Chapter 25

Acts 25:1–5. Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And the high priest and the leading men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they urged him, asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—laying an ambush to kill him along the way. But Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to set out there shortly. “Therefore,” he said, “let those among you who are able go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in this man, let them accuse him.” “With Drusilla his wife.” Contrary to the law she was joined, being a Jewess, to a Gentile; or perhaps she was a Jewess, but having married him she became a Gentile. Therefore she also gave up her own faith for him, persuading her husband too to become a transgressor. “Felix being afraid.” So great was the power of the words that they even frightened the ruler. Therefore, sending for him more frequently, he conversed with him. Do you see how the things written hold to the truth? He sent for him continually—not admiring him, nor praising what was said, nor wishing to believe, but expecting, it says, that money would be given him.

Acts 25:6–12. And when he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. When he had appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around, bringing many and grievous charges against Paul which they could not prove, while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything.” But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?” 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 know very well. For if I am a wrongdoer and have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing in the things of which these men accuse me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, having conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.” “Neither against the law.” Behold a clear testimony that Paul kept himself blameless in all things—neither against God, nor the law, nor against any man, nor against me. “Having sinned against the temple”—that is, he never insulted the stone buildings of the Jews, though he knew and proclaimed that God does not dwell in temples made with hands; but neither did he dare to insult a priest, in his consciousness of being a Jew, even though he no longer obeyed the Jewish high priests. And the words “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat” mean: I wish to go away to Rome to the king and there be judged. “I make my appeal to you,” he says.

Acts 25:13–15. Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. And as they spent many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, concerning whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the high priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.” “King Agrippa.” Either Agrippa held the rank of king in the provinces, and for this reason was styled king; or perhaps he was himself king of the eastern parts, while Nero ruled the western parts and resided in Rome. For the name “Caesar” in Latin means “king,” since by a common name all the kings of the Romans are called Caesars insofar as they are kings—yet these are not their proper names. I have said this so that no one, from the identity of this general name with a proper name, should suppose that under one and the same emperor both our Lord was born and Paul died. For the Lord was born, as the chronology shows, under Caesar Augustus, and died thirty-three years later under Tiberius Augustus; but Paul died under Nero, thirty-four years after the death of the Lord. And indeed Herod too, like Agrippa, held the rank of king; therefore he also was called king.

Acts 25:16–18. To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has his accusers face to face and receives opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge. So when they had come together here, without making any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed. “That it is not the custom of the Romans.” So then Pilate, by giving up Jesus to the Jews, was clearly acting from a murderous soul; inasmuch as he both disregarded the judgment of God and trampled on the law of the Romans, in order that, by handing over innocent blood to death, he might please the murderers—even though he was liable to be judged for this lawlessness by the king of the Romans, by whom he had been sent to rule the borders of Jerusalem. “When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge.” And indeed they did bring charges, but they did not prove them. For the plot and the audacity made this suspected; but the examination found nothing of the kind.

Acts 25:19–24. But they had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Being at a loss as to the inquiry concerning this, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things. But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.” So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium together with the commanders and the principal men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. And Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men present with us, you see this man, concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.” “And about a certain Jesus.” Fittingly he says “a certain Jesus,” being a man in authority who took no thought of Him. The inquiry into these matters went beyond the ears of a judge. “For the decision of Augustus.” He calls the king “Augustus” by a loose use of the term, as he also does “Caesar,” whom he likewise calls “lord.”

Acts 25:25–27. But I, having found that he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he himself appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, when the examination has taken place, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to signify the charges against him. “That he had done nothing worthy of death.” In the end the judge himself bears witness to him that he was guiltless; yet he did not release him—the Lord having so arranged it, that he might appeal (and those who appeal must of necessity be sent to Rome), and that the prophecy spoken by him might be fulfilled, namely, “I must see Rome also” (Acts 19:21). And observe how Paul, having put off everything—both parents and those who raised him—comes to Rome pure from every wicked suspicion.