Acts 25:11
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."
Paul was not trying to merely avoid being martyred. He was simply pointing out which argument he was having. Sometimes we rush to defend ourselves against things our adversaries are not even accusing us of currently. Paul was more than willing to die for the sake of Christ when and if it conflicted with the rules of Rome. However, he was not eager to rush the process without actual violation. The matter at hand was not treason to Caesar, but infraction of Jewish law. With regard to this case, Paul confirmed he was not in opposition to Jewish teaching, but actually more in keeping with it as a believer of Moses' prophecies fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Had the matter been moved to monarchy and who was ultimately under whose authority, Paul certainly would have opposed Caesar and proclaimed that there is no earthly authority that is absolute, all are under the authority of Jesus.
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