Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
I’ve always had a healthy respect for the men and women in blue. I considered police officers to be worthy of my respect. One two or three occasions in my teenage years I respectfully offered my drivers license to a police officer who thought I was perhaps going too fast. But I think my respect for them paid off. I did not get a speeding ticket until I was much older. Much older. I still respect our police officers. They do a thankless and challenging job. The thin blue line – the concept that the police are the line between law-and-order and chaos in society – is important to the safety of law-abiding citizens.
I want to suggest that there is also a thin purple line. Purple is the color of royalty. I don’t want to equate government with royalty, but I believe that a thin purple line is also vital for the peaceful and orderly functioning of society. The line of proper governmental laws and courts keep the thin blue line from becoming a thick red line of the police state.
We see the thin purple line here in this episode of Paul’s imprisonment and trial. Felix had held things at bay for some time. Now Festus will hold the line against the vigilante efforts of the Jewish leaders. They had claimed that they wanted to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial. But they were actually intent on killing Paul even before he got to trial. They we held in check, however, by this thin purple line.
Festus will not let Paul be taken to Jerusalem – especially when he appeals to Caesar. In Paul’s day, a citizen of Rome had the right to appeal directly to Caesar in any dispute. When Paul made that appeal Festus had to let him go. And he did – though he did take some time to confer with his counselors.
I think of this even today as we face an election in our nation. People on both side of the race claim that theirs is the way to preserve the American dream, keep democracy from being torn apart, and guide our country forward for the next four years. It doesn’t matter who you wish to see elected. In either case, we here in the United States may be thankful for the thin purple line that guards our freedoms and preserves order and peace in our land.
Think about it. I don’t worry about being pulled over for speeding and taken to prison, put on trial and convicted of government sedition because I am a Christian pastor. There are, no doubt, abuses of power, sleazy back-room deals, and questionable alliances made by politicians of all types. But the overall level of peace and prosperity we enjoy today in this country is unparalleled.
Paul was the beneficiary of this thin purple line. And so are you and I. That makes the words of Paul even more applicable:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.– 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Notice this: the purpose of these prayers is not only so that we may enjoy quiet and peaceful lives. It’s so the message of Jesus may be proclaimed and people be saved. The people drawing that purple line are worth praying for – no matter who holds the offices of government.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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