Christian Religious Studies - Junior Secondary 3 - Paul before Festus

TERM: 3^RD TERM

WEEK: 2

CLASS: Junior Secondary School 3

AGE: 14 years

DURATION: 40 minutes

DATE:

SUBJECT: Christian Religious Knowledge

TOPIC: Paul before Festus

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to

1.) Give an account of the trial of Paul before Festus

2.) List the accusations levelled against Paul by the Jews

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, story-telling, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Recommended Christian Religious Knowledge textbooks for Junior Secondary School 3

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

NOTE

PAUL BEFORE FESTUS

After Paul had been imprisoned in Caesarea for two years under Felix, the Roman governor, Felix was replaced by Festus. The Jewish leaders, who were still opposed to Paul, brought their case before Festus, asking for Paul to be transferred to Jerusalem, intending to ambush and kill him during the journey.

Festus, after hearing their accusations, offered to have Paul stand trial in Jerusalem. However, Paul, aware of the dangers, invoked his right as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar, a higher authority, to be tried before the Emperor in Rome. This decision shifted the course of Paul’s trial.

Festus, not wanting to seem unjust or uninformed about the charges, discussed the matter with King Agrippa II, who was visiting. Agrippa, along with his sister Bernice, arrived in Caesarea, and Festus explained to him the details of Paul’s case. He mentioned that the Jews had a dispute with Paul regarding their religious laws, but Festus couldn’t find any crime that Paul had committed, leading him to seek advice from Agrippa on how to proceed.

Paul’s trial before Festus is significant because it further solidified the idea that the charges against Paul were politically motivated and not based on any actual crime. Eventually, Festus sent Paul to Rome, where he would stand trial before Caesar as he had requested.

Accusations Levelled Against Paul by the Jews

The accusations against Paul, as outlined during his trials before Felix and Festus, included:

1. Breaking Jewish Law: The Jews accused Paul of violating their laws, particularly by preaching teachings that undermined their customs.
2. Desecrating the Temple: They specifically charged Paul with defiling the temple, claiming he had brought Gentiles into the inner courts of the temple, which was forbidden by Jewish law.
3. Promoting a New Sect: The Jewish leaders accused Paul of being a leader of a new and heretical sect (the followers of "the Way"), which was seen as a threat to traditional Jewish beliefs.
4. Causing Disturbance: Paul was accused of stirring up riots and disturbances among the Jewish people throughout the Roman provinces, which was considered a threat to peace and order.

EVALUATION:

1. Bottom of FormWhat were the key reasons Paul invoked his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar, and how did this decision impact his trial process?
2. How did Festus’s interaction with King Agrippa contribute to the resolution of Paul’s trial, and what role did Agrippa play in understanding the charges against Paul?
3. How did the Jewish leaders use political and religious accusations to try to discredit Paul, and how did Paul defend himself against these claims?
4. What can we learn from Paul’s response to the accusations regarding his beliefs and actions, especially his unwavering commitment to proclaiming the gospel?
5. In what ways did Paul’s trial before Festus highlight the tension between early Christianity and the traditional Jewish authorities, and how did Paul’s actions help further the spread of Christianity?

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher marks their books and commends them positively