1NowG3767 when FestusG5347 had comeG1910 into the provinceG1885, afterG3326 threeG5140 daysG2250 he went upG305 fromG575 CaesareaG2542 toG1519 JerusalemG2414. 2ThenG1161 the high priestG749 andG2532 the chiefG4413 of the JewsG2453 informedG1718 himG846 againstG2596 PaulG3972, andG2532 besoughtG3870 himG846, 3And desiredG154 favourG5485 againstG2596 himG846, thatG3704 he would send forG3343 himG846 toG1519 JerusalemG2419, layingG4160 waitG1747 inG2596 the wayG3598 to killG337 himG846. 4ButG3303 G3767 FestusG5347 answeredG611, that PaulG3972 should be keptG5083 atG1722 CaesareaG2542, andG1161 that he himselfG1438 wouldG3195 departG1607 G1722 shortlyG5034 there. 5Let them thereforeG3767, saidG5346 he, who amongG1722 youG5213 are ableG1415, go down withG4782 me, and accuseG2723 thisG846 manG435, ifG1536 there isG2076 any wickednessG1536 inG1722 himG5129. 6AndG1161 when he had tarriedG1304 amongG1722 themG846 moreG4119 thanG2228 tenG1176 daysG2250, he went downG2597 toG1519 CaesareaG2542; and the next dayG1887 sittingG2523 onG1909 the judgment seatG968 commandedG2753 PaulG3972 to be broughtG71. 7AndG1161 when heG846 had comeG3854, the JewsG2453 who came downG2597 fromG575 JerusalemG2414 stood aroundG4026, andG2532 laidG5342 manyG4183 and grievousG926 complaintsG157 againstG2596 PaulG3972, whichG3739 they couldG2480 notG3756 proveG584. 8While he answeredG626 for himselfG846, NeitherG3754 G3777 againstG1519 the lawG3551 of the JewsG2453, neitherG3777 againstG1519 the templeG2411, nor yetG3777 againstG1519 CaesarG2541, have I committedG264 any offenceG5100. 9ButG1161 FestusG5347, willingG2309 to doG2698 the JewsG2453 a favourG5485, answeredG611 PaulG3972, and saidG2036, Wilt thouG2309 goG305 toG1519 JerusalemG2414, and thereG1563 be judgedG2919 concerningG4012 these thingsG5130 beforeG1909 meG1700? 10ThenG1161 saidG2036 PaulG3972, I standG1510 G2476 atG1909 Caesar’sG2541 judgment seatG968, whereG3757 IG3165 oughtG1163 to be judgedG2919: to the JewsG2453 have I doneG91 noG3762 wrongG91, asG5613 G2532 thouG4771 very wellG2566 knowestG1921. 11ForG1063 ifG1487 G3303 I am an offenderG91, orG2532 have committedG4238 any thingG5100 worthyG514 of deathG2288, I refuseG3868 notG3756 to dieG599: butG1161 ifG1487 there isG2076 noneG3762 of these thingsG3739 of which theseG3778 accuseG2723 meG3450, no manG3762 mayG1410 deliverG5483 meG3165 to themG846. I appeal toG1941 CaesarG2541. 12ThenG5119 FestusG5347, when he had conferredG4814 withG3326 the councilG4824, answeredG611, Hast thou appealed toG1941 CaesarG2541? toG1909 CaesarG2541 thou shalt goG4198. 13AndG1161 afterG1230 certainG5100 daysG2250 kingG935 AgrippaG67 andG2532 BerniceG959 cameG2658 toG1519 CaesareaG2542 to greetG782 FestusG5347. 14AndG1161 whenG5613 they had beenG1304 thereG1563 manyG4119 daysG2250, FestusG5347 declaredG394 Paul’sG3972 causeG2596 to the kingG935, sayingG3004, There isG2076 a certainG5100 manG435 leftG2641 in bondsG1198 byG5259 FelixG5344: 15AboutG4012 whomG3739, whenG1096 IG3450 wasG1096 atG1519 JerusalemG2414, the chief priestsG749 andG2532 the eldersG4245 of the JewsG2453 informedG1718 me, desiringG154 to have judgmentG1349 againstG2596 himG846. 16ToG4314 whomG3739 I answeredG611 G3754, It isG2076 notG3756 the mannerG1485 of the RomansG4514 to deliverG5483 anyG5100 manG444 toG1519 dieG684, beforeG4250 G2228 he who is accusedG2723 hathG2192 the accusersG2725 face to faceG2596 G5037 G4383, and hathG2983 opportunityG5117 to answer for himselfG627 concerningG4012 the charge laid against himG1462. 17ThereforeG3767, when theyG846 had comeG4905 hereG1759, withoutG4160 anyG3367 delayG311 on the next dayG1836 I satG2523 onG1909 the judgment seatG968, and commandedG2753 the manG435 to be brought forthG71. 18AgainstG4012 whomG3739 when the accusersG2725 stood upG2476, they broughtG2018 noG3762 accusationG156 of such things asG3739 IG1473 supposedG5282: 19ButG1161 hadG2192 certainG5100 questionsG2213 againstG4314 himG846 ofG4012 their ownG2398 religionG1175, andG2532 ofG4012 oneG5100 JesusG2424, who was deadG2348, whomG3739 PaulG3972 affirmedG5335 to be aliveG2198. 20AndG1161 because IG1473 was perplexedG639 concerningG1519 suchG5127 mannerG4012 of questionsG2214, I askedG3004 him whetherG1487 he wouldG1014 goG4198 toG1519 JerusalemG2419, and thereG2546 be judgedG2919 concerningG4012 these mattersG5130. 21ButG1161 when PaulG3972 had appealedG1941 to be reservedG5083 G846 toG1519 the hearingG1233 of AugustusG4575, I commandedG2753 himG846 to be keptG5083 tillG2193 G3739 I might sendG3992 himG846 toG4314 CaesarG2541. 22ThenG1161 AgrippaG67 saidG5346 toG4314 FestusG5347, I wouldG1014 alsoG2532 hearG191 the manG444 myselfG846. To morrowG1161 G839, saidG5346 he, thou shalt hearG191 himG846. 23And on the next dayG1887, whenG3767 AgrippaG67 had comeG2064, andG2532 BerniceG959, withG3326 greatG4183 pompG5325, andG2532 had enteredG1525 intoG1519 the place of hearingG201, withG4862 G5037 the chief captainsG5506, andG2532 principalG2596 G1851 menG435 ofG5607 the cityG4172, atG2532 the commandG2753 of FestusG5347 PaulG3972 was brought forthG71. 24AndG2532 FestusG5347 saidG5346, KingG935 AgrippaG67, andG2532 allG3956 menG435 whoG3588 are here presentG4840 with usG2254, ye seeG2334 this manG5126, aboutG4012 whomG3739 allG3956 the multitudeG4128 of the JewsG2453 have dealtG1793 with meG3427, bothG5037 atG1722 JerusalemG2414, andG2532 also hereG1759, cryingG1916 that he oughtG1163 notG3361 to liveG2198 any longerG3371. 25ButG1161 when IG1473 foundG2638 that heG846 had committedG4238 nothingG3367 worthyG514 of deathG2288, andG2532 G1161 that he himselfG846 hath appealedG5127 toG1941 AugustusG4575, I have determinedG2919 to sendG3992 himG846. 26OfG4012 whomG3739 I haveG2192 noG3756 certainG804 thingG5100 to writeG1125 to my lordG2962. ThereforeG1352 I have broughtG4254 himG846 forthG4254 beforeG1909 youG5216, andG2532 especiallyG3122 beforeG1909 theeG4675, O kingG935 AgrippaG67, thatG3704, after examinationG351 hadG1096, I may haveG2192 somewhatG5100 to writeG1125. 27ForG1063 it seemethG1380 to meG3427 unreasonableG249 to sendG3992 a prisonerG1198, andG2532 not alsoG3361 to signifyG4591 the chargesG156 laid againstG2596 himG846.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 FESTUS, COMING TO JERUSALEM, DECLINES TO HAVE PAUL BROUGHT THITHER FOR JUDGMENT, BUT GIVES THE PARTIES A HEARING ON HIS RETURN TO CĆSAREA--ON FESTUS ASKING THE APOSTLE IF HE WOULD GO TO JERUSALEM FOR ANOTHER HEARING BEFORE HIM, HE IS CONSTRAINED IN JUSTICE TO HIS CAUSE TO APPEAL TO THE EMPEROR. (
Acts 25:1-
Acts 25:12)
Festus . . . after three days . . . ascended . . . to Jerusalem--to make himself acquainted with the great central city of his government without delay.
2 Then the high priest--a successor of him before whom Paul had appeared (
Acts 23:2).
and the chief of the Jews--and "the whole multitude of the Jews" (
Acts 25:24) clamorously.
informed him against Paul . . .
3 desired favour--in
Acts 25:15, "judgment."
against him--It would seem that they had the insolence to ask him to have the prisoner executed even without a trial (
Acts 25:16).
laying wait . . . to kill him--How deep must have been their hostility, when two years after the defeat of their former attempt, they thirst as keenly as ever for his blood! Their plea for having the case tried at Jerusalem, where the alleged offense took place, was plausible enough; but from
Acts 25:10 it would seem that Festus had been made acquainted with their causeless malice, and that in some way which Paul was privy to.
4 answered that Paul should be kept--rather, "is in custody."
at Cćsarea, and . . . himself would depart shortly thither.
5 Let them . . . which among you are able, go down--"your leading men."
7 the Jews . . . from Jerusalem--clamorously, as at Jerusalem; see
Acts 25:24.
many and grievous complaints against Paul--From his reply, and Festus' statement of the case before Agrippa, these charges seem to have been a jumble of political and religious matter which they were unable to substantiate, and vociferous cries that he was unfit to live. Paul's reply, not given in full, was probably little more than a challenge to prove any of their charges, whether political or religious.
9 Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure--to ingratiate himself with them.
said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and . . . be judged . . . before me--or, "under my protection." If this was meant in earnest, it was temporizing and vacillating. But, possibly, anticipating Paul's refusal, he wished merely to avoid the odium of refusing to remove the trial to Jerusalem.
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Cćsar's judgment seat--that is, I am already before the proper tribunal. This seems to imply that he understood Festus to propose handing him over to the Sanhedrim for judgment (and see on
Acts 25:11), with a mere promise of protection from him. But from going to Jerusalem at all he was too well justified in shrinking, for there assassination had been quite recently planned against him.
to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou knowest very well--literally, "better," that is, (perhaps), better than to press such a proposal.
if there be none of these things . . . no man may deliver me unto them--The word signifies to "surrender in order to gratify" another.
11 I appeal to Cćsar--The right of appeal to the supreme power, in case of life and death, was secured by an ancient law to every Roman citizen, and continued under the empire. Had Festus shown any disposition to pronounce final judgment, Paul, strong in the consciousness of his innocence and the justice of a Roman tribunal, would not have made this appeal. But when the only other alternative offered him was to give his own consent to be transferred to the great hotbed of plots against his life, and to a tribunal of unscrupulous and bloodthirsty ecclesiastics whose vociferous cries for his death had scarcely subsided, no other course was open to him.
12 Festus--little expecting such an appeal, but bound to respect it.
having conferred with the council--his assessors in judgment, as to the admissibility of the appeal.
said, Hast thou--for "thou hast."
to Cćsar shalt thou go--as if he would add perhaps "and see if thou fare better."
13 HEROD AGRIPPA II ON A VISIT TO FESTUS, BEING CONSULTED BY HIM ON PAUL'S CASE, DESIRES TO HEAR THE APOSTLE, WHO IS ACCORDINGLY BROUGHT FORTH. (
Acts 25:13-
Acts 25:27)
King Agrippa--great-grandson of Herod the Great, and Drusilla's brother (see on
Acts 24:24). On his father's awful death (
Acts 12:23), being thought too young (seventeen) to succeed, Judea, was attached to the province of Syria. Four years after, on the death of his uncle Herod, he was made king of the northern principalities of Chalcis, and afterwards got Batanea, Iturea, Trachonitis, Abilene, Galilee, and Perea, with the title of king. He died A.D. 100, after reigning fifty-one years.
and Bernice--his sister. She was married to her uncle Herod, king of Chalcis, on whose death she lived with her brother Agrippa--not without suspicion of incestuous intercourse, which her subsequent licentious life tended to confirm.
came to salute Festus--to pay his respects to him on his accession to the procuratorship.
14 when there many--"several"
days, Festus declared Paul's cause--taking advantage of the presence of one who might be presumed to know such matters better than himself; though the lapse of "several days" ere the subject was touched on shows that it gave Festus little trouble.
16 to deliver any man to die--On the word "deliver up," see on
Acts 25:11.
18 as I supposed--"suspected"--crimes punishable by civil law.
19 questions . . . of their own superstition--rather, "religion" (see on
Acts 17:22). It cannot be supposed that Festus would use the word in any discourteous sense in addressing his Jewish guest.
one Jesus--"Thus speaks this miserable Festus of Him to whom every knee shall bow" [BENGEL].
whom Paul affirmed--"kept affirming."
to be alive--showing that the resurrection of the Crucified One had been the burden, as usual, of Paul's pleading. The insignificance of the whole affair in the eyes of Festus is manifest.
20 because I doubted of such manner of questions--The "I" is emphatic. "I," as a Roman judge, being at a loss how to deal with such matters.
21 the hearing of Augustus--the imperial title first conferred by the Roman Senate on Octavius.
22 I would also hear--"should like to hear."
the man myself--No doubt Paul was fight when he said, "The king knoweth of these things . . . for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner" (
Acts 26:26). Hence his curiosity to see and hear the man who had raised such commotion and was remodelling to such an extent the whole Jewish life.
23 when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp--in the same city in which their father, on account of his pride, had perished, eaten up by worms [WETST].
with the chief captains--(See on
Acts 21:32). JOSEPHUS [Wars of the Jews, 3.4.2] says that five cohorts, whose full complement was one thousand men, were stationed at Cćsarea.
principal men of the city--both Jews and Romans. "This was the most dignified and influential audience Paul had yet addressed, and the prediction (
Acts 9:15) was fulfilled, though afterwards still more remarkably at Rome (
Acts 27:24;
2Tim 4:16-17) [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
26 I have no certain--"definite"
thing to write my lord--Nero. "The writer's accuracy should be remarked here. It would have been . . . a mistake to apply this term ("lord") to the emperor a few years earlier. Neither Augustus nor Tiberius would let himself be so called, as implying the relation of master and slave. But it had now come (rather, "was coming") into use as one of the imperial titles" [HACKET].