” defied conventional logic, to the point of Festus deeming it “madness.” Yet Paul calmly retorted, “I am not insane; I am speaking true and rational words,” refusing to yield. He then turned the question on King Agrippa, asking, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do,” asserting that Jesus’ resurrection for Israel and the Gentiles was exactly what Moses and the Prophets had foretold.
When King Agrippa replied, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” Pastor David Jang sees a curious, paradoxical victory in that statement. Although Agrippa, with all his regal power, stood before Paul, a prisoner in chains, effectively saying, “Are you trying to convert me?”—the reality is that Paul had effectively won. Paul answered, “I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Pastor David Jang describes this as “the triumph of a bound man, whose spirit remained utterly free.” Paul had absolute certainty in the gospel of life and did not shrink from proclaiming it before anyone. Conversely, though Agrippa enjoyed authority and freedom in appearance, he lived a life entangled in sin, intrigue, and depravity—exposing a tragic reality. To the worldly eye, Paul might have been a prisoner, but in God’s perspective, Paul was the one who was truly free and victorious.
In the end, King Agrippa concluded that Paul had “done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar,” he remarked, which served as an official declaration of Paul’s innocence. Pastor David Jang argues that this moment firmly seals the path for Paul’s journey to Rome—continuing almost to the end of Acts. Even the highest authority in Judea was compelled to admit that Paul deserved to be released. As a champion for the gospel, he overcame every political trap and violent conspiracy, pressing on toward Rome to bear witness before Caesar. Through this, Paul more clearly recognized his calling: to testify even before the emperor. Pastor David Jang describes this as God’s method of working in history—He uses the weak and imprisoned to manifest power and freedom, and to send His Word throughout the earth under His sovereign love.
3. God’s Absolute Sovereignty and Paul’s Bold Faith
In his concluding remarks, Pastor David Jang states that the overarching theme uniting Acts 25 and 26 is “God’s absolute sovereignty and Paul’s bold faith.” Though presented under the guise of ongoing trials, in actuality these chapters depict Paul proclaiming the gospel in a series of speaking engagements before various authorities. The Jewish leaders plot to eliminate Paul, the Roman governor makes political calculations, and the Herodian dynasty is mired in tangled sins and power struggles. Yet over all of these complexities, God’s plan of salvation stands supreme, and Paul, recognizing this reality, remains unshakably bold.
Pastor David Jang emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy—particularly that which Moses and the prophets spoke regarding the Messiah’s suffering and resurrection, realized perfectly in Jesus Christ. Paul, as “the apostle who personally witnessed these truths,” reiterates them repeatedly. “Resurrection” is not merely a historical event; it is the decisive act that transcends and defines all of human history, fulfilling the new age foreseen by the prophets. Meeting the risen Lord face to face imparted an unassailable conviction to Paul that no external power could unsettle. Pastor David Jang teaches that we, too, must hold firmly to what we believe, not wavering in the face of the world’s scorn or persecution.
Additionally, Pastor David Jang highlights how this text illustrates “the essence of gospel proclamation.” Even when standing before a king, Paul’s message does not deviate in the slightest. It remains the same for Gentile or Jew alike: “Repent, for the mercy and grace of God have come in Jesus Christ. Do not reject this gospel.” Whether king, governor, high-ranking official, or a destitute populace suffering from famine, every human being stands on equal ground before the risen Christ. Pastor David Jang notes that God sometimes permits hardships and punishments in the lives of His servants, which in turn become opportunities for the gospel to reach more people. Indeed, Paul’s trials facilitated further evangelistic encounters.
Pastor David Jang urges all believers to adopt the same conviction Paul held: “The gospel I proclaim is a universal truth, not a private matter conducted in secret.” Reflecting on historical events such as the Jewish War of AD 66, Titus’s destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70, and the mass suicide at Masada in AD 73, Pastor David Jang underscores that the vast currents of history are never solely dictated by human power or planning. “History is the great chariot driven by God,” he says, and believers are instruments in God’s hands. While Paul endured significant pain, ultimately he was guided into completing the mission he had received. That is the climactic message we discover here.
Pastor David Jang invites us to reflect on the “paradoxical situation” of Paul being forced to go before Caesar, even though his innocence was already acknowledged. For God’s servant, an ‘unjust circumstance’ was actually the culmination of God’s perfect leading. As the Psalms and Proverbs teach, people may plan their ways, but it is the Lord who establishes their steps. In the courts of Caesarea, in Jerusalem, and before King Agrippa, Paul continuously and boldly declared, “The gospel has already been fulfilled. I am not out of my mind; I speak the most rational truth.” The outcome demonstrates that “chains can bind the body, but never the soul.”
Pastor David Jang concludes by urging every believer who hears this message to meditate deeply on Paul’s trials and apply them to their own lives. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers should fear no power, even in the presence of kings or rulers. Reflecting on Paul’s statement—“I pray to God that…all might become what I am, apart from these chains”—Pastor David Jang asserts that we, too, should be able to proclaim such bold faith. We must always heed the risen Christ’s voice, which invites us to “turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” We must remember that we are heralds of this gospel—given the privilege of freedom and joy in Christ that the world cannot offer.
Ultimately, Pastor David Jang’s principal emphasis is that the only One who moves human history is God Himself. Without any human-backed political or military power, and despite being physically bound, Paul nonetheless achieved complete victory before the final Jewish king, and ultimately stood before Caesar’s court to testify to the gospel. Even the mighty Roman Empire, with its legions and far-reaching influence, proves small in comparison to God’s infinite power and wisdom. This is the genuine secret behind how the early church turned the world upside down—and it must remain the believer’s abiding conviction, centered on the resurrection of Christ and the providence of God, who is intent on saving humankind.
Pastor David Jang underscores that Paul unwaveringly proclaimed two core truths wherever he went: “Jesus is risen” and “I myself have encountered the risen Lord.” If we share the same conviction, we will not be swayed by social status or external circumstances, nor cower before malicious conspiracies or threats of death. Just as Paul spoke with fearless confidence before King Agrippa and Bernice, we, too, should proudly preach the gospel whenever we have the opportunity. Our foundation for such proclamation remains the resurrection and the providential love of God, who is set on redeeming humanity.
With this, Pastor David Jang summarizes the critical lessons we must learn from Acts 25 and 26. First, earthly powers can never surpass God’s sovereignty. Second, even in moments of unjust accusations and conspiracies, God protects His people and transforms the situation into a greater opportunity to bear witness. Third, like Paul’s testimony, the gospel addresses kings, governors, tribunes, and other high officials with the same universal truth. Fourth, those who proclaim the gospel must be bold—never shrinking back but always focusing on the core message of Christ’s death and resurrection. All these elements collectively constitute God’s “absolute plan,” already completed in Christ.
In closing, Pastor David Jang exhorts the contemporary church and all believers to apply Paul’s trial narrative to our present reality. We, too, may face various forms of confinement or be unjustly treated, yet we stand at the heart of history which God still governs. Therefore, we must never cease proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ and calling for repentance and salvation. Just as Paul narrowly escaped assassination plots and endured mockery from rulers who thought him insane for preaching with such fervor, we recognize that such scenarios are not merely relics of a distant past. In every era, the unbelieving world will sometimes misunderstand or persecute Christians. Yet, just as the Lord led Paul to Rome, Christ’s ultimate purpose cannot be thwarted.
Pastor David Jang concludes by urging us to pray for the strength not to betray our risen Lord, to remain faithful to our mission, and to preach the gospel boldly even in suffering. Even with chains on his body, Paul declared, “I pray that all might be as I am, except for these chains.” We, too, must share this spiritual freedom and resurrection joy with the world. Though we appear to lack secular power or influence, in light of God’s absolute sovereignty, we participate in the greatest glory and joy.
Pastor David Jang wraps up this message by reminding us that “God will bring us around to His way, whether we resist or obey. So rather than causing ourselves unnecessary hurt by kicking against the goads, let us fully accept His leading.” This echoes the moment when the once-persecuting Saul, in pain from “kicking against the goads,” finally surrendered: “Who are you, Lord?” And it resonates with the risen Christ’s question, “Why do you persecute me?”—to which Paul decisively responded, “I will live for this risen Lord.” That pledge carried him from King Agrippa and Governor Festus all the way to Rome, igniting the flame of the gospel in world history. The same call confronts each of us today. Pastor David Jang proclaims that all believers redeemed by Christ’s blood must seize this gospel without hesitation. In so doing, we, too, can reenact in our own lives the “great final testimony” of Paul—imprisoned yet free—that Acts 26 so powerfully depicts.