Acts 25:1 ¶ Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Acts 25:2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
Acts 25:3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
After arriving in Israel, Festus stayed in Caesarea for three days before heading to Jerusalem. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the high priest and some of the other leading religious authorities came before him to once again press charges against Paul. They asked him to send for Paul and bring him to Jerusalem. Once again, they plotted to kill him en route.
Acts 25:4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.
Acts 25:5 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.
Acts 25:6 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.
I am assuming that Felix had apprised him of the situation since he refused their request and told them that they would have to come to Caesarea to make their case. He stayed in Jerusalem for ten more days before returning to Caesarea. The day after returning he commanded for Paul to appear before him at the judgment seat.
Acts 25:7 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.
Acts 25:8 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.
Luke records only a short summary of both prosecution and defense at this point.
The Jewish delegation from Jerusalem was in attendance and made many serious charges against Paul that they could not prove. Paul once again denied that he had not broken any law of the Jews, nor desecrated the temple, nor acted in defiance of Caesar. He was simply not guilty of any offense for which he was charged.
Acts 25:9 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?
Acts 25:10 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.
Acts 25:11 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.
Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Because Festus was new on the job, he wanted to please the Jewish leaders. He asked Paul if he would be willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried in court before him. Paul knew that such a trip would result in his death. He told Festus that he was already standing in the rightful place of judgment. Paul boldly declared that Festus already knew that he was not guilty of any wrongdoing. He went on to state that he was ready to accept a guilty verdict if he was deserving of such, but he wasn’t. He was not about to endanger his life by agreeing to a suicidal trip; therefore, he appealed to Caesar. Though Festus conferred with his advisors, he really had no choice according to Roman law but to send Paul to Caesar since he was a Roman citizen.
Acts 25:13 ¶ And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
Acts 25:14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
Acts 25:15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
Acts 25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
Sometime later king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to welcome Festus to Israel. After several days Festus told the king about Paul’s case. He told the king that Felix had left a certain man in custody that the religious leaders in Jerusalem were eager to have condemned to death. He had told these leaders that Roman law forbade the condemnation of any man without due process of law that allowed him to defend himself against the charges made against him.
Acts 25:17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
Acts 25:18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
Acts 25:19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Acts 25:20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
Acts 25:21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.
Festus notes the intense hatred of these Jews by noting that they were present the very next day on his return to Caesarea to see Paul tried. The governor goes on to tell the king that he was surprised once he heard their accusations against the man. There was nothing for which he could adjudicate against Paul according to Roman law; their accusations all centered on the practice of their own “superstitions” and the fact that he declared himself a follower of Jesus—a man that had been killed but whom Paul declared to be alive.
Festus declared that he did not know how to proceed against such charges, so he asked Paul if he would be willing to stand trial in Jerusalem. Paul had refused and appealed his case to Caesar and was now in custody until he could make arrangements to send him to Rome.
Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
Acts 25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
Acts 25:24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Acts 25:25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
Agrippa told Festus that he would like to hear from Paul himself, so Festus told him he would arrange it for the next day. Agrippa and Bernice entered the justice hall with great ceremony accompanied by some of the most prominent men and military leaders in the city. Festus then commanded that Paul be brought forward. Festus identified Paul as the man against whom many of the Jewish leaders both in Caesarea and in Jerusalem are seeking the death penalty. The governor also made it clear that he could not find that Paul had done anything worthy of pronouncing such judgment. He noted that Paul had appealed to Caesar, and that he was determined to honor his request.
Acts 25:26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
Acts 25:27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Now the pretext for this gathering—to let king Agrippa question Paul and help Festus determine how to compose a letter to Caesar in sending the man to Caesar to stand trial. Festus didn’t think the Caesar would consider it reasonable to have a man sent to appear before him for trial without identifying specific charges against him.
Acts 26:1 ¶ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
Acts 26:3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
Luke’s narrative continues of the flow of events that began in chapter 21.
King Agrippa turned his attention to Paul and granted him permission to speak in his own defense. Paul declared it would be his pleasure to answer the accusations made against him by the Jewish religious leaders before the king because he knew that the king was quite knowledgeable of the customs and teachings of the Jews. He then begged the king’s indulgence as he began his defense.
David Guzik made an interesting observation about Agrippa: “Paul stood before the man whose great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred the first apostle, James.”
Acts 26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Acts 26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
Acts 26:7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
Acts 26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Paul noted that it was well known that he had grown up among his own people, the Jewish people, both in Tarsus (where he was born) and later in Jerusalem (where he came to study with Gamaliel). Those who had known him the longest could testify that he had lived in strict obedience to the law as a Pharisee, the most exacting sect of Jewish religion.
I like the CJB translation of verse 8: “How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers!”
Paul explained that it was the expectation of the fulfillment of this very promise that was the primary motivation for the Jews continued commitment to serving God. Paul declared that it was because of his belief in this same hope—the hope of resurrection from the dead to enjoy life in God’s kingdom—that the Jews were pressing charges against him. Why? Because he based his hope in the resurrected LORD Jesus.
Considering that the Jews believed in the God of their fathers as described in the Torah, Paul wondered why they would question his testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Continuing his testimony, Paul goes on to tell that he had also once thought the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth to be false teaching and had persecuted those that followed Jesus. Paul revealed that with the authority of the chief priests he had put many of those that followed Jesus in prison and agreed with the decision to execute them. Paul told how he had searched out these people in the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme God and deny their faith. He was so passionate in his efforts to eradicate this sect that he even sought permission to seek them out in other countries.
Sad to say, this brings to mind the tactics of Islamic radicals today.
Acts 26:12 ¶ Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Acts 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
One day Paul had been authorized and commissioned by the chief priests to seek out the followers of Jesus in Damascus. Paul described how at noon, a great light from heaven, a light that was brighter than the sun, surrounded him and his companions. It caused them all to fall to their knees. He then heard a voice speaking to him in the Hebrew tongue saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? Why are you fighting me?” (my paraphrase) He then told Agrippa that the voice identified Himself as “Jesus whom thou persecutest.” In other words, by persecuting those that were His followers, Paul was actually persecuting the LORD.
I am reminded that we are “in Christ” and that He indwells us in the person of the Holy Spirit. Everything that we who place our faith in Him experience, He experiences.
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
John 14:16–17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
“it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” - The NIV Commentary describes this phrase as an expression for opposition to deity. It states, “Lest he be misunderstood as proclaiming only a Galilean prophet he had formerly opposed, he was pointing out what was obvious to any Jew: correction by a voice from heaven meant opposition to God himself.”
Acts 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul continues by telling how the LORD commanded him to get up and get ready to serve Him. The LORD told him that he had been chosen to serve God by giving testimony to the LORD’s revelation of Himself to Paul both then and in the future. Jesus told him that he would rescue him from the attacks of both the Jews and Gentiles to whom he would be sent to declare the gospel. His mission would be to encourage them to open their eyes and turn from darkness to light, from following Satan to following God. He was to share with them how they could get forgiveness for their sins and receive the inheritance that was promised to those who were saved by faith in Jesus.
As I read this section, I thought of the following verses.
John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
1 Peter 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you….”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Interesting insight from Wiersbe: “The word ‘minister’ means ‘an underrower’ and refers to a lowly servant on a galley ship. Paul had been accustomed to being an honored leader, but after his conversion he became a subordinate worker, and Jesus Christ became his Master.”
Acts 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Acts 26:21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Paul told king Agrippa that he could not disobey his vision from heaven. He began giving his testimony first in Damascus, then Jerusalem, and throughout Israel, and finally to the Gentiles. He was faithful to declare the gospel message—that men should repent of their sins and turn to faith in God, proving their faith by their works.
Paul concludes that it was for obeying the LORD God that the Jewish leaders took hold of him with intent to kill him.
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Paul testified that with God’s help (in spite of great persecution) he had continued in the work God had called him to until this very day. He witnessed to everyone without regard to his/her position in society. He had been faithful to testify to those things that had been fulfilled by the prophecies of Moses and the prophets. They had prophesied that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead to an eternal existence. This Messiah, Jesus, would be a light to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles.
I cannot read this section without thinking of the words of Isaiah.
Isaiah 53:5 & 10-11 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
And of Zechariah.
Zechariah 12:10, 13:6 & 14:9 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn….And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends….And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”
The prophecies of Moses are apparent through the types that are apparent in retrospect as we consider the LORD’s death and resurrection, e.g.:
By the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac and God intervening to provide the sacrifice.
By the Passover – the sacrifice of an innocent lamb without blemish to provide for the deliverance of those who placed their faith in God.
Regarding a servant to provide light to the Gentiles, I again go back to Isaiah.
Isaiah 42:1–7 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles….He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law….I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
Acts 26:24 ¶ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
Acts 26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
It seems that Festus could take no more, so he interrupts and accuses Paul of being a mad man. Paul assured the governor that he was quite sane and speaking the truth. Paul appealed to Agrippa to affirm him. He declared that he was sure that Agrippa was keenly aware of the truth of his words.
Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Paul turned to directly address Agrippa asking him if he believed the prophets; then declaring that he knew Agrippa believed them before he could even answer. Agrippa basically affirmed Paul’s conclusion by declaring that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian himself.
Paul mirrored the heart of God when he declared that he wished that not only Agrippa, but also everyone that heard his testimony that day were “such as I am”—inferring, a Christian, a follower of Jesus—but not a prisoner.
Acts 26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Acts 26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Acts 26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Finally, the king, the governor, Bernice and the governor’s counselors separated themselves to confer. They agreed that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment. Agrippa noted that they could have set Paul free if he had not appealed to Caesar. (Evidently, once he made an appeal to Caesar, the course of events could not be changed.)