An outline of Acts 25
Introduction: this chapter covers Paul's second trial (at least) before a Roman official; this time, Porcius Festus, who replaced Felix. Felix had left Paul in jail, basically, to please the Jews even though Felix knew Paul was innocent. Festus appears to start where Felix left off. The final section covers Paul's speech or apology (defense) before King Agrippa and wife Bernice.
The Trial: Different Judge, Same Charges
1 The Plot Against Paul
Text. Acts 25:1-5, KJV: 1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
--"Ascended" is an accurate term, as Jerusalem was at a higher elevation than Caesarea.
--Why Festus went to Jerusalem is not revealed here. While he was there, the high priest and "chief of the Jews (possibly, the elders who had come to Caesarea a few years earlier)" informed Festus about Paul. If Festus had indeed promptly went to Jerusalem, only three days after arriving, it's possible nobody at his court could have told him much of anything.
--The plot or plan was to convince Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem, then kill Paul while he was traveling there. This was an almost identical plot made by the "gang of 40" in Acts 23, who vowed to not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. Were some of them involved in this plot?
--Festus did not agree to this, instead saying, Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he, Festus, was heading back that way shortly. He also added, "if you accuse this man of any wickedness, then go down to Caesarea with me when I go back."
2 The Trial of Paul
Text, Acts 25:6-9, KJV: 6 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. 9 But Festus, willing 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?
--Festus stayed in Jerusalem for over ten days. We aren't told why he stayed there for that long.
--Eventually he did return to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat, much like Felix had done (Acts 24), and commanded Paul to be brought out. Did Paul suspect something was about to happen or take place when he was summoned?
--This time there was no Tertullus, only the Jews who had come to Caesarea with Festus. These Jews made "many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove". Perhaps they thought their heat would lead to hate and cause Festus to judge against Paul.
--Paul's defense could be summed up in these words of verse 8. He had done nothing against the laws of the Jews, nothing against the Temple, nor against Caesar; these may be hints of the charges laid against him, more or less a rehash of what the Jews had accused Paul of during Felix' administration.
--Festus, incredibly, wanted to do the Jews a pleasure--similar to Felix. Instead of leaving Paul bound in Caesarea, this "favor" would be to bring Paul for a third or fourth trial in Jerusalem!
--Paul may have been speechless for a moment, but he gave them an answer they probably didn't expect to hear.
3 The Reply by Paul
Text, Acts 25:10-12, KJV: 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For 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, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
--Something that we may not understand now is that Judaism was considered a lawful religion under the Roman system. The Jews were free to practice their faith and had considerable freedom given the restraints of those days and legal boundaries.
--But Paul sensed a new variation in the charges, something akin to treason against Caesar (Whedon's commentary, https://bibleportal.com/commentary/section/whedon-s-commentary-on-the-bible/494187 makes this point). The charge was false but Festus may not have known this.
--Paul stated he was innocent and reminded Festus that the Jews had not proved any of the charges they made against him.
--Paul then claims his privilege as a Roman citizen, to be heard before Caesar himself. He admitted that if he had done deeds worthy of death, he did not refuse to die, but he wasn't about to offer himself as bait for murderers who wanted to kill him. He then appealed to Caesar.
--Festus "conferred" with the council--not the Sanhedrin or Jewish council, but his own advisers, most likely--but we're not told why. One thought is that they may have wanted to verify Paul's Roman citizenship (after all, Paul was Jewish) so that an impostor wouldn't be sent to Caesar.
--The verdict: Some think this is really a statement or agreement: "You have appealed to Caesar" or, as some others think, this is really a question, to see if Paul was serious. By asking, "Have you appealed to Caesar", to which Paul would readily reply, "Yes, I have", that would settle the question once and for all. "So then", according to Festus, "to Caesar you will go".
--As strange as it may seem, this was probably the end of the trial. Festus, like Felix, neither condemned Paul, nor set him free; rather, Paul seemed to be more or less "caged" in Caesarea waiting for who knew what to happen next. Of note, there is not one word of Paul showing any anger or regret about being kept in Festus' "custody".
--But not so fast, as there was more in this story to come.
4 The Epilogue: A Visit From the King--and A Visit By the Prisoner
A The King Who Came to Visit
Text, Acts 25:13-22, KJV: 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It 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 licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17 Therefore, 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. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
--Agrippa was one of the descendants of Herod the Great. Note how that Festus came to Jerusalem and left after only a few days; Agrippa and Bernice stayed "for many days"! How can you tell a ruler that it's time to leave and not offend that person?
--Festus seems to have not really understood all the "ins and outs" of Paul's case. He spoke to Agrippa, giving a briefing, as it were, about what had transpired since Festus arrived.
--Some of the saddest words in the Bible are what Festus said to Agrippa: "Paul affirmed that a dead man named Jesus was still alive (paraphrased)". Paul would later write, that if our gospel is hid, it's hidden from those who are lost (2 Corinthians 4:3, KJV , paraphrased)".
--Agrippa seemed interested and said, "I'd like to hear the man myself." Festus said, "You'll get that chance tomorrow."
B The Prisoner Who Was Called to Make a Visit
Text, Acts 25:23-27, KJV: 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
--Agrippa and Bernice seemed to have other lodging, as Luke records they came "with great pomp". Besides them were the "chief captains", Roman officers in charge of 1000 soldiers; and the "principal men of the city". All of these high-ranking people to see and hear a prisoner.
--Paul was brought forth at Festus' command. Apparently he stood there, silent, while Festus made an opening statement. Note how he changes the words of Agrippa's request to say, "I brought him out to you so that you can see him, hear what he has to say, and advise me as to what to report to Caesar about him (paraphrased)".
--The chapter stops here with Festus finishing his words and everyone waiting to see what would happen next. Festus and Agrippa, plus all the guests, were about to hear something unexpected.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
