Worthy of Death

Acts 25:25 KJV

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

After hearing the accusation of the Jews against Paul, Festus:

• Learned that they had no such accusations as he supposed
• Found that he had committed nothing worthy of death

 The Romans were ruthless to their enemies, and to criminals in their jurisdiction. To maintain order over such a diverse empire required that they tolerate no acts of criminal intent. But they were also bound by a strict code of legal ethics. Previous to this it does not appear that Rome would have considered executing a man for religious differences. Even in the case of the Lord, the Jews trumped up charges of establishing His own kingdom in order to receive Roman authority to kill him. In the end they didn't have Roman authority but Roman complacency. Neither Felix nor Festus were willing to order Paul's execution based on charges of a religious nature. Festus declared he found that Paul had committed nothing worthy of death.

The Romans did eventually focus persecution against the Christians; at first, as a sect of the Jews, who had become a thorn in Rome's side. Later, when Constantine declared himself a Christian, Rome then persecuted any who would not worship Christ as Constantine ordered, including those who were Christians but had convictions against coming under Constantine's Roman church.

It was religion that attacked Christianity at the beginning.

It is religion that true believers must beware of still today.