The Trial Before Festus
THE TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS
ACTS 25:1-12
As a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to have his case heard by the highest court, the emperor himself. Once he’d made that appeal, the local authorities had to see he reached Rome.
Festus succeeded to the office of procurator at Caesarea in AD 58. Little is known of him—in fact, virtually nothing apart from what Luke and the Jewish historian Josephus tell us.
Paul’s fortunes seem to be unchanged. The Roman authorities were unwilling to decide his case; one motive for such tardiness is given in 24:27. The next scene is fraught with momentous consequences. A second deputation of Jews, sent from Jerusalem, had nothing new to say and repeated the unfounded charges as on the former occasion (25:7). Paul simply denied any complicity (25:8). Then came the decision-laden question. “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem?” (25:9). The prisoner was clearly at the crossroads. If he said yes, he would play himself nicely into the hands of his accusers, perhaps admitting that there was a case to answer and that they were competent to act in this matter. Besides, his safety was involved, and he must have known something of the attempt which was planned on his life (25:3). On the other side, to refuse now might alienate Festus and lose the protection of Roman custody.
Paul gave a deliberate reply, probably using the technical phrase to which he was entitled as a citizen of the empire: Caesarem appello—“I appeal to Caesar” (25:11). This exercise of his privilege at once quashed all local proceedings, and transferred his case to the imperial court of Nero in Rome, as Festus perceived (25:12). So, in a roundabout way, the divine purpose was strangely carried forward (23:11).
Notes 25:3,9: Festus, having been asked this favor, grants it. His motto seems to have been “Anything for a quiet life.” Considerations of justice and fair play don’t seem to have weighed much. Herod Agrippa is more forthright (26:31). 25:8: “against Caesar”; this shows that the Jews were accusing him of a political offense. 25:11: a final plea of innocence, implying that there were no charges to answer. The appeal to Caesar indicates that Paul had despaired of any justice at such a crooked court where a plaintiff’s “favor” influences the presiding judge on the tribunal seat (25:3,9).
Pray for all who make and administer our laws.