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    Acts 25:1-12
    Lesson 277
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    Paul stands trial before the new governor, Festus.
    A study in political maneuvering. 
     
    "I appeal unto Caesar." (25:11)   

    ​Paul before Festus.
    (Unknown artist)
    Study Tip:
     
    When you come across an important Bible verse, write it down, memorize it, and ponder its meaning. ​

    The Acts of the Apostles

    The King James Bible    ​



    Acts 25:1-12
    Paul stands trial

    1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

    ​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.
     
    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.
     
    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.
     
    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.
     
    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.
     
    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?
     
    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.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "When Festus was come into the province." (25:1) - Festus had just arrived in Judea (circa AD 60) to replace Felix as Governor. 
     
    "After three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem." (25:1) - "After three days (as the new governor) he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem."
     
    "The high priest." (25:2) - The high priest is now Ishmael, having replaced Ananias.
     
    "Chief of the Jews." (25:2) - "The leading Jew."
     
    "Besought him." (25:2) - "Begged him."  The high priest and the chief of the Jews wanted Festus, the new Governor, to convict Paul.  
     
    "Desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him." (25:3) - The Jewish leaders wanted Festus to send Paul back to Jerusalem so they could kill him on the road.  This was the same plan hatched two years earlier when Paul was first arrested (Acts 23:12; 23:15).
     
    "That he himself would depart shortly thither." (25:4) - "That he himself would leave for there (Caesarea) shortly."  
     
    "Commanded Paul to be brought." (25:6) - By now, Paul has been languishing in prison for two years, awaiting trial.
     
    "Laid many and grievous complaints against Paul." (25:7) - They made the same charges that they laid out to Felix two years earlier (24:5-6).
     
    "Which they could not prove." (25:7) - Just as Paul said in Acts 24:13.
     
    "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure." (25:9) -  "But Festus, wanting to please the Jews."  
     
    "Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem." (25:9) - For Paul to say yes would mean his death (25:3).  Even if he survived the trip to Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin would produce false witnesses to guarantee his conviction.
     
    "If I be an offender...I refuse not to die." (25:11) - "If I'm guilty...I agree to die.
     
    "I appeal unto Caesar." (25:11) - According to Julian law, Roman citizens (like Paul) had a right to appeal capital cases to Rome.  If they did, the presiding judge lost jurisdiction, and the case was sent to the higher court in Rome.  Paul had long wanted to preach in Rome (Romans 1:10-11; 15:22-28), so he took advantage of this right.  See Today's Question below.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Acts 25:1-12
    Paul Appears before Festus
     
    1 Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem,

    2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.

    3 They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way).

    4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.

    5 So he said, "Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations."
     
    6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in.

    ​7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn't prove.
     
    8 Paul denied the charges. "I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government," he said.
     
    9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?"
     
    10 But Paul replied, "No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.

    ​11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!"
     
    12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, "Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!"

    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:
     
    1.     Why did Festus send Paul to Rome to stand trial?  (25:12)



    "God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our sinfulness, holds us in our brokenness."
     
    (Pastor Scotty Smith from his book, "Objects of His Affection."  Published by Howard Books, Brentwood Tennessee)​
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1.     As noted in the margin notes above (25:11), Julian law gave Roman citizens the right to appeal their cases to Rome.  That is if they could afford the trip.  Paul had been imprisoned for two years under Felix, so Festus was happy to ship Paul to Rome and be rid of his predecessor's problem. ​ ​
    Application thought for the day: 
     
    Spend time thinking about obedience to civil law versus the law of God. ​
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
     
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