Festus stayed in Jerusalem another eight or ten days. Then he went back to Caesarea. The next day Festus told the soldiers to bring Paul before him. Festus was seated on the judgment seat.
Pilate said these things while he was sitting in the place for judging. While he was sitting there, his wife sent a message to him. The message said, “Don’t do anything with that man (Jesus). He is not guilty. And today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much.”
Pilate heard what these Jews said. So he brought Jesus out to the place called “The Stone Pavement.” (In the Jewish language {\cf2\super [241]} the name is “Gabbatha.”) Pilate sat down on the judge’s seat there.
Paul said, “I am standing at Caesar’s {\cf2\super [476]} judgment seat now. This is where I should be judged! I have done nothing wrong to the Jews; you know this is true.
So these Jews came here \{to Caesarea\} for the trial. And I did not waste time. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded that the man (Paul) be brought in.
But Philip appeared in a city called Azotus. He was going to the city of Caesarea. He told people the Good News {\cf2\super [183]} in all the towns on the way from Azotus to Caesarea.
We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each person will get what he should. Each person will be paid for the things he did—good or bad—when he lived in the earthly body.
But you show no respect to the poor man. And you know that the rich people are the people who always try to control your lives. And they are the people who take you to court.