From Obstacles to Steppingstones
6/5/25 Bible Thought (Acts 25)
Sometimes life isn’t fair.
Sometimes life is fraught with problems. I’m sure we’ve all experienced many things that we would change if we could, but we can’t.
The apostle Paul knew this all too well.
In Acts 25, Paul’s trial before the Roman authorities continued. After false accusations and the threat of death at the hands of the Jews, Paul was put into custody. As we saw two days ago, that custody was used to spare his life—nevertheless, I’m sure it wasn’t fun.
What was probably even less fun was that the governor, Felix, left Paul there in order to save face with the Jews. As a result, Paul remained imprisoned there for two years until a new governor took over (Acts 24:27).
When the new governor took his place, Paul was again tried, and it was apparent the trial wasn’t going to be fair. He was falsely accused, and it didn’t seem there was any hope with the new administration. As a result, Paul appealed to be tried before Caesar, a privilege he had as a Roman citizen (Acts 25:11).[1]
Paul’s situation was entirely unfair and a travesty of justice.
Yet, what’s so fascinating here is that all of these negative circumstances in his life are fulfilling the Lord Jesus’ plans to send him to Rome (Acts 23:11). Likewise, they also fulfilled the word spoken to Ananias concerning Paul at his conversion,
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15-16, emphasis added).
God was at work, not just in spite of, but actually through Paul’s trials.
For every time Paul had the opportunity to make his defense, he incorporated the gospel. If the gospel was the reason that he was guilty before the Jews, then he’d happily explain it to the crowds, kings, or anyone who needed to hear of the charges brought against him.
Paul would later reflect on time spent in prison in his letter to the Philippians,
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Phil. 1:12-13).
Whether or not that imprisonment was his subsequent imprisonment in Rome is debated. Yet, the principle remains the same: God was at work in and through the trials that Paul faced.
In fact, imprisonment wasn’t an obstacle to Paul’s gospel ministry; rather, it was a steppingstone, a launching pad! It was an avenue that was perfectly planned by the Lord Jesus to put Paul and the gospel before kings.
Certainly, if God worked through trials then, He has plans in the midst of our lives now when things go sideways. Perhaps we just have to be looking for it.
Paul could’ve spent his time in prison in self-pity. He could’ve spent his time grumbling in prayer and complaining to God about how limited his ministry scope was. Instead, Paul realized that God had merely changed his audience.
I wonder what opportunities we might miss when we respond inappropriately to the difficult circumstances that we face.
Perhaps, just maybe, they are sent by God’s sovereign appointment in order to fulfil His plans in and through us?
[1] Clinton E. Arnold, Acts, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, vol. 2B of Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 243.