Acts 25:1

CHAPTER XXV.

Porcius Festus being appointed governor of Judea, instead of

Felix, the Jews beseech him to have Paul brought up to

Jerusalem, that he might be tried there; they lying in wait to

kill him on the way, 1-3.

Festus refuses, and desires those who could prove any thing

against him, to go with him to Caesarea, 4, 5.

Festus, having tarried at Jerusalem about ten days, returns to

Caesarea, and the next day Paul is brought to his trial, and

the Jews of Jerusalem bring many groundless charges against

him, against which he defends himself, 6-8.

In order to please the Jews, Festus asks Paul if he be willing

to go up to Jerusalem, and be tried there, 9.

Paul refuses, and appeals to Caesar, and Festus admits the

appeal, 10-13.

King Agrippa, and Bernice his wife, come to Cesarea to visit

Festus, and are informed by him of the accusations against

Paul, his late trial, and his appeal from them to Caesar,

14-21.

Agrippa desires to hear Paul; and a hearing is appointed for

the following day, 22.

Agrippa, Bernice, the principal officers and chief men of the

city being assembled, Paul is brought forth, 23.

Festus opens the business with generally stating the accusations

against Paul, his trial on these accusations, the groundless

and frivolous nature of the charges, his own conviction of his

innocence, and his desire that the matter might be heard by the

king himself, that he might have something specifically to

write to the emperor, to whom he was about to send Paul,

agreeably to his appeal, 24-27.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXV.

Verse Acts 25:1. Now when Festus was come into the province] By the province is meant Judea; for, after the death of Herod Agrippa, Claudius thought it imprudent to trust the government in the hands of his son Agrippa, who was then but seventeen years of age; therefore Cuspius Fadus was sent to be procurator. And when afterwards Claudius had given to Agrippa the tetrarchate of Philip, that of Batanea and Abila, he nevertheless kept the province of Judea more immediately in his own hands, and governed it by procurators sent from Rome. Joseph. Ant. lib. xx. cap. 7, sec. 1. Felix being removed, Porcius Festus is sent in his place; and having come to Caesarea, where the Roman governor generally had his residence, after he had tarried three days, he went up to Jerusalem, to acquaint himself with the nature and complexion of the ecclesiastical government of the Jews; no doubt, for the purpose of the better administration of justice among them.