Frameworks:
Acts 25: Paul,
Festus & Agrippa
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. )
v.1-5
Festus meets with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem
v.6-12
In Caesarea Festus meets with Paul who appeals to Caesar
v.13-22
Festus Consults King Agrippa
v.23-27
Paul Before Agrippa
v.1-5
Festus meets with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem
v.1
Three
days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea
to Jerusalem,
v.2
where
the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and
presented the charges against Paul.
v.3
They
requested Festus, as a favour to them, to have Paul transferred
to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along
the way.
v.4
Festus
answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going
there soon.
v.5
Let
some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything
wrong, they can press charges against him there.”
[Passage
Synopsis: The
new governor of Caesarea talks to the religious leaders in Jerusalem
and agree to return Paul to Jerusalem.]
v.6-12
In Caesarea Festus meets with Paul who appeals to Caesar
v.6
After
spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea.
The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought
before him.
v.7
When
Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood
around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but
they could not prove them.
v.8
Then
Paul made his defence: “I have done nothing wrong against the
Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
v.9
Festus,
wishing to do the Jews a favour, said to Paul, “Are you willing
to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these
charges?”
v.10
Paul
answered: “I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought
to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself
know very well.
v.11
If,
however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not
refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these
Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them.
I appeal to Caesar!”
v.12
After
Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have
appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
[Passage
Synopsis: Back
in court in Caesarea Festus asked if Paul was willing to go back
to Jerusalem. Paul, knowing what would happen, appeals to Caesar.
Festus agrees.]
v.13-22
Festus Consults King Agrippa
v.13
A
few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to
pay their respects to Festus.
v.14
Since
they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case
with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as
a prisoner.
v.15
When
I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
v.16
“I
told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone
before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity
to defend themselves against the charges.
v.17
When
they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened
the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.
v.18
When
his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any
of the crimes I had expected.
v.19
Instead,
they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion
and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
v.20
I
was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he
would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these
charges.
v.21
But
when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision,
I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
v.22
Then
Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”
He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
[Passage
Synopsis: Herod
Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I of Acts 12 fame, and great
grandson of Herod the Great, ruled over a small territory in the
north. Bernice was his sister. They go to Caesarea to pay their
respects to the new Roman consul or procurator. Festus talks to
him about Paul and Agrippa shows interest.]
v.23-27
Paul Before Agrippa
v.23
The
next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered
the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and
the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul
was brought in.
v.24
Festus
said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see
this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him
in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not
to live any longer.
v.25
I
found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made
his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome.
v.26
But
I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore
I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you,
King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may
have something to write.
v.27
For
I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without
specifying the charges against him.”
[Passage
Synopsis: The
next day with much pomp and ceremony they come to listen to Paul.]
Continue
to chapter 26