Acts 25:12

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

Then {G5119} Festus {G5347}, when he had conferred {G4814} with {G3326} the council {G4824}, answered {G611}, Hast thou appealed unto {G1941} Caesar {G2541}? unto {G1909} Caesar {G2541} shalt thou go {G4198}.

Then Festus, after talking with his advisers, answered, “You have appealed to the Emperor; you will go to the Emperor!”

Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Cæsar: unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Commentary

Acts 25:12 records a pivotal moment in the Apostle Paul's legal saga, as the Roman procurator Festus confirms Paul's appeal to Caesar. This decision dramatically shifts the course of Paul's imprisonment and future missionary journey.

Context

This verse follows a series of trials and accusations against Paul by Jewish leaders in Judea. After two years under Governor Felix, Paul remained imprisoned. When Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, the Jewish high priest and leading men immediately pressed for Paul's trial in Jerusalem, intending to ambush and kill him along the way. Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul if he would agree to go to Jerusalem for trial. Knowing the danger and asserting his rights as a Roman citizen, Paul declared, "I appeal unto Caesar." This appeal, a legal right for Roman citizens to have their case heard by the emperor himself, was a critical step in the Roman judicial process. Festus's consultation with his "council" (Greek: symboulion), likely his legal advisors, confirms the legality and implications of Paul's appeal.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Roman Legal System: The verse highlights the structure and rights within the Roman Empire's legal framework, specifically the right of appeal (provocatio ad populum, later appellatio ad Caesarem). This right was a safeguard against provincial tyranny and ensured a citizen's case could reach the highest authority.
  • Divine Providence: Paul's appeal, while a legal maneuver, was also an instrument of God's sovereign plan. Earlier, the Lord had told Paul, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." This appeal ensured Paul's journey to Rome, not as a prisoner being led to execution, but as one who would testify before the emperor himself, fulfilling God's prophetic word.
  • Paul's Steadfastness: Despite prolonged imprisonment and persistent opposition, Paul remained resolute in his faith and commitment to the gospel. His appeal was not an evasion of justice but a strategic move to ensure a fair hearing and, ultimately, to advance the message of Christ in the heart of the Roman Empire.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "appealed unto Caesar" translates the Greek verb epikaleomai, which means "to call upon," "to invoke," or "to appeal to." In a legal context, it specifically refers to exercising the right of appeal to a higher authority. Festus's response, "unto Caesar shalt thou go," is a direct and formal confirmation of this legal process, signifying that Paul's case was now officially transferred to the imperial court in Rome.

Practical Application

Acts 25:12 reminds believers that God can use various means—even secular legal systems and personal challenges—to accomplish His purposes. Paul's journey to Rome, initiated by this appeal, demonstrates that God's plan will prevail, even when circumstances seem bleak or human opposition is strong. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He orchestrates events for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom, often in ways we don't anticipate. It also highlights the importance of understanding and, when necessary, utilizing the legal protections available to us in our own societies.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 19:21

    ¶ After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

  • Philippians 1:20

    According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

  • Philippians 1:12

    ¶ But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things [which happened] unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

  • Philippians 1:14

    And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Acts 25:21

    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.

  • Lamentations 3:37

    ¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not?
← Back