Acts 25

Acts 25:1

25:1 Porcius Festus was appointed Roman governor of Judea by the Emperor Nero in the autumn of a.d. 60. Caesarea was the political center for the Roman province of Syria, of which Judea was a part. After three days Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, the religious capital of his jurisdiction. 25:2, 3 Although it was now two years since Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, the Jews had not forgotten him, neither had their murderous hatred subsided. Thinking that they might be able to obtain a political favor from the new governor, the high priest and principal men of the Jews filled his ear with charges against Paul and asked for him to be sent to Jerusalem for trial. Probably they meant that he should be tried before the Sanhedrin, but their real plan was to waylay him on the journey and kill him.25:4, 5 But Festus had doubtless been informed of their previous plan to kill Paul, and of the elaborate preparations taken by the commander in Jerusalem to spirit him away to Caesarea. He therefore refused their request, but promised them that he would permit them an opportunity to state their case against Paul if they could come to Caesarea.25:6-8 After a stay of more than ten days in Jerusalem, Festus returned to Caesarea and convened the court the next day. The Jews hastened to the attack, bringing many serious charges against Paul, but failing to prove any of them. Sensing the poverty of their case, the apostle contented himself with a simple denial of any crime against the law, against the temple, or Caesar.25:9-11 For a moment it seemed as if Festus was willing to accede to the request of the Jews that Paul be sent to Jerusalem for trial before the Sanhedrin.

However, he would not do this without the prisoner’s permission. Paul obviously realized that if he agreed, he would never reach Jerusalem alive. He therefore refused by stating that the court in Caesarea was the proper place for a trial. If he had committed a crime against the Roman Empire, he was not unwilling to die for it. But if he was not guilty of such a sin, then on what legal ground could he be handed over to the Jews? Taking full advantage of his rights as a Roman citizen, the Apostle Paul then uttered the memorable words, I appeal to Caesar.Was Paul justified in appealing to Caesar?

Should he not have committed his cause entirely to God, and refused to stoop to dependence on his earthly citizenship? Was this one of the mistakes of Paul? We cannot say with finality. All we know is that his appeal to Caesar hindered his being set free at this time, and that even if he hadn’t appealed, he would have reached Rome some other way. 25:12 Festus briefly conferred with his legal advisors concerning the procedure in such matters. He then said to Paul, perhaps in a defiant tone, You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!25:13 Some time after this, King Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice came to Caesarea to congratulate Festus on his new appointment. Agrippa was the son of Herod Agrippa I, who murdered James and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12). His sister was a woman of unusual beauty. While historians ascribe an unsavory reputation to her, including her relations with her brother, the NT is silent as to her personal character. 25:14-16 During their rather long stay in Caesarea, Festus decided to tell Agrippa about a problem he was facing with a prisoner named Paul. First he recounted the crude demand of the Jews that sentence be passed against Paul without a formal trial. Portraying himself as the upholder and protector of proper judicial processes, he told how he had insisted on a trial at which the defendant could meet his accusers face to face and be given the opportunity to defend himself. 25:17-19 When the case came to trial, Festus found that the prisoner was not guilty of any crime against the empire. Rather, the case revolved around some questions about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.25:20-22 Festus then reviewed his offer to Paul to go to Jerusalem, and of Paul’s appeal to the Augustus (a title for Caesar here, not a name). This, of course, raised a problem. In sending his prisoner to Rome, what charge would he make against him? Since Agrippa was a Jew, and therefore conversant with matters involving Judaism, Festus hoped he would get some help in drawing up a suitable charge. In speaking of the Savior of the world, Festus used the expression, a certain Jesus. Bengel’s comment on this is worth repeating: Thus speaks this miserable Festus of Him to Whom every knee shall bow.25:23 The next day a formal hearing was arranged. Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp. They were accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city. Then Paul was brought in.25:24-27 Once again, Festus set forth the history of the casethe insistent demands of the Jews for Paul’s death, the inability of Festus to find the apostle guilty of any crime deserving of death, and then Paul’s appeal to Caesar. Festus’ dilemma, of course, was this: he was forced by Paul’s appeal to send him to Nero, yet there was no adequate legal basis for a trial.

Festus plainly stated that he hoped Agrippa would be able to help him; after all, it did seem rather unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him. These proceedings were more in the nature of a hearing than a trial. The Jews were not present to accuse the apostle, and Agrippa was not expected to render a binding decision.