Thank you for the question on trusting God, “Wasn’t Apostle Paul’s appeal to Caesar a failure to trust God?”
As one reads Acts 24, it may appear that the Apostle Paul’s appeal to Caesar is a failure to trust God. Paul’s appeal to Caesar is in alignment with the revealed will of God for him.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. The Sanhedrin and Pharisees gave their approval to kill Paul.
In Acts 23, one reads that 40 Jewish men plotted to kill Paul with the approval of the religious leaders.
The text says this, “12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” (NIV).
The religious leaders ALREADY found Paul guilt of blasphemy regardless of whatever defense that Paul would have given in Jerusalem. The chief priests and elders were in agreement with the plan of the 40 men. They stoned Stephen for blasphemy (Acts 7) and certainly they would have stoned Paul if he returned to Jerusalem, that is if he were to make it there alive!
B. God intervened in protecting Paul’s life from being murder.
In Acts 23, the son of Paul’s sister overhears the plot and reveals it to Paul. God could have allowed Paul to be taken to Jerusalem and it is most likely that he would have been killed on their way there. The religious leaders would have asked that they take him to Jerusalem without a Roman escort. For the 40 Jewish men to attack a Roman escort would be consider rebellion, but an attack by Jewish men upon Jewish men would be considered more a local issue that may not involve Rome. Should Paul allowed the plot to proceed?
Scripture declares that one should not test the God even as Satan declared to Jesus that if he jumped off the high place in the temple that the angels would prevent his death.
Matthew 4 says this, “5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]” (NIV).
C. The Lord revealed to Paul that he testify in Rome.
In the first trial in Jerusalem, Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees by the Roman commander to hear the charges. Paul knew their intent of condemning him for the Sanhedrin and Pharisees held different views of the Scriptures. In the commotion that followed when he was held in the barracks, the Lord revealed his will to him.
Acts 22 says this, “There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” (NIV).
Before Paul’s trial to Felix and to Agrippa, the Lord revealed that he has testified about him in Jerusalem and now he must testify about him in Rome. Paul knew the revealed will of God that he must go to Rome.
As the events unfolded before him, his Roman citizenship allowed him to appeal to Caesar. That was his “ticket” to Rome and it was paid by the Roman government. Paul walked in the revealed will of God. If Paul didn’t appeal to Rome and returned to Jerusalem, he would have disobeyed the Lord.
Thus as I view the unfolding of the text of Acts 22–27, Paul trusted God to bring him to Rome. Paul may not have expected to be a prisoner to Rome but to ensure his safety to Rome, God had him in chains so that he can stand before Caesar using his Roman citizenship.
SUMMARY: The Apostle Paul trusted in the revealed will of God for him to go to Rome in testifying about the Lord to Caesar’s court.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Wasnt-Apostle-Pauls-appeal-to-Caesar-a-failure-to-trust-God