NOW WHEN FESTUS WAS COME - See the notes on Acts 24:27. INTO THE PROVINCE - The province of Judea; for Judea at that time was a Roman province. AFTER THREE DAYS - Having remained three days at Caesarea. HE ASCENDED - This was the usual language in describing a journey to Jerusalem. Thus, the Engl... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE HIGH PRIEST - The high priest at this time was Ismael, the son of Fabi. He had been promoted to that office by Agrippa (Josephus, _Antiq._, book 20, chapter 8, section 8). It is probable, however, that the person here intended was Ananias, who had been high priest, and who would retain the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DESIRED FAVOUR AGAINST HIM - Desired the favor of Festus, that they might accomplish their wicked purpose on Paul. WOULD SEND FOR HIM TO JERUSALEM - Probably under a pretence that he might be tried by the Sanhedrin; or perhaps they wished Festus to hear the cause there, and to decide it while h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FESTUS ANSWERED ... - What induced Festus to refuse their request is not known. It is probable, however, that he was apprised that Paul was a Roman citizen, and that his case could not come before the Jewish Sanhedrin, but must be heard by himself. As Caesarea was also at that time the residence... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH AMONG YOU ARE ABLE - Enjoy all the advantages of just trial, and exhibit your accusations with all the learning and talent in your power. This was all that they could reasonably ask at his hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE THAN TEN DAYS - See the margin. The Syriac reads it, “eight or ten.” The Vulgate, “not more than eight or ten.” The Coptic, “eight or ten.” Griesbach supposes this to be the true reading, and has admitted it into the text. SITTING IN THE JUDGMENT SEAT - On the tribunal; or holding a court for... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEVOUS COMPLAINTS - Heavy accusations. Doubtless the same with which they had charged him before Felix, Acts 24:5. Compare Acts 25:19. WHICH THEY COULD NOT PROVE - Acts 24:13, Acts 24:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE HE ANSWERED ... - See this answer more at length in Acts 24:10. As the accusations against him were the same now as then, he made to them the same reply.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FESTUS, WILLING TO DO THE JEWS A PLEASURE - Desirous of securing their favor, as he had just entered on his administration. Compare Acts 24:27. In this he evinced rather a desire of popularity than an inclination to do justice. Had he been disposed to do right at once, he would have immediately... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID PAUL ... - The reasons why Paul declined the proposal to be tried at Jerusalem are obvious. He had experienced so much violent persecution from his countrymen, and their minds were so full of prejudice, misconception, and enmity, that he had neither justice nor favor to hope at them hands.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF I BE AN OFFENDER - If I have injured the Jews so as to deserve death. If it can be proved that I have done injury to anyone. I REFUSE NOT TO DIE - I have no wish to escape justice. I do not wish to evade the laws, or to take advantage of any circumstances to screen me from just punishment. P... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD CONFERRED WITH THE COUNCIL - With his associate judges, or with those who were his counselors in the administration of justice. They were made up of the chief persons, probably military as well as civil, who were about him, and who were his assistants in the administration of the affairs... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER CERTAIN DAYS, KING AGRIPPA - This Agrippa was the son of Herod Agrippa Acts 12:1, and great-grandson of Herod the Great. His mother’s name was Cypros (Josephus, _Jewish Wars_, book 2, chapter 11, section 6). When his father died he was at Rome with the Emperor Claudius. Josephus says that the... [ Continue Reading ]
FESTUS DECLARED PAUL’S CAUSE - He did this, probably, because Agrippa, being a Jew, would be supposed to he interested in the case. It was natural that this trial should be a topic of conversation, and perhaps Festus might be disposed to ask what was proper to be done in such cases. LEFT IN BONDS -... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT WHOM ... - See Acts 25:1. TO HAVE JUDGMENT AGAINST HIM - To have him condemned.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT THE MANNER ... - He here states the reasons which he gave the Jews for not delivering Paul into their hands. In Acts 25:4, we have an account of the fact that he would not accede to the requests of the Jews; and he here states that the reason of his refusal was that it was contrary to the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE WHEN THEY WERE COME HITHER ... - See Acts 25:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE ACCUSATION ... - No charge as I expected of a breach of the peace; of a violation of the Roman law; of atrocious crime. It was natural that Festus should suppose that they would accuse Paul of some such offence. He had been arraigned before Felix; had been two years in custody; and the Jews wer... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HAD CERTAIN QUESTIONS - Certain inquiries, or litigated and disputed subjects; certain points of dispute in which they differed - ζητήματα τινα zētēmata tina. OF THEIR OWN SUPERSTITION - δεισιδαιμονίας deisidaimonias. This word properly denotes “the worship or fear of demons”; but it was ap... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BECAUSE I DOUBTED OF SUCH MANNER OF QUESTIONS - See the margin. Because I hesitated about the right way of disposing of them; because I was ignorant of their nature and bearing, I proposed to go to Jerusalem, that the matter might be there more fully investigated. It is obvious, that if Paul was... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN HE HAD APPEALED - Acts 25:11. TO BE RESERVED - To be kept; not to be tried at Jerusalem, but to be sent to Rome for trial. UNTO THE HEARING - Margin, “the judgment.” That Augustus might hear and decide the cause. OF AUGUSTUS - The reigning emperor at this time was Nero. The name Augustus... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AGRIPPA SAID ... - Agrippa doubtless had heard much of the fame of Jesus, and of the new sect of Christians, and probably he was induced by mere curiosity to hear what Paul could say in explanation and defense of Christianity. This wish of Agrippa gave occasion to the noblest defense which was... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH GREAT POMP - Greek: “with much phantasy” φαντασίας phantasias; with much show, parade, and splendor. It was an occasion on which he could exhibit much of the splendor of royalty, and he chose to do it. INTO THE PLACE OF HEARING - The court-room, or the place where the judges heard and tried c... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE DEALT WITH ME - Have appeared before me, desiring me to try him. They have urged me to condemn him. CRYING ... - Compare Acts 22:22. They had sought that he should be put to death.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM - Respecting his character, opinions, and manner of life; and respecting the charges against him. NO CERTAIN THING - Nothing definite and well established. They had not accused Paul of any crime against the Roman laws; and Festus professes himself too ignorant of the customs of the Jews to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT SEEMETH TO ME UNREASONABLE - Festus felt that he was placed in an embarrassing situation. He was about to send a prisoner to Rome who had been tried by himself, and who had appealed from his jurisdiction, and yet he was ignorant of the charges against him, and of the nature of his offences, i... [ Continue Reading ]