Acts 25:7-12

Paul appealed to Caesar Acts 25:7-12: As soon as Paul was brought into the court the Jewish leaders crowded around him and laid many and grievous complaints against him. These were complaints which they could not prove. The reason that they could not prove their charges was that after his conversion Paul had very strictly conformed to the laws of God and man. He had not broken the Law of the Jews and he has not done anything against either the temple or Caesar. It was to Paul's honor through the grace of God, that his enemies could not make good any of the things with which they charged him. He was a good man, serving his Creator!

Festus desired to please the Jews so he asked Paul to go to Jerusalem and face these charges there. Paul said he was in the Roman court where he should be tried. He said Festus knew that he had done nothing to harm the Jewish nation. Paul said if he had committed any things worthy of death according to the Roman law then he would be willing to die. He said, "I am not guilty of any of these crimes, and no one has the right to hand me over to these people. I now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself." Festus talked it over with his council and then said to Paul, "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." When Festus asked Paul, "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar?" he wanted the Jews to know that the matter was now out of his hands.