Acts Chapter Twenty-Five

 Act 25:1  Then entering the province, after three days Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 

Act 25:2  And the high priest and the chief of the Jews made a statement before him against Paul, and they begged him, 

Act 25:3  asking a favor against him, so as he might send for him to Jerusalem, making a plot to kill him on the way. 

Act 25:4  Then indeed Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, he himself even being about to go shortly. 

Act 25:5  Then he said, those having power among you may go down with me. If there is a thing amiss in this man, let them accuse him. 

Act 25:6  And remaining among them more than ten days, going down to Caesarea, on the morrow sitting on the tribunal, he ordered Paul to be brought. 

Act 25:7  And he having arrived, the Jews coming down from Jerusalem stood around, also bringing many weighty charges against Paul, which they were not able to prove. 

Act 25:8  Defending himself, Paul said, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything. 

Act 25:9  But desiring to show a favor to the Jews, answering Paul, Festus said, Do you desire to go up to Jerusalem to be judged before me there about these things? 

Act 25:10  But Paul said, I am standing before the tribunal of Caesar where I ought to be judged. I have wronged the Jews in nothing, as also you very well know. 

Act 25:11  For if I indeed do wrong and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing of which they accuse me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar. 

Act 25:12  Then conferring with the sanhedrin, Festus answered, You have appealed to Caesar; you shall go before Caesar. 

Act 25:13  And some days having passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, greeting Festus. 

Act 25:14  And when they stayed there more days, Festus set out to the king the things as to Paul, saying, A certain man has been left a prisoner by Felix, 

Act 25:15  about whom, on my being in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews made a statement, asking judgment against him; 

Act 25:16  to whom I answered, It is not a custom with Romans to give up any man to destruction before the one being accused may have the accusers face to face, and may receive place of defense concerning the charge. 

Act 25:17  Then they coming together here, making no delay, sitting on the tribunal on the next day, I commanded the man to be brought; 

Act 25:18  about whom, standing up, the accusers brought no charge of which I suspected, 

Act 25:19  but they had certain questions about their own demon worship, and about a certain Jesus dying, whom Paul claimed to live. 

Act 25:20  And being puzzled as to this inquiry, I said, Did he desire to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these things? 

Act 25:21  But Paul having appealed for himself to be kept to the examination of Augustus, I commanded him to be held until I might send him to Caesar. 

Act 25:22  And Agrippa said to Festus, I also was myself minded to hear the man. And he said, Tomorrow you shall hear him. 

Act 25:23  Then on the morrow, Agrippa and Bernice coming with much pomp and entering into the auditorium, with both the chiliarchs and the chief men, being of the city, also Festus commanding, Paul was led out. 

Act 25:24  And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all those men present with us, you see this one about whom all the multitude of the Jews pleaded with me, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought to live no longer. 

Act 25:25  But I having perceived nothing he had done worthy of death, also this one himself having appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him; 

Act 25:26  about whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Because of this I brought him before you, and most of all before you, king Agrippa, so as the examination taking place, I may have somewhat to write. 

Act 25:27  For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner, and not also to signify the charges against him. 

ACTS CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DEFENSE BEFORE FESTUS

Verses 1-5: Festus visits Jerusalem. The High Priest asks to have Paul sent to Jerusalem (so he could be killed on the way). Festus says no, but they can come and bring an accusation if they want.

1.  Festus thinks Paul is to be tried for some serious crimes. What is the real plan (unknown to him)? Murder. Perhaps those forty fellows who took an oath are still around.

Additional: Festus is no friend to Jehovah. How is Jehovah using him? Rome is the target and Festus is an agent of Rome. If Paul is executed and it causes dissent within the empire, Festus will pay for not keeping the peace. 

Verses 6-12: Paul is accused. He defends himself. Festus asks is he would go to Jerusalem to be tried before him. Paul says no, he appeals to Caesar. Festus aagrees.

2. What types of charges were leveled against Paul? (8) Paul states that he has not sinned against the law (of the Jews), the temple, or Caesar.

3. Why would Festus want to do a favor for the Jews? 

4. What appeal does Paul use?  Caesar, the highest request available.

Additional: Describe the confidence/boldness we find with Paul in verses 10/11. This type of courage is a repeating theme throughout Acts. The Apostles are armed with the truth, given to them through the Holy Spirit. Paul also knows he is bound to go to Rome. He is fervent for God and Jesus. He withstands Festus and pulls no punches. Festus should have known better and Paul is pointing it out. In a culture of face, Festus is left with no leeway. He HAS to honor Paul's request.

Verses 13-22: Agrippa visits Festus. Festus tells Agrippa about Paul and his case. Agrippa asks to hear Paul's case.

5. What dilemma does Festus face? He sees that his accusers bring no credible case. I believe he really thought Paul would get justice in Jerusalem. But now, Paul has petitioned the emperor. Festus is under obligation to allow Paul to do it, but to Festus, this is trite and unworthy of an audience before the Caesar.

Additional: Why does Agrippa want to hear from Paul?
Herod Agrippa II was the grandson to Herod the great who built Caesarea. (Ties to Jerusalem)
He also has ties to Rome and favors Rome when the Israelites rebel.
He is accused of having an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice.
Bernice is the sister of Drucilla, the wife of Felix (the governor before Festus). Drucilla is notes as a Jewess in chapter 24. Being the daughter of Agrippa I means that she is 1/2 Jew and likely practiced the Jewish religion.

Verses 23-27: Festus puts on a big show for everyone, saying that he seeks their help on what to say to Caesar about Paul and the charges against him.

6. Relate the issue of Festus as an analogy in today’s terms. A state governor/attorney asking the supreme court to decide if it is ok for a religious faction to perform executions. 

Additional: Do we see the abuse of judicial power as is displayed by those opposing Paul? All the time nowadays.