Acts 25

1 – 5

Three days after Festus became governor, he went from Caesarea to Jerusalem. There the leading priests and the important Jewish leaders made charges against Paul before Festus. They asked Festus to do something for them; they wanted him to send Paul back to Jerusalem. They had a plan to kill Paul on the way.

But Festus answered, “No! Paul will be kept in Caesarea. I will return there soon myself. Some of your leaders should go with me. They can accuse the man there in Caesarea, if he has really done something wrong.”

The Jews were hoping that Festus did not know about the plan to kill Paul in Acts 23:15. This is the same plan as before. We know that they devil tries to use the same evil ideas again and again (2 Corinthians 2:11). Paul was now in jail for two years. Joseph was tested in the same way (Psalm 105:17-20).

6 – 8

Festus stayed in Jerusalem another eight or ten days. Then he went back to Caesarea. The next day he told the soldiers to bring Paul before him. Festus was seated on the judge’s seat when Paul came into the room.

The Jews who had come from Jerusalem stood around him. They started making serious charges against Paul. But they could not prove any of them. This is what Paul said to defend himself: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, against the Temple, or against Caesar!”

Paul reminds them that there were no charges worthy of death. He has to repeat these things because the case was new to Festus.

9. But Festus wanted to please the Jews. So he asked Paul, “Do yo want to go to Jerusalem? Do you want me to judge you there on these charges?”

Festus does not care if Paul is not guilty.

[God hates] a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent. Proverbs 6:17

10 – 12

Paul said, “I am standing at Caesar’s judgment seat now. This is where I should be judged! I have done nothing wrong to the Jews; you know this is true. If I have done something wrong and the law says I must die, I do not ask to be saved from death. But if these charges are not true, then no one can give me to them. No! I want Caesar [Nero] to hear my case!”

Festus talked about this with the people who advised him. Then he said, “You have asked to see Caesar [Nero]; so you will go to Caesar!”

Jesus had told Paul that he would be going to Rome. Jesus had also told Paul years earlier to leave Jerusalem. Paul knew these things and was ready to do whatever the Lord wanted. Acts 22:17-18, Acts 23:11

Paul knew that they would kill him in Jerusalem and that asking to go to Nero’s court was his only choice. It is always a good idea to ask for another way to solve a problem instead of arguing. This is what Daniel did when he was told that he had to eat meat that was offered to idols. Daniel 1:12

13. A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to visit Festus.

This is Agrippa II who was the son of Agrippa I who died in Acts 12. Bernice was his sister living in adultery with him. She was the older sister of Drusilla.

The great-grandfather of Agrippa II was the Herod who had killed the children in Bethlehem. His uncle killed John the Baptist. His father killed the apostle James.

This shows us a curse on the generations of this family that had been handed down. God has mercy and wants them to hear the Gospel and be free.

14 – 19

They stayed there for some time, and Festus told the king about Paul’s case. Festus said, “There is a man that Felix left in prison. When I went to Jerusalem, the leading priests and the Jewish elders there made charges against him. They wanted me to sentence him to death. But I answered, ‘When a man is accused of a crime, Romans do not hand him over just to please someone.

The man must be allowed to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.’ So these Jews came here to Caesarea for the trial. And I did not waste time. The next day I sat on the judge’s seat and commanded that the man be brought in. The Jews stood up and accused him. But they did not accuse him of any serious crime as I thought they would.

The things they said were about their own religion and about a man named Jesus. Jesus died, but Paul said that he is still alive.

Festus sees the problem as an argument about Jesus rising from the dead. The world has no understanding of spiritual things. We speak a different language than they speak. This is why we need to be in a close walk with the Lord so that we can bring the message and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to them.

20 – 21

I did not know much about these things; so I did not ask questions. But I asked Paul, ‘Do you want to go to Jerusalem and be judged there?’ But he asked to be kept in Caesarea. He wants a decision from the Emperor. So I ordered that Paul be held until I could send him to Caesar [Nero] in Rome.”

Festus is saying that Paul is not his problem. Festus wanted people to think that he was very fair but he did nothing to help Paul.

It is sin to know what you should do and then not do it. James 4:17

22 – 23

Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man, also.” Festus said, “Tomorrow you will hear him!”
The next day Agrippa and Bernice appeared. They dressed and acted like very important people. Agrippa and Bernice, the army leaders, and the important men of Caesarea went into the judgment room. Then Festus ordered the soldiers to bring Paul in.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. 1 John 2:16

24 – 25

 Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are gathered here with us, you see this man. All the Jewish people, here and in Jerusalem, have complained to me about him. They shout that he should not live any longer. When I judged him, I could find nothing wrong. I found no reason to order his death. But he asked to be judged by Caesar. So I decided to send him.  

Festus is mocking Paul. Pilate also said that Jesus did not deserve to die. John 19:4

A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it. Proverbs 14:6

26 – 27

But I have nothing definite to write the Emperor about him. So I have brought him before all of you—especially you, King Agrippa. I hope that you can question him and give me something to write. I think it is foolish to send a prisoner to Caesar without telling what the charges are against him.”

The Roman government was very careful about how Romans were treated. If Festus sent Paul to Rome without any charges he would make it look like he did not know how to be a good leader.