Paul’s Trial before Festus
Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, Act 23:34Act 18:22Act 21:15Act 25:5Act 8:40 where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus Act 25:15Act 24:1Pro 4:16Rom 3:12-19Job 31:31 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Act 23:12-15Act 9:241Sa 23:19-21Act 26:9-11Act 9:2Jer 18:18Jer 38:4Jhn 16:3
But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Act 24:23 So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.” Act 25:16Act 25:18-19Act 25:25Jhn 18:29-301Sa 24:11-12Act 18:14Act 23:30Act 24:8
After spending no more than eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in. Act 25:10Act 25:17Mat 27:192Co 5:10Act 18:12-17Jas 2:6Jhn 19:13 When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove. Act 24:13Act 24:5-6Act 25:24Luk 23:10Luk 23:2Psa 27:121Pe 4:14-16Act 21:28
Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” Act 24:12Act 28:172Co 1:12Act 28:21Act 6:13-14Jer 37:18Act 23:1Act 24:17-21
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?” Act 24:27Act 12:3Act 25:20Mrk 15:15Act 25:3
Paul Appeals to Caesar
Paul replied, “I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 2Co 4:2Mat 27:18Act 25:25Act 26:31Act 28:18Act 16:37-38Act 22:25-28Act 23:29 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Act 28:19Psa 7:3-5Act 25:25Act 26:32Act 25:21Jos 22:221Sa 12:3-51Sa 27:1
Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!” Act 19:21Php 1:12-14Php 1:20Act 23:11Act 25:21Act 26:32Act 28:16Dan 4:35
Festus Consults Agrippa
After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 1Sa 13:101Sa 25:142Sa 8:10Act 25:22-23Act 26:1Act 26:27-28Act 8:402Ki 10:13 Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison. Act 24:27 While I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews presented their case and requested a judgment against him. Act 24:1Act 25:1-3Est 3:9Luk 18:3-5Luk 23:23 I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges. Jhn 7:51Deu 19:17-18Act 23:30Act 25:4-5Pro 18:17Act 26:1Deu 17:4Pro 18:13
So when they came here with me, I did not delay. The next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered that the man be brought in. Act 25:10Act 25:6 But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Act 23:29Act 18:151Co 15:3-41Co 15:14-20Act 1:22Act 17:22-23Act 17:31Act 18:19
Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. Act 25:9 But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 2Ti 4:16Act 25:10-11Act 26:32Luk 2:1
Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” Act 9:15Isa 52:15Luk 21:12Mat 10:18
“Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.
Paul before Agrippa and Bernice
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. Act 25:13Act 26:301Jn 2:161Co 7:311Pe 1:24Act 12:21Act 9:15Dan 4:30
Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him, both here and in Jerusalem, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. Act 22:22Act 25:7Act 25:2-3Luk 23:21-23 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. Act 23:29Act 25:11-12Act 23:9Luk 23:4Act 26:31Jhn 18:38Luk 23:14
I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign one about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. Act 26:2-3 For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.” Jhn 7:51Pro 18:13