SCRIPTURE: ACTS 25
THE TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS (vs. 1-12)
From Caesarea, Festus went to Jerusalem to meet with the chief Priests and Jewish leaders. They requested Paul to be transferred to Jerusalem for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. But Festus insisted on having the trial held at Caesarea. Upon arrival at Caesarea, he convened the court and ordered Paul to be brought before him. The Jews brought many serious charges against him without any proof.
Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” (v. 8). Festus, wishing to please the Jews asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial there. Paul answered, “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!@” (vs. 10-11) After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” (v. 12)
FESTUS CONSULTS KING AGRIPPA (vs. 13-27)
A few days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Then Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He told him that their dispute was about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus, who Paul claimed was alive. Since he was at a loss on how to investigate this case, he asked if Paul was willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there. But Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, so I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar. So Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself”. He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.” (v. 22)
PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA (vs. 23-27)
The next day, Agrippa and Bernice entered the audience room and met with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. Paul was brought in by Festus. Festus told the audience that he had not found him doing anything deserving of death. But because he made his appeal to the Emperor, he decided to send him to Rome. But first he had to write something about the result of their investigation before sending on a prisoner.
THOUGHTS:
The Jewish leaders tried to convince Festus to hold the trial in Jerusalem so that they could ambush him on the way. But God and Paul thwarted their schemes. Paul asserted his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. It means that the citizen’s case would be tried by the highest courts in the empire. For Festus, Paul’s appeal was a way to send him out of the country to pacify the Jews. But for Paul, his appeal would give him the opportunity to go to Rome to preach the Good News.
Paul had met his responsibilities as a Roman, and so he had the opportunity to claim Rome’s protection. The good reputation and clear conscience that result from our walk with God can help us remain guiltless before God and blameless before the world.