PAUL AND PORCIUS FESTUS: HE APPEALS TO CAESAR Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus, a well-intentioned man, but one who was unable to repair the damage done by Felix in Judaea. He was to be the last procurator to have any good intentions towards Palestine. He was in power for only two years before... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they besought him, asking a favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying a plot to kill... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS PLAN TO AMBUSH PAUL, AN ATTEMPT WHICH IS THWARTED BY FESTUS' INSISTENCE ON TRYING HIM IN CAESAREA (25:1-5). Festus' first aim on arrival in office was to put things to rights. The result was that almost as soon as he had arrived in Caesarea he went to Jerusalem to meet the men who under hi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart there shortly.' We do not know whether Festus was a little suspicious about this request or not. He did, however, decline it. He pointed out that Paul was being held in Caesarea, and that he... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Let those therefore, says he, who are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.' He pointed out that if they had any charge that they wished to bring against Paul then those in authority could go with him to Caesarea, and they could pursue... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.' The matter having now been drawn to his attention Festus, having remained a few more days in Jerusalem, ‘went down' to C... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL APPEARS BEFORE FESTUS AND IS COMPELLED TO APPEAL TO CAESAR. TO ROME HE WILL GO (25:6-12).... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when he was come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,' Present also in the court were the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem for the purpose, who stood around him bringing against Paul ‘m... [ Continue Reading ]
‘While Paul said in his defence, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” ' Paul was therefore given the opportunity to defend himself, and he declared that he was guilty of none of the charges, neither in respect of the Law of the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Festus, desiring to gain favour with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Will you go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?” ' Festus, however, wished to conciliate the Jews and be seen by the local authorities in a good light, the better to enable him successfully to ca... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you also very well know. If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die, but if none of those things are true of which these a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.” ' Festus was probably relieved to be saved from a difficult dilemma. On the one had he wanted to be fair. On the other he did not want to offend the Jewish authorities, especially... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.' An event then occurred that helped to resolve his dilemma, the arrival in state of King Agrippa II with his sister Bernice (Berenice). Agrippa II, son of the Herod Agrippa mentioned in chapter... [ Continue Reading ]
FESTUS CALLS ON AGRIPPA'S ASSISTANCE IN FORMULATING A CASE AND PAUL GIVES HIS TESTIMONY TO THEM BOTH (25:13-26:23). Festus now condemns himself by admitting that he has no charge to bring against Paul. He is sending him to Caesar to be judged, but he does not know why. He has no case against Paul.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the King.' Festus saw Agrippa as a Godsend. Agrippa was seen by the Romans as an expert on Jewish affairs. Who better then to sort out these problems about the charges brought against Paul? So while Agrippa and Bernice were stayin... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for sentence against him. To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before the accused has the accuse... [ Continue Reading ]
“When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.” So acting on his own words, once these leaders had come to Caesarea he had not delayed but had taken his official seat as Judge, and commanded that the... [ Continue Reading ]
“Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed, but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” And that was when his dilemma had begun, for instead of charging the... [ Continue Reading ]
“And I, being perplexed how to enquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.” The result was that perple... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Agrippa said to Festus, “I also could wish to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” says he, ‘You will hear him.” ' Agrippa, who probably discerned in all this a good deal more than Festus, knew the intricacies of the Jewish court and the perfidy of the chief priests, and knew also something about... [ Continue Reading ]
‘So on the next day, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.' Festus was no doubt pleased to have a ‘Jewish expert' look at the case who w... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Festus says, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.” ' Festus then presented Paul. He pointed out to Agrippa and all present... [ Continue Reading ]
“But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before you, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I m... [ Continue Reading ]
“For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.” Indeed Festus' previous training had actually demonstrated to him that to send a prisoner to be judged against whom no charges have been made seemed a little unreasonable! (It is possible to thi... [ Continue Reading ]