Acts 25

Listen to Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in ¹the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews ²laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,

3 asking as a favor against Paul^[a] that he summon him to Jerusalem--because ³they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.

4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.

5 "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him."

6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on ⁴the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him ⁵that they could not prove.

8 Paul argued in his defense, "Neither ⁶against ⁷the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor ⁸against Caesar have I committed any offense."

9 But Festus, ⁹wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"

10 But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's ¹⁰tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.

11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. ¹¹I appeal to Caesar."

12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.

14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, ¹²"There is a man left prisoner by Felix,

15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case ¹³against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

16 ¹⁴I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone ¹⁵before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.

17 ¹⁶So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on ¹⁷the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.

19 Rather they ¹⁸had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about ¹⁹a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.

20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I ²⁰asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.

21 But ²¹when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of ²²the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar."

22 Then ²³Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself.""Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."

23 So on the next day ²⁴Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom ²⁵the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, ²⁶shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But I found that ²⁷he had done nothing deserving death. And ²⁸as he himself appealed to ²⁹the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.

26 But I have nothing 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 we have examined him, I may have something to write.

27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."

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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.