Acts 25:1-12 – Paul before Festus the new governor

Acts 24:27 tells us that Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor of the province. So three days after his arrival in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. For a new procurator, this was understandable. He needed to start his term with the best of relationship with the subjects.  Furthermore, Jerusalem was the religious cultural center of his province. Since he was in Jerusalem, some of the leading Jews led by the chief priests came before him, bringing charges against Paul. The delegates bargained with him, urging him to have Paul brought to Jerusalem to answer the charges. Their intention, like before, was to ambush Paul and assassinate him on the way. Whether Festus knew their intention or not, we do not know. But this we do, God knew and He protected His own.

Those who came bringing the charges must have thought that it was a good time to broach the issue with the Procurator, as he had just taken office. It would be harder to influence him to accede to their wishes if he had adjusted to the routine. However, Festus was not ready to accommodate them. He gave the reason that he was about to leave for Caesarea shortly, and Paul was essentially his responsibility. But he invited those accusers to send a delegate to present their case before him. This was an invitation they gladly accepted.  

After Festus had spent eight to ten days in Jerusalem he went down to Caesarea. The day after his return, he took his seat in the tribunal and summoned for Paul. When the apostle had arrived in court, those Jews from Jerusalem brought many serious and unproved charges against him. In defense, Paul unyieldingly denied that had done anything wrong against the law of the Jews or the temple or against Caesar. Although Festus knew that the case made by the Jews was not water tight, but wishing to please them he proposed that Paul to be tried before him at Jerusalem. It was probably not because Festus was making this a trial by the Jews but that he merely wanted convenience. He must have felt that in Jerusalem it would be easier for the Sanhedrin to raise the needful witnesses. So he asked Paul if he was willing for that.

Having already been through the injustice of being jailed for two years by Felix who wanted to please the Jews, he must be disappointed. He was not about to accommodate the Jews. He was not interested in going to Jerusalem for trial even if it was before Festus. So Paul used the only option he had, i.e. to use his Roman citizenship. He reminded Festus that he was standing before a Roman Tribunal where he ought to be tried and the court did not belong to the Jews.

Paul emphasized that if he was guilty of a crime requiring a death sentence, he was not afraid to die. And if none of the charges brought against him was true, not even Festus could hand him to the Jews. Simply put, Paul was declaring his innocence. Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen. With that Festus would no longer have any jurisdiction over the case. And he had no reason to object. In fact he should feel a great relief. So consulting with his own council, he answered Paul, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul clearly and calmly made his point when malicious charges were thrown at him. Paul wisely appealed to Caesar, the highest human help he could get. If we were in his shoes what would we have done? When faced with groundless accusations and unjustly maligned, we always have the Lord, the highest level of help that we ever have. We can turn to Him, our advocate and defender. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Isaac Watt, the hymns writer said:

O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come.

Our shelter from the stormy blast;

And our eternal home.