Acts 25:1-27
—Verse by verse
This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 25:1-27. These verses describe how Paul was examined by Festus and Agrippa in Caesarea.
Paul examined by Festus and Agrippa in Caesarea.
Acts 25:1-27
¶“1Three days after Festus took over the province, he travelled from Caesarea up to Jerusalem. 2In Jerusalem, the chief priests and leaders of the Jews laid charges before Festus against Paul. 3They urged Festus to make a concession and have Paul brought to Jerusalem. They plotted, of course, to ambush Paul along the way and kill him. 4However Festus said that Paul should be kept at Caesarea. Festus also advised that he would be leaving shortly, 5and that men with influence could accompany him to Caesarea and there lay charges against Paul if he has done any wrong.” (Acts 25:1-5).
¶“6After spending no more than ten days in Jerusalem, Festus went back down to Caesarea. Next day, chairing the tribunal, Festus commanded Paul to be brought there. 7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around Paul, and laid many serious accusations against him, which they could not prove. 8In his own defense, Paul said, 'Neither against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any way at all.' 9Festus however, wanting to curry favour with the Jews, inquired of Paul, 'Would you be willing to go up to Jerusalem, and to stand trial before me on these matters?' ” (Acts 25:6-9).
¶“10Paul responded to Festus, 'I am already standing at Caesar’s court, where as a Roman I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know. 11If I am a criminal, if I have committed any thing worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if there is no truth in the things of which these men accuse me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal unto Caesar.' 12Festus conferred with his council and then responded to Paul: 'Have you appealed to Caesar? Then to Caesar you shall go.' ” (Acts 25:10-12).
¶“13Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and paid Festus an official visit. 14While King Agrippa and Bernice were spending quite some time in Caesarea, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. Festus said, 'There is a particular man left in prison by Felix. 15When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about this man. They wanted a judgment against him. 16I told them that the Roman law doesn't allow for a citizen to be handed over to his accusers until he has met them face to face before a Roman court, with the right to defend himself against the charges.' ” (Acts 25:13-16).
¶“17 'After the accusers assembled here, I did not delay. The very next day I sat on the tribunal, and summoned the man. 18When his accusers stood up to speak, however, they brought no accusation such as I had expected. 19They only had issues against him concerning their own superstitions, and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20Because I thought these questions dubious, I asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and stand trial there on these matters. 21But Paul appealed to be held in custody until he could stand trial before the Emperor. So I commanded him to be held till I could send him to Caesar.' 22At this point Agrippa said to Festus, 'I would also like to hear the man myself.' Festus replied, 'Then tomorrow you shall hear him.' ” (Acts 25:17-22).
¶“23Next day, Agrippa and Bernice, amid great pomp, attended the auditorium where the hearing was to be held. Also gathered were the commanders, and prominent men of the city. Festus called for Paul to be brought in. 24Then Festus said, 'King Agrippa, and all gentlemen here present, you see this man, about whom all the people of the Jews have appealed to me. In Jerusalem, and also here, they shouted that he should be put to death. 25However. I found that he had done nothing worthy of death. Furthermore, he himself has appealed to the Emperor. Consequently, I have determined to send him. 26Yet I have nothing definite to write to my lord. So I have brought him before you —especially before you, O king Agrippa. I trust that after you have examined him, I might have something to write. 27It seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner to Caesar without a clear indication of the crimes he is charged with.' ” (Acts 25:23-27).
1 New Govenor Festus Hears Accusations Against Paul
Verses 1-5
¶ "Three days after Festus took over the province, he travelled from Caesarea up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, the chief priests and leaders of the Jews laid charges before Festus against Paul, urging Festus to make a concession and have Paul brought to Jerusalem. They plotted, of course, to ambush Paul along the way and kill him. However Festus said that Paul should be kept at Caesarea. Festus also advised that he would be leaving shortly, and that men with influence could accompany him to Caesarea and there lay charges against Paul if he has done any wrong." (Acts 25:1-5).
- A new governor. Taking over from Felix, Festus became governor of the Province that included Jerusalem and Judea. So the enemies of Paul tried to manipulate Festus, using the same old tactics, hoping to achieve from Festus what they couldn't get from Felix. However Festus was in no hurry to grant their request. So Paul was kept at Caesarea for yet another hearing there.
Verses 6-9
¶ "After spending no more than ten days in Jerusalem, Festus went back down to Caesarea. Next day, chairing the tribunal, Festus commanded Paul to be brought there. When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around Paul, and laid many serious accusations against him, which they could not prove. In his own defense, Paul said, “Neither against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in any way at all.” Festus however, wanting to curry favour with the Jews, inquired of Paul, “Would you be willing to go up to Jerusalem, and to stand trial before me on these matters?”" (Acts 25:6-9).
- To go up to Jerusalem. Festus put Paul on the spot by foisting the decision on to him as to whether he should to go to Jerusalem for trial there. Even if Paul refused, Festus would seem to have tried to help the Jews.
2 Paul Declines Trial in Jerusalem —He Appeals to Caesar
Verses 10-12
¶ "Paul responded to Festus, “I am already standing at Caesar’s court, where as a Roman I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as you very well know. If I am a criminal, if I have committed any thing worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if there is no truth in the things of which these men accuse me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal unto Caesar. Festus conferred with his council and then responded to Paul: “Have you appealed to Caesar? Then to Caesar you shall go.” ” " (Acts 25:10-12).
- The ultimate court. Paul was very direct with Festus. Paul did not allow himself to be handed back to the Jews. Paul was already in a Roman court; he was entitled to a fair trial in that court; but his right was being compromised. Weary of the repeated hearings and the failure of the local court to expedite his case, Paul appealed to Caesar. This meant that Paul would be sent to Rome to await trial in the highest Roman court. Paul’s appeal to Caesar was no rash reaction. Paul had long since determined to go to Rome (Acts 19:21). The Lord Jesus had told Paul that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11).
- Forward to Rome. Paul decided to shift the machinations of his enemies and of local Roman politics out of reverse gear. In one short sentence, “I appeal to Caesar”, Paul forced the court to set a course for Rome, not Jerusalem. Paul would still have to bear with delays. However he had made the Romans responsible for his safe custody and eventual transport to Rome. Paul had checkmated his Jewish enemies in the Sanhedrin; they had no more moves in their wicked game.
3 Festus Consults King Agrippa About Paul
Verses 12-16
¶ "Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and paid Festus an official visit. While King Agrippa and Bernice were spending quite some time in Caesarea, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king. Festus said, “There is a particular man left in prison by Felix. When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about this man. They wanted a judgment against him. I told them that the Roman law doesn't allow for a citizen to be handed over to his accusers until he has met them face to face before a Roman court, with the right to defend himself against the charges.” " (Acts 25:13-16).
- To Caesar you shall go. Festus had no option but to give this ruling, because Paul had exercised his right of appeal. However the ruling placed Festus in an embarrassing position. He had a prisoner to refer to Caesar’s court in Rome, but the prisoner was charged with no crime against Roman law. Festus had nobody but himself to blame for this predicament.
- Agrippa and Bernice. Fortunately Festus had a royal visit from someone who could advise him. This visitor was Marcus Julius Agrippa II (A.D. 27-100), the son of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1-25) and great-grandson of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1-23). Caesar granted Agrippa the right to rule Judea and other parts of the province of which Festus was governor. Bernice was Agrippa’s sister. Agrippa was familiar with the details of Jewish customs and questions, which would include a knowledge of the way of Jesus the Nazarene (Acts 26:1-2, 26).
Verses 17-22
¶ "Festus further said to Agrippa, “After the accusers assembled here, I did not delay. The very next day I sat on the tribunal, and summoned the man. When his accusers stood up to speak, however, they brought no accusation such as I had expected. They only had issues against him concerning their own superstitions, and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Because I thought these questions dubious, I asked Paul whether he would go to Jerusalem, and stand trial there on these matters. But Paul appealed to be held in custody until he could stand trial before the Emperor. So I commanded him to be held till I could send him to Caesar.” At this point Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” Festus replied, “Then tomorrow you shall hear him.”" (Acts 25:17-22).
- Tomorrow you shall hear him. If Agrippa was going to advise Festus properly, Agrippa would need to examine Paul himself. This would not be a trial whereby Agrippa might dismiss all charges and order Paul’s release. Paul could now be put on trial nowhere but in Rome before Caesar. It would however be an official hearing of Paul’s defense, to try to determine the charges that might properly be laid against Paul.
Verses 23-27
¶ "Next day, Agrippa and Bernice, amid great pomp, attended the auditorium where the hearing was to be held. Also gathered were the commanders, and prominent men of the city. Festus called for Paul to be brought in. Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all gentlemen here present, you see this man, about whom all the people of the Jews have appealed to me. In Jerusalem, and also here, they shouted that he should be put to death. However. I found that he had done nothing worthy of death. Furthermore, he himself has appealed to the Emperor. Consequently, I have determined to send him. Yet I have nothing definite to write to my lord. So I have brought him before you —especially before you, O king Agrippa. I trust that after you have examined him, I might have something to write. It seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner to Caesar without a clear indication of the crimes he is charged with.”" (Acts 25:23-27).
- Amid great pomp. The hearing before King Agrippa was no small event. It was a valuable opportunity for Paul to speak not only for himself but also on behalf of Jesus. What Paul said before the local king in Caesarea, would largely determine the ground on which he would eventually stand before the Emperor at Rome.