Acts25

Upon his arrival, Governor Festus was immediately confronted by Jewish leaders demanding Paul's transfer to Jerusalem, intending an ambush. Festus refused, holding a hearing in Caesarea where Paul, denying all charges, appealed to Caesar. Consequently, Festus declared Paul would be sent to Rome, later explaining the complex situation to King Agrippa, who desired to hear Paul himself.

Festus Assumes Office and Meets Jewish Leaders

Three days after Festus had entered the province, he went up from Caesarea to Yerushalayim.

There the head cohanim and the Judean leaders informed him of the case against Sha’ul, and they asked him

to do them the favor of having the man sent to Yerushalayim. (They had plotted to have him ambushed and killed en route.)

Festus replied that Sha’ul was being kept under guard in Caesarea, and that he was about to go there shortly himself.

“So,” he said, “let competent men among you come down with me and press charges against the man, if he has done something wrong.”

Paul's Trial Before Festus

After staying with them at most eight or ten days, Festus went down to Caesarea; and on the following day, he took his seat in court and ordered Sha’ul to be brought in.

When he arrived, the Judeans who had come down from Yerushalayim stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him which they could not prove.

In reply, Sha’ul said, “I have committed no offense — not against the Torah to which the Jews hold, not against the Temple, and not against the Emperor.”

But Festus, wanting to do the Judeans a favor, asked Sha’ul, “Would you be willing to go up to Yerushalayim and be tried before me there on these charges?”

Sha’ul replied, “I am standing right now in the court of the Emperor, and this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Judeans, as you very well know.

If I am a wrongdoer, if I have done something for which I deserve to die, then I am ready to die. But if there is nothing to these charges which they are bringing against me, no one can give me to them just to grant a favor! I appeal to the Emperor!”

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

Festus Consults King Agrippa

After some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Since they were staying on there for some time, Festus had the opportunity to acquaint the king with Sha’ul’s situation. “There is a man here,” he said, “who was left behind in custody by Felix.

When I was in Yerushalayim, the head cohanim and the elders of the Judeans informed me about him and asked me to pronounce judgment against him.

My answer to them was that it is not the custom with Romans to give up an accused man just to grant a favor, before he has met his accusers face to face and had the opportunity to defend himself against the charge.

So when they arrived here with me, I did not delay, but took my seat in court the next day and ordered the man brought in.

“When the accusers stood up, instead of charging him with some serious crime as I had expected,

they disputed with him about certain points of their own religion, and particularly about somebody called Yeshua, who had died, but who Sha’ul claimed was alive.

Being at a loss as to how to investigate such questions, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Yerushalayim and be tried on these matters there.

But since Sha’ul appealed to be kept in custody and have his case decided by His Imperial Majesty, I ordered him held until I could send him to the Emperor.”

Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself have been wanting to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “You will hear him.”

Paul Addresses Agrippa

So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much pageantry; they entered the audience room accompanied by military commanders and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Sha’ul was brought in.

Festus said, “King Agrippa and all of you here with us, do you see this man? The whole Judean community has complained to me about him both in Yerushalayim and here, crying that he shouldn’t be allowed to remain alive.

But I discovered that he had done nothing that deserves a death sentence. Now when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

However, I have nothing specific to write to His Majesty about him. This is why I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa — so that after we have examined him, I might have something to write.

It seems irrational to me to send a prisoner without also indicating what the charges against him are.”

Study Notes for Acts 25

Verse 1

Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as procurator of Judea. His immediate visit to Jerusalem after three days shows his desire to quickly establish relations with the religious leadership.

Verse 3

The request to transfer Paul was a dangerous plot, continuing the assassination attempt described previously (Acts 23:12-15). The Jewish leaders were still determined to murder Paul.

Verse 4

Festus maintained proper Roman judicial protocol by keeping the prisoner in Caesarea, the administrative capital, thus inadvertently frustrating the Jewish plot.

Verse 7

The accusers leveled 'grievous complaints,' likely sedition against Rome or profanation of the Temple, but failed to provide any supporting evidence.

Verse 8

Paul’s defense reiterates his innocence on all three possible charges: against Jewish religious law, against the Jerusalem Temple, and against Roman political authority (Caesar).

Verse 9

Festus, seeking to gain favor with the influential Jewish leaders, proposed moving the trial to Jerusalem, effectively sacrificing justice for political expediency.

Verse 10

Paul asserts his right as a Roman citizen to be judged under Roman law at the governor’s court (Caesar's judgment seat), refusing to submit to a biased trial in Jerusalem.

Verse 11

Paul’s appeal to Caesar (Augustus/Nero) was a citizen's right (provocatio ad Caesarem) against the local magistrate’s decision, guaranteeing him safe passage to Rome for a final hearing.

Verse 12

The 'council' refers to the governor’s legal advisors (assessores). Once the appeal was formally made and accepted, the local jurisdiction ended, securing Paul's long-sought journey to Rome (Acts 23:11).

Verse 13

King Agrippa II (the last of the Herodian line) and his sister Bernice were rulers of adjacent territories and served as crucial advisors to Roman officials on Jewish customs and law.

Verse 16

Festus proudly outlines the fundamental principles of Roman justice (ius Romanum): accusers must confront the accused face-to-face, and the accused must have the opportunity to defend himself.

Verse 19

Festus dismissed the charges as concerning Jewish 'superstition' (a Roman term for religion) and the dispute over 'one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive,' recognizing the resurrection as the central issue.

Verse 21

'Augustus' is the imperial title referring to the reigning emperor, Nero. Paul was to be held in custody until the administrative preparations for his voyage to Italy were complete.

Verse 23

The hearing was conducted with 'great pomp,' emphasizing the political and military importance of the assembled officials, including the military tribunes and leading citizens of Caesarea.

Verse 26

Festus needed Agrippa’s expertise to formulate clear, specific charges to send to Rome. It was legally unacceptable to send a prisoner to the emperor without a formal statement of the crimes committed.

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Acts25

Festus Assumes Office and Meets Jewish Leaders

Paul's Trial Before Festus

Festus Consults King Agrippa

Paul Addresses Agrippa

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