CHAPTER 25
On the succession of Felix, and the promotion of Festus, and concerning the examination of Paul before him and his appeal.
Acts 24:27-25:1-12 But after two years had been fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. Festus therefore, having set out from the district, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea; and the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews appeared before him against Paul, and begged him, asking a favor against him, that he would send him to Jerusalem, making an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus therefore replied that Paul should be kept in Caesarea, and that he himself intended to depart shortly. "You therefore," he said, "who are able among you, if there is anything wrong in the man, accuse him." And having spent among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day, sitting upon the judgment-seat, he ordered Paul to be brought. When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing many and serious charges which they could not prove, while Paul made his defense, saying that "I have committed no offense either against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar." But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Do you desire to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried about these things before me?" Paul said, "I stand before Caesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself very well know. If then I am an offender and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." Then Festus, after conferring with his council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go."
" I appeal to Caesar ," said Paul, wishing to escape the hands of the Jews, that is, in Rome I desire to go to the emperor and there to be tried. "I appeal to you," he says. For the name "Caesar," in Roman usage, signifies "king," just as by a common name all kings of the Romans are called Caesar, though indeed these are not their private names. For at the time of Christ's birth the ruling Caesar was called Emperor; he suffered under Tiberius Caesar. And the blessed Paul is executed in Rome under Nero Caesar.
Agrippa and Bernice present, and the accusations against Paul. In which Paul's defense concerning his lawful religion and his calling to the Gospel before them; how Paul wrongs the Jews in nothing. Agrippa, he said to Festus.
Acts 25:13-27 After some days Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus related to the king the matters concerning Paul, saying, “There is a man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom when I came to Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews appeared and asked for judgment against him. To them I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man up before the accused has his accusers face to face and is given opportunity to make defense concerning the charge. So when they had assembled here, I made no delay, but sitting on the judgment seat I commanded the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such things as I supposed, but had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Being perplexed in the examination about these things, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning them. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Caesar, I commanded him to be kept until I should send him to Caesar. Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I would also like to hear the man myself.’ ‘Tomorrow,’ he said, ‘you shall hear him.’ So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great spectacle and entered into the auditorium, together with the chief captains and principal men of the city, and Festus having given orders, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all men who are present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews informed me in both Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death; and as he himself appealed to the Emperor I decided to send him. Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to the master; therefore I brought him forth before you, and especially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after the examination has taken place, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.’
“ Agrippa the king .” That is, Agrippa was exercising the rank of king in the provinces, and therefore was addressed as king; or perhaps he himself was king of the eastern parts, Nero being ruler of the western, and while Nero was in Rome. [AMMONIUS]
“ appealed to the Emperor .” He calls the king “Emperor” in a habitual way, as he does Caesar; and addressing him as master he says, “ Concerning whom I have nothing certain to write to the master .”