There are so many parallels between Paul and Joseph Smith. No matter what city either of them was in, people flocked to hear them and people sought to persecute and kill them. They were continually arrested but there was nothing that could ever be found to prove any guilt. They were fearless in bearing testimony that they had seen the resurrected Christ and the established religions looked on them as heretics and threats to their positions of power. The church that is persecuted is the one that has the truth. We should not be surprised that if people in high position were willing to kill the Savior, at the least they will be willing to put for false statements and ridicule about his church and its leaders. Nor should we be surprised when a Mormon political candidate, like Mitt Romney, has his religion used against him. But as the scriptures say, we should be grateful that we are counted worthy to be persecuted for Christ's sake.
If given to the Jews, Paul will face certain death. They ask Festus to send him to Jerusalem for trial so they can kill him while he is on the way. Even two years later they still hate him. Paul has no choice but to appeal his case to Caesar which he has a right to do as a Roman citizen. Festus can find no fault in him and refers him to King Herod who is living in incest with his sister. Festus is hoping that Herod can find something to accuse Paul of because he doesn't want to look like an idiot for sending a prisoner to Caesar without a good reason for a trial.
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