The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 25
Chapter XXV · Vol. IV, pp. 305–307
Jews accuse Paul before Festus. 8 He answereth for himself, and appealeth unto Cæsar. 14 Afterwards Festus openeth his cause to king Agrippa, 23 and he is brought forth. 25 Festus cleareth him to have done nothing worthy of death.
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem.
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, blaying wait in the way to kill him.1
4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Letc them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
c ch.23.30;24.8.
6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days,2 he went down unto Cesarea; and the next day, sitting on the judgment-seat, commanded Paul to be brought.
2 Some copies read, no more than eight or ten days, ver.17.
7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, dand laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
A.M. cir. 4067. A.D. cir. 63.
d Es.3.8. Ps.27.12; 35.11. Lu.23.2,5,10. Mat.5.11,12; 26.60. ch.21.28;24.5,6,13.
8 While he answered for himself, eNeither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cæsar, have I offended any thing at all.
e ch.24.12,16; 23.1; 26.4-6,22;28.17; ver.10.
9 But Festus, gwilling to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?3Cited in WCF 23.4
g ch.12.3;24.27. Ga.1.10. Pr.29.25.
3 Festus was a just man. He was anxious on the one hand to act uprightly as a Roman magistrate, and yet, on the other, as far as possible to gain favour with those over whom he was so recently placed. He therefore asked Paul whether he was willing to be tried at Jerusalem under his own immediate presidency, but yet according to Jewish law. Had Paul consented the sentence would have been final. But Paul, though not afraid of a fair trial, knew well that the Jews would attempt his life by treachery. He, therefore, exercised his right to decline the procurator's offer, and appealed to Rome.—P.
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged:4 to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.Cited in WSC 77 · WCF 23.4
4 As a citizen of Rome, ch.16.37,38;22.25-28.
11 Forh if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, ino man may deliver me unto them. I appeal5 unto Cæsar.Cited in WCF 23.4
h Jos.22.22. 1 Sa.12.3,5. ch.18.14; 21.24; 23.29.
i ch.16.37,38; 22.25-28. 1 Th.2.15. 1 Sa.27.1.
5 Every Roman citizen had a right, when under a criminal charge, to appeal to the emperor; after which it was highly criminal for any governor or judge to proceed farther. This appeal was to Nero, a proverbial tyrant—yet, such are the mysteries of Providence, his very name, at the distance of some hundred miles, forms a shield for the protection of the Lord's chosen servant!—C.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? junto Cæsar shalt thou go.
j ver.21; ch.26.32;19.21;23.11.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa6 and Bernice7 came unto Cesarea to salute Festus.
6 This Agrippa was son of Herod Agrippa, and was king of Chalcis, a district of Coelo-Syria, and also held the tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias, with part of Perea and Galilee.—C.
7 Bernice was his sister, a name both famous and infamous in Roman history. See Suetonius' Life of Titus, and Juv. Sat. 6.—C.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, kThere is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
k ch.24.27.
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, ldesiring to have judgment against him.
l ver.1-3. Es.3.9.
16 To whom I answered, nIt is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore,o when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
o ver.4-6.
18 Against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 Butp had certain questions against him of their own superstition,8 and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
p ver.7; ch.26.22,23. 1 Co.15.3,4. ch.18.15; 23.29. Re.1.18.
8 Agrippa being, by profession at least, a Jew, and Festus a well-bred Roman, there is no reason to imagine that the word translated 'superstition' was intended to signify anything but religion—in which sense it is often used by Josephus, and in several edicts of the Roman emperors.—C.
20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions,9 I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
9 Or, I was doubtful how to inquire hereof, &c., ver.9.
21 But when Paul had qappealed to be reserved unto the hearing1 of Augustus,2 I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cæsar.
q ver.10; ch.26.32. 2 Ti.4.16.
1 Or, judgment.
2 Augustus was a flattering title originally bestowed upon Octavianus, by the Roman senate, and, in common with the name 'Cæsar,' was assumed by all the Roman emperors.—C.
22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, rI would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
A.M. cir. 4067. A.D. cir. 63.
r Is.52.15.ch.9.15.
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with sgreat pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment tPaul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom uall the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that vhe ought not to live any longer.
u ver.3,7.
v ch.22.22.
25 But when wI found that he had committed nothingx worthy of death, and that he himself hath yappealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
x ch.23.9,29; 26.31. Jn.18.38. Lu.23.4,14,15.
y ver.11,12.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.3 Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, zand specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.4
3 Nero the Roman emperor.
z ch.26.2,3.
4 This is a very striking fulfilment of our Lord's prophecy in Mat.10.18. Paul was now put on his trial before 'a king and a governor;' and the falsehood of the charges preferred against him, and the injustice of the Roman officials in detaining him so long in prison, were testimonies against both Jews and Gentiles.—P.
Notes
Reflections.—No length of time can wear out, or repeated disappointments subdue, inveterate malice against Christ and his servants: no sentence is so unjust but it will insist upon it; no murder so horrid but it will attempt it.—By secret springs God sometimes, for the preservation of his servants, restrains the most easy and selfish compliance of judges. And when men prudently insist on their just rights, his providence overrules all for the accomplishment of his promises. But it is hard when a righteous cause must be referred from those who enjoy divine revelation to barbarous and blood-thirsty heathens. And it is shameful when a man can scarcely get a fair hearing before he be condemned. Alas! how ignorant and unconcerned are many great men with respect to the one thing needful! Yea, many have the means of instruction always near, and never profit by them. And multitudes are eternally lost for making the gospel an object of mere curiosity.—The faithful followers and ministers of Christ easily stand clear of being enemies to the peace and order of civil societies. And judges ought to be very tender and exact in representing the case of the accused.