Acts 25

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 25

1¶ Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

2Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

3And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

4But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly [thither].

5Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with [me], and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8While 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.

9But 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?

10Then 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.

11For 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.

12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

13¶ And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

14And 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:

15About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], desiring [to have] judgment against him.

16To 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.

17Therefore, 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.

18Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked [him] whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

21But 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.

22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23And 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.

24And 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.

25But 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.

26Of 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.

27For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes [laid] against him.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Upon his arrival, Governor Festus was immediately confronted by Jewish leaders demanding Paul's transfer to Jerusalem, intending an ambush. Festus refused, holding a hearing in Caesarea where Paul, denying all charges, appealed to Caesar. Consequently, Festus declared Paul would be sent to Rome, later explaining the complex situation to King Agrippa, who desired to hear Paul himself.

Medium Summary

After arriving in the province, Governor Festus traveled to Jerusalem, where Jewish leaders pressed him to send Paul back for trial, secretly planning to assassinate him. Festus declined, insisting the accusers come to Caesarea, where he subsequently held a hearing. During the proceedings, the Jews presented many unproven charges, while Paul steadfastly denied any offense against Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar. When Festus, seeking to appease the Jews, suggested a trial in Jerusalem, Paul asserted his Roman citizenship rights and appealed directly to Caesar. Festus, after consultation, confirmed Paul's appeal, stating he would go to Caesar. Later, King Agrippa and Bernice visited Festus, who recounted Paul's case, explaining the accusations concerned Jewish "superstition" and a resurrected Jesus, and his need for Agrippa's input to formulate a proper charge for Caesar.

Long Summary

Upon his arrival in the province, Governor Festus journeyed to Jerusalem, where he was met by the high priest and chief Jews who immediately informed him against Paul. They earnestly desired a favor, requesting Paul be sent to Jerusalem for judgment, secretly intending to ambush and kill him along the way. Festus, however, refused their request, stating Paul would remain in Caesarea and inviting the accusers to come down with him to present their case there. After more than ten days, Festus returned to Caesarea and, sitting on the judgment seat, commanded Paul to be brought forth. The Jews from Jerusalem laid many grievous, yet unproven, complaints against Paul. Paul, in his defense, declared he had offended neither the law of the Jews, nor the temple, nor Caesar. Festus, desiring to please the Jews, asked Paul if he would consent to be judged in Jerusalem, but Paul firmly stated he stood at Caesar's judgment seat, where he ought to be judged, and asserted his innocence. He then declared, "I appeal unto Caesar," which Festus, after conferring with his council, affirmed, saying, "Unto Caesar shalt thou go." Some days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to salute Festus. Festus then recounted Paul's case to Agrippa, explaining that Paul had been left in bonds by Felix and was accused by the Jews of matters concerning their own "superstition" and one Jesus, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Festus also explained his dilemma, as he found no crime worthy of death and had no specific charges to write to Caesar, especially since Paul had appealed to Augustus. Agrippa expressed a desire to hear Paul himself, which Festus arranged for the following day. With great pomp, Paul was brought before Agrippa, Bernice, chief captains, and principal men, where Festus reiterated his predicament, seeking Agrippa's counsel to prepare a proper accusation for Caesar.

Core Concepts

  • Jewish Opposition and PlottingThe Jewish leaders in Jerusalem immediately sought to have Paul transferred, not for a fair trial, but to ambush and kill him, demonstrating their persistent animosity.
  • Roman Justice and Due ProcessFestus, despite his desire to please the Jews, upheld Roman legal principles by requiring accusers to face the accused and allowing Paul to defend himself, as stated in his explanation to Agrippa.
  • Paul's Appeal to CaesarPaul, exercising his right as a Roman citizen, appealed directly to Caesar when Festus proposed a trial in Jerusalem, thereby circumventing the Jewish plot and ensuring a hearing before the highest Roman authority.
  • Festus's DilemmaGovernor Festus found himself in a difficult position, having a prisoner accused by the Jews of no capital crime, yet needing to send him to Caesar without a clear charge, prompting him to seek Agrippa's advice.
  • The Resurrection of JesusThe core of the Jewish accusations, as understood by Festus, revolved around "questions...of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive," highlighting the central theological dispute.
  • Agrippa's CuriosityKing Agrippa, upon hearing Festus's account, expressed a personal desire to hear Paul speak, setting the stage for Paul's defense in the next chapter.
  • Political Expediency vs. JusticeFestus's willingness to send Paul to Jerusalem to "do the Jews a pleasure" (v. 9) illustrates the tension between political appeasement and the impartial administration of justice.