Acts 25:16

"It is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges" Festus was. stickler for justice and law and the Romans were very proud of their system. Reese notes, "Many of the judicial practices of the Western world have been inherited from Roman practices" (Barnes p. 864). Likewise we need to appreciate the rights we have to be heard, to know the charges against us, to be confronted with the witnesses, to make. defense and be tried by law rather by the passions of men. Notice how these Jews who would have argued that they feared and served God end up being rebuked and taught. lesson about fairness and justice from this Roman governor.