20160626 Sunday, June 26 2016
Acts 25: Porky's Court

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go"

Porcius Festus (in Latin, pork-ee-os means pig-like and face-tos means festal or happy - "Porcius Festus" literally means happy pig) succeeded Felix as the Roman governor of Judea. Felix had left Paul in jail for over two years, while fully-knowing that he was innocent of any crime, in an attempt to extort a bribe from Paul for his release (see The Court Of Felix - Where Politics Trumps Truth). No bribe was ever paid, so Paul remained in jail until Felix was replaced by Festus.

"25:1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 25:3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 25:4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 25:5 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.

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. 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.

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.

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?

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. 25:11 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.

25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." (Acts 25:1-12 KJV)

Ironically, Paul was born a Roman citizen, in Roman-occupied Turkey (see Why Didn't The Romans Torture The Apostle Paul?) and could therefore "appeal to Caesar," a higher court, in matters of law. Festus therefore had Paul brought before a higher representative of Caesar in the area, Agrippa (i.e. Herod Agrippa II - the great-grandson of the Herod that attempted to have Christ killed as an infant; see the Herod family listing in the study Peter's Escape From Prison and The Death Of Herod Agrippa).

"25:13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 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: 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.

25:16 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. 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. 25:18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 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. 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. 25:21 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.

25:22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him." (Acts 13:1-22 KJV)

Paul had the Romans in a legal bind. They couldn't just ignore his "rights" because Paul's case was widely known by the public. But for political reasons, none of the Roman governors wanted to be the one to set Paul free because it would cause political trouble from the people of Judea (the same reason that Pontius Pilate knowingly sentenced the innocent Messiah to death; see Why Did They Want A Murderer Released Instead Of Jesus?), so they kept "passing the buck" until there was no higher appeal left than the Roman Caesar himself. It was the reason that the Romans soon thereafter put Paul on a ship to Rome - exactly as declared by the LORD (see the Fact Finder question below).

"25:23 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.

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. 25:25 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. 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. 25:27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him." (Acts 25:23-27 KJV)

Fact Finder: When did Jesus Christ declare that Paul would be a witness of Him to the world?
See The Messiah's Appearances To Paul Before And After The Crucifixion