Acts 26:32

might have been set at liberty Thus Agrippa, looking at the question from the Jewish stand-point, confirms the opinion of the Roman magistrate (cp. Acts 25:25). So that St Paul was acquitted on all hands, and Festus may rightly be deemed guilty because he had driven an innocent man to appeal to a higher court, from fear that he would be delivered into the power of his enemies. But God was using human means for bringing the Apostle to Rome, and so fulfilling his servant's great desire, and in such wise that he should be heard before kings in behalf of the Gospel.

if he had not appealed The appeal put an end to all powers of a lower court either to condemn or absolve.