The Book of Acts Chapter 25

Paul Before Festus Acts 25:1-27

Paul has been before Governor Felix, but Felix has been sent to Rome to answer for crimes committed against the Jews in civil war. Now we meet a man named Festus who is now in charge of Felix’ district and Paul’s case.

25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

A. Request

Soon after arriving in the region of Judea, Festus, the new Governor, makes a visit to Jerusalem to attempt to keep peace. Festus will meet with the High Priest and other Jewish leaders to attempt to dissolve unrest in the city. No sooner had he come to town than the Sanhedrin leaders began to apply pressure on the Governor to let Paul come back to Jerusalem for a trial. These leaders seek to take advantage of the new Governor and seek the opportunity of peace to get a chance to kill Paul.

4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

B. Refusal

Perhaps Felix briefed Festus on the case of Paul or maybe Festus knew Paul was a Roman Citizen and the new Governor would not be forced into moving Paul back to Jerusalem. Instead, the Governor announced that he would soon depart and go back to Caesarea and he invited Paul’s accusers to come to Caesarea for the reopening of the case. Nonetheless, the Roman Governor will keep the power in his own hands rather than giving it to the crafty Jews.

6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. 9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

C. Reopened

Festus stays in Jerusalem 10 more days and then returned to Casearea. The next day Festus commanded Paul to be brought out for the reopening of the case, as Paul’s accusers have again gathered in Caesarea. The accusers laid compliant after complaint and charge after charge against Paul. They slander Paul afresh and tell half truths and lies with venom and spite, yet they had no proof.

Paul speaks in his own defense and states that he has not broken Jewish law, he has not profaned the Temple and he has not led a movement against Roman rulership. Paul is not guilty on all counts and his conscience and testimony were clearly innocent.

Festus, willing to gain favor with the Jews, asks Paul if he is willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial in Jerusalem. It seems it was not necessary for Festus to ask Paul this, as Festus could have ordered Paul to do so. But Festus was clear that even though the trial would be held in Jerusalem the Jews would not be the presiding judge but Festus would be acting in judgment.

10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

D. Rights

Paul, having already been in Caesarea for over 2 years patiently waiting for justice, has basically been asked to go back to square one. Paul knew if he went back to Jerusalem, they would kill him and realizing that justice is taking a back seat to politics, Paul appeals to the Roman Emperor Caesar (Nero). Ordinarily appeals are only made as a resource against an unfair sentence, but it was an option to Paul and he took it. Now Festus will have to embarrassingly explain to his superiors why Paul, an innocent man, appealed this case. Quickly Festus speaks with a Roman counsel, officers of the Roman court, knowing this appeal must be granted. Certainly Festus realizes that his attempt to gain cheap favor has backfired and recoiled on his own head and angrily he says “Unto Caesar thou shalt go.”

13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

E. Royal Couple

King Agrippa (an Idumaen well versed in Jewish customs and religion) and his sister Bernice, came to Caesarea to see Governor Festus. King Agrippa was a Procurator and was outranked by Governor Festus, but Agrippa had important contacts among the Jews and Romans that Festus felt he needed in order to extricate himself to Rome and to the Jews because of the way he had mishandled Paul’s case and Paul’s subsequent appeal to Caesar.

After a few days together, Festus needing Agrippa’s help, pours on the charm and speaks with Agrippa about the specifics of Paul’s case and it’s outstanding circumstances. Festus willingly admitted that he had questions about Judaism and one named Jesus who was dead, but Paul says is alive. Festus relates the fact that Paul has now appealed this case to Augustus (meaning Imperial Majesty) which in actuality is Caesar the Roman Emperor. King Agrippa wants to hear the case himself and Festus being relieved said “tomorrow you will.”

The next day, with great ceremony and protocol, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice, the chief captains, the principle men of the city and Governor Festus are gathered and Paul is commanded to be brought forth. Festus opens the hearing by stating before all to hear that he has heard Paul before and he has found that Paul has done nothing worthy of death. How can Festus send an innocent Roman Citizen to Caesar to be judged for crimes he has not even been charged with. Maybe Agrippa can find a twisted charge to refer the case to Caesar.