The Word Made Fresh
1Three days after Festus arrived, he traveled from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2The chief priests and Jewish leaders gave him a report about Paul, and asked him 3to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem as a favor to them. In fact, they were planning to ambush him and kill him on the way. 4Festus told them that Paul would be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there soon. 5He said, “Let those of you who are in charge come with me. If there is anything wrong about him, let them press charges against him.”
6Eight or ten days later he left for Caesarea, and the next day he took his seat in the court and sent word to have Paul brought to him. 7When Paul arrived, the Jews who had gone there from Jerusalem gathered around him and charged him with serious offenses which they could not prove.
8In his defense, Paul said, “I have not committed any offenses against Jewish law, or against the temple, or against the emperor.”
9But Festus wanted to do a favor for the Jews, and asked Paul, “Do you want to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges?”
10“I am appealing to Caesar’s court. That is where I should be tried. I have not done anything against the Jews, as I’m sure you know. 11If I’m mistaken and have indeed committed some crime for which I deserve to be executed, I’m not trying to avoid being put to death. But if their charges prove to be superfluous no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.”
12Festus met with his council, then returned and said, “You have appealed to the emperor, and that is where you will go.”
13Several days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived, and welcomed Festus to Caesarea. 14They stayed for several days, and Festus brought Paul’s case to the king. He said, “There is a man here whom Felix left in prison. 15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and Jewish elders told me about him and asked me to sentence him. 16I told them that the Romans didn’t hand over anyone accused of a crime before they had met their accusers face to face, and had been given the opportunity to defend themselves. 17So, when they came here I immediately took my seat in the court and ordered the man to be brought. 18When his accusers stood up, they didn’t charge him with anything I expected, 19but only wanted to bring up certain disagreements with him about their religion and about a certain man named Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul insisted was alive again. 20I had no idea how to investigate such charges, and asked Paul if he wished to go to Jerusalem to defend himself. 21But he asked to be kept in custody here to await the emperor’s decision, so I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Rome.”
22Agrippa said, “I’d like to hear what he has to say for myself.”
“You will have that opportunity tomorrow,” Festus replied.
23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great ceremony and entered the audience hall with the army officers and prominent men of the city. Festus gave orders for Paul to be brought before them. 24He said, “King Agrippa, and all who are gathered here, you see before you the man about whom all the Jews petitioned me, in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea. They insisted that he should be put to death immediately. 25But I found he had done nothing to deserve death. He then appealed to the emperor, and I decided to send him. 26But I don’t have anything definite to write to the emperor about him. So, I have presented him to all of you, and especially to you, King Agrippa, so that we may examine him, and I may have something to write. 27I think it would be unreasonable to send a prisoner without making specific charges against him.”
Commentary
1-5: Porcius Festus, the new governor, immediately makes a trip to Jerusalem where he is accosted by the Jewish leaders who ask that Paul be brought to Jerusalem for trial. Festus is no dummy, however, and calmly replies that when he returns to Caesarea they can come make their accusations there.
6-12: Two years have passed since their last court appearance in Caesarea, and this time the Jews’ accusations seem to be much less focused than before. Paul refutes them. Festus asks if he wishes to go up to Jerusalem for trial, but Paul, a Roman citizen, insists that neither Festus nor anyone else can turn him over to the Jews and tells Festus that he appeals to Caesar. It is a legal maneuver aimed at keeping himself out of the hands of the people who want to kill him. Festus, however, having been governor for less than two weeks, seizes the opportunity to wash his hands of the whole mess, and rules that Paul will indeed be sent to Rome for trial.
13-22: Herod Agrippa, the Roman appointed king of the region, comes to Caesarea to welcome Festus as the new governor. Festus is eager to press Agrippa for a solution to the issue with Paul. Roman law prescribed that a citizen cannot be held without a trial for longer than two years, and the deadline is upon them. He recounts to Agrippa all he knows about the case. Since he himself is not Jewish, he is admittedly confused by the accusations brought against Paul. Agrippa offers to hear Paul’s defense.
23-27: Not understanding the charges against Paul, Festus summons him next day to speak to Agrippa, and asks Agrippa to help him craft a statement to be presented to Caesar when he sends Paul to Rome for trial.
Takeaway
Through all the turmoil, Paul was never shaken by it. He stayed calm in the face of terrible threats. Our faith can help keep us calm in the midst of turmoil, and calmness helps us face whatever threat is before us. Have faith. God is for you, and no matter what happens you have a room reserved in our Father’s house (John 14:2).