Acts Chapter 25 Verses 1-5

Acts 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. 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.” 

“Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.”  Festus, being the new governor of the province came down from Caesarea to Jerusalem.  This probably was a visit to get acquainted with the people and problems of the province.

“Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.”  The Jewish persecutors who claimed to be upholders of the law of Moses but because of their hatred for Christ and his teachings informed the governor against Paul and requested he be sent to Jerusalem.  In fact they had plotted to murder Paul.  They certainly were no upholders of the law of Moses.  They viewed Christ and his teachings to be a threat to their positions and authority.  Similarly today the believers in the doctrines of grace are viewed by much of the religious world as being a threat to their man made religious systems.  Moreover, their leaders see it as a threat to their pursuit of wealth and influence. 

“But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.  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.”  Festus refused the Jewish persecutors request but told them to come to Caesarea to make their accusations against Paul.

Verses 6-8

Acts 25:6 “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.” 

As the Jewish persecutors had done with Felix, they did with Festus and laid out their false and unproven charges against Paul.  Paul’s answer wa very short and to the point that he had not in any thing offended either the law of Moses, the temple, or Caesar. 

Verses 9-12

Acts 25:9 “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? 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.” 

“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?”  Festus, having heard the charges and Paul’s answer knew that nothing had been proven against Paul, but wanting to do the Jews a favor asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there.

“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.”  Paul refused the governors request saying he stood at Caesar’s judgment seat where, as a Roman citizen, he ought to be judged.  Paul also affirmed that Festus knew he was not guilty.

“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.”  Paul confirming he had done nothing worthy of death appealed unto Caesar. 

“Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.”  Festus, having heard Paul’s appeal, granted his appeal that he would go unto Caesar. 

Verses 13-21

Acts 25:13 “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.”

“And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.”  The king of the province, Agrippa, who was a direct descendent of the Herod’s came down with his wife Bernice to salute Felix the new governor.

“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: About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.”  Festus informed the king about Paul and his accusers, the chief priest and the elders of the Jews, and that the accusers desired to have judgment against Paul. 

“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.”  This principle of the Roman’s judicial procedures is basically the same principle of judicial procedures in the United States. 

“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.  Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”  Festus related to the king the results of his hearing the Jews and Paul and his surprise of the nature of the charges made against Paul.

“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.  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.”  Festus tells Agrippa of Paul’s refusal to go to Jerusalem and his appeal unto Caesar. 

Verses 22-27

Acts 25:22 “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.”

Paul is brought before the king that the king and his entourage may hear his defense and testimony.  Festus also hoped that in doing so that he might discover something whereby he might signify to Augustus the crimes laid against Paul.