Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now [when] Festus set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him,

3 asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, [because they] were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way.

4 Then Festus replied [that] Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and [he] himself was about to go [there] in a short time.

5 So he said, "Let those among you [who are] prominent go down with [me], [and] if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him."

6 And [after he] had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat [and] gave orders [for] Paul to be brought.

7 And [when] he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges that they were not able to prove,

8 [while] Paul said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned with reference to anything!"

9 But Festus, [because he] wanted to do a favor for the Jews, answered [and] said to Paul, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there concerning these [things]?"

10 But Paul said, "I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where it is necessary [for] me to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

11 If then I am doing wrong and have done anything deserving death, I am not trying to avoid dying. But if there is nothing [true] of [the things] which these [people] are accusing me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!"

12 Then Festus, [after] discussing [this] with [his] council, replied, "You have appealed to Caesar--to Caesar you will go!"

Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice

13 Now [after] some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.

14 And while they were staying there many days, Festus laid out the [case] against Paul to the king, saying, "There is a certain man left behind by Felix [as] a prisoner,

15 concerning whom [when] I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented evidence, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 To {them} I replied that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any man before the one who had been accused met [his] accusers face to [face] and received an opportunity for a defense concerning the accusation.

17 Therefore, [when] they had assembled here, [I] made no delay; on the next [day] I sat down on the judgment seat [and] gave orders [for] the man to be brought.

18 [When they] stood up, [his] accusers began bringing no charge concerning {him} of the evil deeds that I was suspecting,

19 but they had some issues with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.

20 And [because] I was at a loss with regard to the investigation concerning these [things], I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and to be judged there concerning these [things].

21 But [when] Paul appealed [that] he be kept under guard for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I gave orders [for] him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar."

22 So Agrippa [said] to Festus, "I want to hear the man myself also." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."

23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And [when] Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.

24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting [that] he must not live any longer.

25 But I understood [that] he had done nothing deserving death himself, and [when] this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send [him].

26 I do not have anything definite to write to [my] lord about {him}. Therefore I have brought him before you [all]--and especially before you, King Agrippa--so that [after] this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write.

27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him."

Acts 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

Paul before Festus, he appeals to Caesar. (1-12) Festus confers with Agrippa respecting Paul. (13-27)

Verses 1-12 See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, was no offence against the law. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their patience; they need wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent, to insist upon their innocence. Paul was willing to abide by the rules of the law, and to let that take its course. If he deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of the things whereof they accused him were true, no man could deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which Providence takes; by which we are often made ashamed, both of our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting on God.

Verses 13-27 Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, ver. ( 16 ) , condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest, to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman speaks of Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festus and the whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced of their sin and folly. Here was a noble assembly brought together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only meant to gratify their curiosity by attending to the defence of a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the word of God with "great pomp," and too often with no better motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand as prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet numbers affect to sit in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders for a word, rather than to learn from them the truth and will of God, for the salvation of their souls But the pomp of this appearance was outshone by the real glory of the poor prisoner at the bar. What was the honour of their fine appearance, compared with that of Paul's wisdom, and grace, and holiness; his courage and constancy in suffering for Christ! It is no small mercy to have God clear up our righteousness as the light, and our just dealing as the noon-day; to have nothing certain laid to our charge. And God makes even the enemies of his people to do them right.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("set foot in") which is understood as temporal
• [b]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("were preparing ") which is understood as causal
• [c]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [d]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [e]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("go down with") has been translated as a finite verb
• [f]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("had stayed") which is understood as temporal
• [g]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("sat down") has been translated as a finite verb
• [h]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("arrived")
• [i]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("said in his defense")
• [j]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("wanted") which is understood as causal
• [k]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [l]. Or "I am in the wrong"
• [m]. *Here the present tense has been translated as conative ("trying to avoid")
• [n]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("discussing") which is understood as temporal
• [o]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [p]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [q]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had passed")
• [r]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was")
• [s]. Literally "whom"
• [t]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had assembled")
• [v]. *Here this participle ("made") has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
• [w]. *Here "and" is supplied because the two previous participles ("made" and "sat down") have been translated as finite verbs
• [x]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("stood up") which is understood as temporal
• [y]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [z]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began bringing")
• [aa]. Literally "whom"
• [ab]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was at a loss") which is understood as causal
• [ac]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("appealed")
• [ad]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("gave the order")
• [ae]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("appealed to")
• [af]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [ag]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [ah]. Literally "whom"
• [ai]. *Here "[all]" is supplied in the translation to indicate that the pronoun ("you") is plural
• [aj]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("has taken place")