In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-9 Paul before Festus. Verses 10-12 Paul appeals to Caesar. Verses 13-27 Paul before Agrippa and Festus. We learned at the end of Acts 24 Felix put Paul back in bonds to appease the Jews and because he wouldn’t pay a bribe. This gives us a date. 60 A.D. Festus will now take over governorship. Acts 25 and verse 1 reads.
Acts 25:1] Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
It took him 3 days to go down to Jerusalem to find out what the charges for Paul would be.
Acts 25:2] Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
[3] And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
Let’s go back to Acts 23 and verse 12 reads.
Acts 23:12] And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
[13] And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
[14] And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
[15] Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
The conspiracy is between forty men and the chief priests and certain elders, all are Kenites. All are liars and deceivers. They want Paul dead.
Acts 25:4] But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
[5] Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Telling them to come back to Caesarea and witness before the judgement seat if they truly have any accusation against Paul.
Acts 25:6] And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
Paul’s trial will begin again. Felix already tried him and found no fault with Paul. But what about these ten days? Let’s go to Revelation 2 and verse 10 reads.
Rev.2:10] Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
For the Elect’s sake, he promises no more than ten days of tribulation. G3144 martus pronounced mar’-toos, is where we get our word Martyr from, and it means; 1. Those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death. Back to Acts 25 and verse 7 reads.
Acts 25:7] And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
The Jews (Kenites) could not prove any of the false witnesses that brought the charges against Paul. Now Paul will answer for himself.
Acts 25:8] While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
Paul says he has broken none of the Hebrew laws or laws of the temple, nor any laws of Caesar. Meaning none of the Roman laws. Paul is claiming to be innocent of all charges brought against him. But more importantly, they could not prove anything that was lied against him.
Acts 25:9] But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
Remember Acts 23:12-15, there is a conspiracy against Paul, between the chief priest and forty men, they will be lying in wait to kill him.
Acts 25:10] Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
[11] For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.
[12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Paul is being very clear here that he has committed no offense to anyone, and Festus knows he’s innocent. But here is where Paul is in the right, no Jew can judge a Roman citizen. Paul is a Roman citizen. Remember what the LORD said to Paul in Acts 23 and verse 11 reads.
Acts 23:11] And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Back to Acts 25 and verse 13 reads.
Acts 25:13] And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
King Agrippa is meeting Festus for the first time as governor. Let’s look at king Agrippa, G67 means; wild horse tamer. We find him only when we realize he is the last of the Herod’s in G2264; 5. (Herod) Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I. When his father died he was a youth of seventeen. In A.D. 48 he received from Claudius Caesar the government of Chalcis, with the right of appointing the Jewish high priests, together with the care and oversight of the temple at Jerusalem. Four years later Claudius took from him Chalcis and gave him instead a larger domain, of Batanaea, Trachonitis, and Gaulanitis, with the title of king. To those reigns Nero, in A.D. 53, added Tiberias and Taricheae and Peraean Julias, with fourteen neighbouring villages. He is mentioned in Acts 25 and 26. In the Jewish war, although he strove in vain to restrain the fury of the seditious and bellicose populace, he did not desert to the Roman side. After the fall of Jerusalem, he was vested with praetorian rank and kept the kingdom entire until his death, which took place in the third year of the emperor Trajan, [the 73rd year of his life, and the 52nd of his reign] He was the last representative of the Herod family.
We know that his father died in 44 AD, this making him king in 48 AD at the age of 21. With that information we can say that he was born in 27 AD and he died in 100 AD. We also know that Jerusalem with the temple were destroyed in 70 AD. We read above that there was war between Rome and Jerusalem because of the seditious and violent Jews, not the Christians. The same accusations the Jews are claiming against Paul here in Acts 24 and 25. Here is our example for these end times. We see them in our streets today, I’m talking about the likes of Antifa and BLM, they kill and burn cities to the ground, yet accuse good Christians of sedition in 2021. All these are Kenites, and what they accuse Christians of, that is what they do, no different than these in the times we are reading in the bible. Back to Acts 25 and verse 14 reads.
Acts 25:14] And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
It took him a while to finally get around to his problem with Paul. We must remember even Felix knew he was innocent, yet a Roman was being kept in bonds on the word of the Jews. This not only went bad for Festus, but Felix is showing he is scared also.
Acts 25:15] About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
[16] To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Festus didn’t mention that Paul proved himself innocent.
Acts 25:17] Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
[18] Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
Saying the Jews did not accuse him of those things that they told me in Jerusalem when they stood here in Caesarea. In other words; they could not prove with any witnesses the things that they said he had done.
Acts 25:19] But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Paul gave testimony that Jesus was indeed alive. This split the original opposition in half that opposed him. Leaving only the Sadducees and the Kenites to accuse him. But the Pharisees would not include themselves to his charges.
Acts 25:20] And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
[21] But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
Then the question is, when would he send him to Rome? Why was he not on his way now? Because he is scared of what Caesar would say about him having a Roman citizen in bonds knowing he was innocent.
Acts 25:22] Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
[23] And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
Bernice G959 we learn that she is the eldest daughter of king Agrippa 1, this king Agrippa’s father, making her his eldest sister.
Acts 25:24] And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
[25] But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Festus found him innocent of all charges brought forth of the Jews from Jerusalem. Then why did he not let him go free? Why did he agree to send him to Augustus Caesar? Festus is in a quandary here, and is asking for help from king Agrippa. Paul asked to go to Rome because God told him, Paul be of good cheer, you testified of me in Jerusalem, you are going to Rome. Paul, being innocent, will show the corruption between the Jews and the government.
Acts 25:26] Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
Felix is saying; help me king Agrippa, give me an excuse to write to Caesar about how I have kept an innocent man in bonds on the word of the Jews. He knew he was in trouble.
Acts 25:27] For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
He had better be afraid, Paul is still in bonds. And will be sent to Caesar in chains though he is innocent. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 10 and verse 11 reads.
1Cor.10:11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
You had better believe today’s lesson was an example for us in these end times. We went to Revelation 2:10 in the beginning for the example of only having ten days held in prison until we testify of Jesus Christ before being put to death at the most. Paul heard from God, he was going to Rome, we on the other hand received this Word that we too shall be persecuted for his namesake. Keep the faith, we are strong when we are our weakest. Let’s go to 2Corinthians 12 and verse 7 reads.
2Cor.12:7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
This thorn in the flesh was the fact that he was blind. Yes, he received his spiritual eyes after being blinded on the road to Damascus, but make no mistake, he was blind. Luke needed to be his scribe, and the Roman army needed to guide him up the stairs. Here is why I think he was blind, listen closely.
2Cor.12:8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
These infirmities are his blindness. He continues.
2Cor.12:10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
As God’s Elect in these end times, I pray you are strong with the power of Christ which is within you, speaking of the Holy Spirit that dwells within all of us. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible