Acts 25:1-6

d.

Festus visits Jerusalem. Acts 25:1-6 a.

Acts 25:1

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

Acts 25:2

And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,

Acts 25:3

asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.

Acts 25:4

Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart thither shortly.

Acts 25:5

Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.

Acts 25:6 a

And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days,

Acts 25:1-2 Festus was a mild-mannered man, honest and just in his dealings (whenever it did not interfere with his political advantages), withal a crafty politician. His first gesture upon coming to his new position was to pay a visit to Jerusalem and see how the land lay in the capital of the Jews.

The Jews were glad for his visit for it afforded them further opportunity to press their charges against Paul. These opposers of the gospel did not give up easily. By this time it had gotten out of the realm of a doctrinal issue and was more of a personal grudge against Paul.

923.

What was the first act of the new governor Festus?

924.

How was Festus received by the Jews in Jerusalem? Why?

Acts 25:3-6 Ananias probably smarted a long time under the rebuke, Thou whited wall. He influenced the elders of the Sanhedrin to feel the same way about the apostle. However, Ananias was no longer the high priest when Festus came to Jerusalem. Ananias was retired but held great power in a personal and political manner over the Jews of Jerusalem.

One by the name of Ismael, son of Fabi who had been put forward by Agrippa, was now high priest.
When Festus arrived in Jerusalem the same cry reached him that was heard two years previous. Saul of Tarsus must be punished, and that right away.
Luke makes it obvious in his record that the request for Paul's punishment was unlawful. The Jews were not going to use the Assassins to carry out their plan, their motive was far more obvious. Murder was a small matter to them in comparison to the defilement of the temple.
Festus did not rebuke them for their unjust suggestion, nor did he yield to it. His answer to them was altogether fair as well as typically Roman: Paul is right where he should be. I am about to return to Caesarea and if you want to see him or to oppose him in any way, come with me. Let your chief men return with me and stand in Roman court in lawful procedure. If there is anything amiss in the man it will be brought to light in this way.

925.

Since it was unlawful for the Jews to ask for the punishment of Paul how did they imagine Festus would grant their request?

926.

What is typically Roman about the answer of Festus to the Jews?