Acts 25:1-27

Good News for Everyone

Acts

Marion Adams

Chapter 25

Paul *appeals to the *Emperor, 25:1-12

v1 Three days after Festus arrived in *Judea, he went from Caesarea to *Jerusalem. v2 There, the chief priests and *Jewish leaders came to him. They told him about the *charges against Paul. v3 They kept on asking Festus to bring Paul to *Jerusalem. They urged him to do this. They said that it would show his friendship toward them. They had a plan to kill Paul. They wanted to kill him on the way to Jerusalem. v4 Festus replied, ‘Paul is a prisoner in Caesarea. I am going there soon. v5 Your leaders can go with me. They can accuse him if he has done anything wrong.’

v6 Festus stayed in *Jerusalem for 8 or 10 more days. Then he went to Caesarea. The next day, he sat down as the judge in the court. He ordered people to bring Paul in. v7 Paul arrived and the *Jews from *Jerusalem surrounded him. They said that he had done many bad crimes. But they were not able to prove anything. v8 Then Paul spoke for himself. He said, ‘I have not done anything wrong against the *Jewish *Law. I have not done anything against the *Temple. I have not done anything against the *Roman *Emperor.’ v9 But Festus wanted to please the leaders. So, he asked Paul, ‘Are you willing to go to *Jerusalem? You can have your *trial about these *charges there, in front of me.’ v10 Paul said, ‘I am having a *trial here in the *Emperor’s court. This is where I should have my *trial. I have not done anything wrong to the *Jews. You know it well. v11 Have I done something that deserves death? If I have, I do not ask to avoid my punishment. But the *charges against me may be false. Then nobody can hand me over to them! I *appeal to the *Emperor.’

v12 Festus asked his helpers for advice. Then he said, ‘You have *appealed to the *Emperor. So, you will go to the *Emperor!’

Verses 1-5 The *Jews in *Judea did not trust the *Romans. That was because of the bad things that Felix had done to *Jews. So, Festus, the new *governor, wanted to please them. He wanted to be friends with them. Then they would not oppose him. So, after only three days in his new job, he travelled to *Jerusalem. He met with the *Jewish leaders there. They told him about Paul. They wanted Festus to send Paul to *Jerusalem. They planned to kill him on the way. That was the same plan as the *Jews had two years before (Acts 23:14-15).

Festus did not know about that plan. But he would not agree with their request. He would return to Caesarea soon. He would have Paul’s *trial there.

Verses 6-8 When Festus returned to Caesarea, he started Paul’s *trial. But still there was no evidence against Paul. Again, Paul said that he had done nothing wrong. This time, he mentioned the *Roman *Emperor. Later in his speech, he *appealed to the *Emperor (Acts 25:11).

Verse 9 The *charges against Paul were about the *Jewish religion. So, Festus suggested that Paul should go to *Jerusalem. Festus wanted to hand Paul over to the *Sanhedrin again. Festus knew that Paul had not done anything against *Roman law.

The words ‘in front of me’ do not mean that Festus would be the judge at the *trial. Festus would either agree with the *Sanhedrin’s decision, or he would not agree with it. That is what Festus meant.

Verses 10-12 But Paul did not agree to go to *Jerusalem. He knew that he would not have a fair *trial there. Also, his enemies might kill him before he arrived! *Roman law allowed *Roman citizens to *appeal to the *Emperor. They could do this if the *charges were very serious. Then, the *Roman citizen went to Rome. The *Emperor decided whether the *Roman citizen was guilty or innocent. So, Festus had to agree to Paul’s request.

Festus talks to King Agrippa, 25:13-22

v13 A few days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They visited Festus to welcome him. v14 They had been there for several days when Festus talked about Paul. Festus told the king about the *charges against Paul. Festus said, ‘Felix left a man here in prison. v15 When I went to *Jerusalem, the chief priests and *Jewish leaders came to me. They asked me to decide that this man was guilty. v16 This is not the *Roman custom. *Romans do not hand over any man to the people who accuse him. First, he must have the chance to meet those people. Then he can speak against their *charges. I told them this. v17 When they came here with me, I did not waste time. The next day, I sat in the court as judge. I ordered people to bring in the man. v18 The people who accused him stood up. I expected them to accuse him of certain evil crimes. But they did not do that. v19 Instead, they argued with him about their own religion. They also argued about a dead man called Jesus. Paul said that this Jesus was alive. v20 I did not know how to discover the truth about those matters. So I asked Paul whether he was willing to go to *Jerusalem. He could have his *trial there. v21 But Paul *appealed. He wanted the *Emperor to be the judge over him. Paul asked if he could stay in prison until then. So, I ordered this to happen. He will stay here until I send him to the *Emperor.’

v22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I, too, would like to listen to this man.’

Festus replied, ‘You can listen to him tomorrow.’

Verse 13-16 King Herod Agrippa II was the son of Herod Agrippa I (see Acts 12:1). Bernice was the sister of Agrippa II. She was the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. When Herod Agrippa I died, Agrippa II was only 17 years old. So, he stayed with the *Emperor in Rome. But when Agrippa II became older, he got more power. He ruled over several areas of land. He was always loyal to the *Roman *Emperor and to the government. In *AD 56, he became a king. The *Emperor also gave to him the authority to choose the *high priest. Agrippa knew a lot about the *Jewish religion. That is why Festus asked him for advice about Paul.

Festus told Agrippa what had happened. The *Romans were proud of their law. They thought that it was very fair to everyone. He told Agrippa that he had explained *Roman law to the *Jewish leaders.

Verses 17-19 Then, Festus told Agrippa about Paul’s *trial in Caesarea. Festus was surprised. He thought that the *charges were not very serious. He had thought that the *charges would be much worse than that. But the *charges were not about crimes against the *Roman government. They were about the *Jewish religion. Festus had no interest in those matters.

Verses 20-22 Festus told Agrippa that he ‘did not know how to discover the truth about those matters’ (verse 20). So Festus suggested that Paul should go to *Jerusalem for that reason. However, that reason is different from the reason that Luke gives in verse 9. But Paul had not agreed to go. Instead, he had *appealed to the *Emperor. Now Festus had to write a complete record about the *charges against Paul. He needed Agrippa’s help with that. The report was for the *Emperor. Someone would take it with Paul to Rome.

Festus mentioned the most important part of the argument. Paul was saying that Jesus is alive. That was the chief part of the good news that the *apostles *preached (for example, Acts 2:31; Acts 3:15; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30; Acts 10:40; Acts 13:37).

Agrippa, too, wanted to hear Paul. So Festus arranged that it would happen on the next day.

Festus introduces Paul to King Agrippa, 25:23-27

v23 The next day, Agrippa and Bernice arrived. They showed that they were very important people. They entered the special room where officials met. They entered with the chief officers of the army. Also, the leaders of the city entered with them. Festus gave an order. People brought Paul into the room. v24 Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all who are here, look at this man! Every *Jew from *Jerusalem and Caesarea has come to tell me about him. They shout at me. They say that he should not live any longer. v25 I have discovered that he is not guilty. He has done nothing to deserve death. But he has asked that the *Emperor should be his judge. So, I have decided to send him to Rome. v26 I have to give some information to the *Emperor. But I have nothing definite to write about this man. Therefore, I have brought him here, to you. I have brought him to you especially, King Agrippa. After we have talked about him, I can write something. v27 If one sends a prisoner to *Rome, one must describe the *charges against him. It seems stupid if one does not do that.’

Verses 23-27 Many important people were meeting together. King Agrippa and Bernice were their special guests. This was an important social occasion! They all entered the room in a procession. Agrippa and Bernice wanted to show their royal power. They probably wore expensive purple clothes and gold crowns. Festus probably wore expensive red clothes. *Governors wore red clothes for important occasions. The soldiers’ officers stood near Festus. And there were many guards.

Then Paul entered. His clothes were very different from everyone else’s clothes! He did not seem important. But Paul was very important to God. The people round Paul seemed more powerful. But Paul had God’s power in him.

Then, Festus explained the situation. *Jews in *Jerusalem and Caesarea were demanding Paul’s death. But Paul had not done crimes that deserved death. Festus knew that. But Paul wanted the *Emperor to be his judge. So, Festus had to send Paul to Rome. But Festus said, ‘I have nothing definite to write about this man’ (verse 26). Festus was not telling the truth here. He knew what the *charges against Paul were. But Festus did not have any evidence against Paul. However, he did not want to let Paul go free. That was because he did not want to upset the *Jewish leaders. Festus wanted Agrippa to listen to Paul. Then Festus hoped that Agrippa would help him after that.

appeal ~ to ask an important person, like the Emperor, whether a legal decision is right or not.
emperor ~ the most important ruler in Rome.
Rome ~ the most famous city in the world when Jesus lived on earth.
emperor ~ the most important ruler in Rome.
Rome ~ the most famous city in the world when Jesus lived on earth.
Judea ~ a region in the country where the Jews lived.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city in Israel.
Israel ~ the country that is the Jews’ home.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew; or it describes anything that belongs to a Jew.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
charges ~ when people accuse someone of crimes; these crimes are called charges.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
temple ~ a building where people worship God (or a false god).
Temple ~ the Temple was the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
worship ~ to give honour to God with praise and thanks.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city in Israel.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
praise ~ to tell God how great he is. We can do this when we are praying to him. Or we can do it when we are singing to him.
Israel ~ the country that is the Jews’ home.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
Roman ~ a person from Rome; a word that describes someone from Rome; or it describes something from Rome. The Roman soldiers fought against people in many countries. And they defeated them. They made the people obey the rules that officials in Rome made. They made the people pay taxes to Rome.
Rome ~ the most famous city in the world when Jesus lived on earth.
trial ~ a legal examination in which a person answers questions. Then the judge decides whether the person is guilty of a crime.
governor ~ an important ruler.
Sanhedrin ~ a special group in Israel that met together to be judges over the people. The priests’ leaders were in it. The important Jews were also in it. And the men that taught about the Law were in it. The high priest led the group.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
Law ~ the rules that God gave to Moses for the Jews.

high priest ~ the most important priest in the Jewish Temple.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew; or it describes anything that belongs to a Jew.
temple ~ a building where people worship God (or a false god).
Temple ~ the Temple was the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
worship ~ to give honour to God with praise and thanks.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city in Israel.
praise ~ to tell God how great he is. We can do this when we are praying to him. Or we can do it when we are singing to him.
Israel ~ the country that is the Jews’ home.
AD ~ AD 50 means 50 years after Jesus was born, and so on.'high priest ~ the most important priest in the Jewish Temple.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew; or it describes anything that belongs to a Jew.
temple ~ a building where people worship God (or a false god).
Temple ~ the Temple was the special building in Jerusalem where the Jews worshipped God.
Jew ~ a person that is a member of Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s big family; a person that believes the Jews’ religion, which is called Judaism.
worship ~ to give honour to God with praise and thanks.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city in Israel.
Judaism ~ the Jews’ religion.
praise ~ to tell God how great he is. We can do this when we are praying to him. Or we can do it when we are singing to him.
Israel ~ the country that is the Jews’ home.
apostle ~ a man that God chose to lead other Christians; a man that God chose to teach about Jesus; one of the 12 men that Jesus chose to be his helpers.
Christian ~ a person who obeys Jesus *Christ; a person who believes in him.
preach ~ to tell the good news about Jesus to a person or people; and to explain it to them.
Rome ~ the most famous city in the world when Jesus lived on earth.
governor ~ an important ruler.