The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 25
Vs. 1-5 Festus was the new governor he was at the city/town of Caesarea. He went to Jerusalem on business. While he was in Jerusalem, some of the Jewish leaders tried to get Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem.
They hoped to get Paul as he traveled and kill him.
(Think about this: These are the leaders even religious church leaders they are not in a war like soldiers who have to kill people but these leaders are planning to murder someone because they do not like what he is preaching.)
Festus does not listen to them. Maybe he sees that they hate Paul and will hurt him, or maybe he just thinks he should take care of Paul’s judgment himself.
Festus tell them that he will soon go back To Caesarea and he will listen to Paul there. If the Jewish leaders want to come to Caesarea they can come.
Vs. 6-12
The Jewish leaders did go to Caesarea to blame Paul. But they could not prove anything.
Paul said that he did not break any rules not of the government nor of the Jewish law.
Festus wanted to please the Jewish leaders and so he asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and stand trial there before Festus.
Paul said No. This is the Roman government’s court. This is where I should be tried.
If you turn me over to the Jewish leaders they will kill me. I have done nothing wrong.
Paul was a Roman citizen so he had a right to a Roman trial. So Paul said he wanted to go before Caesar. Caesar was the top king in Rome, Italy.
Festus talked with some other leaders and then he told Paul that he would send him to Caesar in Rome.
Vs. 13-21
Before Paul was sent to Rome another Roman governor came to visit Festus. His name was Agrippa. Festus told him about Paul.
He told him how when he went to Jerusalem the Jewish leaders wanted to have Paul killed. Festus told them that Paul was a Roman citizen and he had a right to a trial.
Festus said that when the Jewish leaders came to Caesarea that the things they blamed Paul for were things about their religion. It was not what Festus expected them to say. Especially when they wanted Paul dead.
Festus said They kept talking about a man named Jesus. Who died, but Paul says he is alive.
Festus thought all of this talk about Jesus being dead/ alive was crazy talk. He did not understand why they were all upset and wanted to kill Paul for it.
Festus said he asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Jewish leaders and Paul said NO they will kill me. He wants to go to Rome to see Caesar.
Vs. 22-
Agrippa said that he would like to hear what Paul said. So the next day Paul stood before Agrippa to tell his story.
There were many soldiers and high leaders of the town many people were there to hear what Paul said.
(So we see how God is using “bad” times for Paul for more people to hear the story about Jesus and how he died and came to life again. Paul would never have had the opportunity to preach to all of these people except like this.)