The apostle knew that he could not look for justice from the people who by their crimes were bringing down upon themselves the wrath of God. He knew that, like the prophet Elijah, he would be safer among the heathen than with those who had rejected light from heaven and hardened their hearts against the gospel. Weary of strife, his active spirit could ill endure the repeated delays and wearing suspense of his trial and imprisonment. He therefore decided to exercise his privilege, as a Roman citizen, of appealing to Caesar.

Apostlen vidste, at han ikke kunne regne med retfærdighed fra det folk, som ved deres forbrydelser havde pådraget sig Guds vrede. Han vidste, at han ligesom profeten Elias ville være mere sikker blandt hedningerne end hos dem, der havde forkastet det himmelske lys og forhærdet deres hjerter mod evangeliet. Han var træt af striden. Hans virksomme sjæl havde ondt ved at finde sig i de stadigt tilbagevendende forsinkelser og den opslidende forhaling af hans domfældelse og fængsling. Derfor besluttede han at benytte sig af sit privilegium til som romersk borger at indanke sin sag for kejseren.