Acts 25

Paul's Trial Before Festus

¹Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

²Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,

³asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way.

⁴However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.

⁵“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”

⁶When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.

⁷When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove,

⁸while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”

⁹But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”

¹⁰But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

¹¹For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

¹²Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

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

¹⁴As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;

¹⁵about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.

¹⁶I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.

¹⁷When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought.

¹⁸When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed;

¹⁹but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters.

²¹But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”

²²Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

²³So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

²⁴Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him,

²⁶of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write.

²⁷For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”

Previous Acts 24

Next Acts 26

When Festus becomes the new Roman governor, Jewish leaders immediately renew their accusations against Paul, even plotting to kill him during transport to Jerusalem. Paul boldly defends himself against their unsubstantiated charges and, when Festus suggests a trial in Jerusalem to appease the Jews, Paul exercises his Roman citizenship by appealing directly to Caesar. Festus then consults with King Agrippa about Paul's case, explaining his confusion over what appears to be a religious dispute about Jesus rather than criminal charges.

Context

This chapter continues Paul's legal proceedings from Felix's governorship in chapter 24 and sets up his defense before King Agrippa in chapter 26.

Key Themes

Outline

1-5
Festus Arrives and Jewish Leaders Accuse Paul The new governor receives immediate pressure from Jewish authorities to transfer Paul to Jerusalem, where they plan an ambush.
6-8
Paul's Trial Before Festus Paul faces multiple serious but unproven charges and declares his innocence regarding Jewish law, the temple, and Caesar.
9-12
Paul Appeals to Caesar When Festus suggests a Jerusalem trial, Paul asserts his Roman rights and appeals directly to the emperor.
13-22
Festus Consults King Agrippa Festus explains Paul's case to the visiting king, revealing his perplexity over religious rather than criminal matters.

Paul's Trial Before Festus

25:1–25:12

narrative narration defiant

When Governor Festus suggests Paul return to Jerusalem for trial, Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen to appeal directly to Caesar. Festus grants the appeal, setting in motion Paul's journey to Rome.

person_contrast

Paul's strategic invocation of Roman citizenship transforms him from persecuted missionary into legal equal of his accusers, wielding imperial authority against Jewish religious power.

Festus Consults King Agrippa

25:13–25:27

narrative narration solemn

Festus consults King Agrippa about Paul's case, explaining the charges brought by Jewish leaders and Paul's appeal to Caesar. Agrippa expresses interest in hearing Paul's defense personally.

person_contrast

Paul transforms from prisoner to prized exhibit when Festus presents his case as entertainment for visiting royalty, revealing how Roman officials commodified religious disputes for political theater.

Insight Character Study

Paul's strategic invocation of Roman citizenship transforms him from persecuted missionary into legal equal of his accusers, wielding imperial authority against Jewish religious power.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Acts 25:1 3 references

Lexicals 3

Acts 28:17 Lexical

After three days Paul called together those who were the leaders of the Jews. When they had come together, he said to th…

Acts 25

Paul's Trial Before Festus

Festus Consults King Agrippa

Paul's Trial Before Festus

Festus Consults King Agrippa

Insights

Cross-References

Acts 25:1 3 references

Acts 25:2 1 reference

Acts 25:3 1 reference

Acts 25:4 1 reference

Acts 25:6 5 references

Acts 25:7 1 reference

Acts 25:9 5 references

Acts 25:10 5 references

Acts 25:11 5 references

Acts 25:12 2 references

Acts 25:13 2 references

Acts 25:14 5 references

Acts 25:15 5 references

Acts 25:16 4 references

Acts 25:17 2 references

Acts 25:19 1 reference

Acts 25:22 1 reference

Acts 25:23 5 references

Acts 25:24 5 references

Acts 25:25 4 references

Acts 25:26 1 reference

Interlinear

Historical Context