Acts Bible Study: Acts 25:1-12

Acts 25:1–12 (NASB)

1 Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him, 3 requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4 Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.” 6 After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, 8 while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.” 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. 11 “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

New Leaders, Same Kind of Leadership: (v. 1-5)

1 Festus then, having arrived in the province, three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul, and they were urging him, 3 requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4 Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them prosecute him.”

Summary: three days after Festus gets to Judea as the new Roman leader in the region, he goes straight away to Jerusalem to try and get off on a good foot with the Jewish leaders. Remember, they were the ones that got Felix ousted by Nero.

When Festus gets to Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders want him to deal with Paul, right way. (v. 3) Notice it says they requested a “concession”. They were asking for a favor or more likely this was what it was going to take to get on their good side.

The Greek word for “concession” is “charis”. It is where we get our word “charity”. Charis is used about 150 times in the NT and it is most often translated “favor”, kindness” or “grace”. It is about gaining favor and often used to describe something done that causes a favorable outcome.

They asked for this concession and yet still plotted to kill Paul on the way from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Fetsus, however, played the part of a politician well and had them follow him back to Caesarea to bring charges against Paul. This tells us the Festus was not aware of the previous allegations against Paul.

Porcius Festus: (Ruled as Procurator of Judea 59-61 AD)

According to Josephus, he was a “more upright ruler” than Felix.

Josephus gives an example of his just care for the Jews…

When Festus took his position, bandits were regularly raiding the countryside, plundering and burning villages. They also mingled into crowds of Jewish worshipers and killed some of the people. Festus sent an imposter to go to the bandits, promising them more plunder. The imposter led the bandits to the wilderness where Festus’ forces awaited their arrival, and they killed the all the bandits.

Most historians from the time period agree with Josephus and call Festus both fair and just.

However, he only lasted a few years because Jewish hostilities toward Rome greatly increased during his rule. Apparently it had nothing to do with Festus, unlike their hatred of Felix, and the Jewish hostilities were all about Roman rule as a whole.

High Priest Ishmael ben Phiabi

There was also a new High Priest in Jerusalem at this time. If you remember the Ananias was the high priest that was originally going after Paul (Acts 23:1-5; Acts 24:1.) He was replaced by a guy name Jonathan. He was only high priest about a year because he got on the wrong side of those in power and was put to death by Herod Agrippa II. Herod then appointed Ishmael to replace Jonathan.

According to Josephus, Ishmael was a Sadducee, a member of the Jewish Council, and one of the delegation sent to Rome in 60 AD in connection with Agrippa ii's opposition to a wall erected at the Temple by the priests. Nero ended up imprisoning Ishmael in Rome. We don’t know exactly what happened to him after that, but the Talmud does mentioned he died in Rome so most historians believe Nero had him executed.

***(Do you notice a theme? All the leaders that oppose Paul end up with a pretty rough end to their lives)***

Romans 14:12 (NASB)

12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

New leaders, same problems for Paul: (v. 3)

Acts 23:12–15 (NASB)

12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

But Paul there is no indication that Paul was worried. Probably because he remembered the words Jesus spoke to him earlier:

Acts 23:11 (NASB)

11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

Sometime in the next couple years, Paul was in prison in Rome and he wrote these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When you consider the context, they are even more powerful than we might initially notice...

Philippians 4:5–7 (NASB)

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Same song, second verse: (v. 6-8)

6 After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove, 8 while Paul said in his own defense, “I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar...”

This is very similar to what they did when Felix is in charge, back in Acts 24:1-22, but this time they don’t have their orator/lawyer with them. What does that tell us?

This is the same kind of thing the Apostles dealt with before Paul.

Acts 4:5–23 (NASB)

5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

[Also Acts 5:17-42 (Peter and John); Acts 8:1-3 (Saul’s persecution); Acts 12:1-19 (Peter imprisoned); Acts 16:22-30 (Paul and Silas imprisoned); and Acts 21:27-40 (Paul arrested in Jerusalem)]

This is the same kind of thing Jesus dealt with.

Luke 22:54–71 (NASB)

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance. 55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, 64 and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” 65 And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming. 66 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber, saying, 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I ask a question, you will not answer. 69 “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”

Luke 23 (before Pilate and Herod)

The things Jesus said ring so true here...

John 15:20–21 (NASB)

20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

Mark 13:11 (NASB)

11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

Paul Makes His Appeal: (v. 9-12)

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. 11 “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go.”

Festus might have been a more upright ruler than Felix, but he was still unjust when it came to his treatment of Paul, just like Felix was.

Acts 24:27 (NASB)

27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

Rememeber what I said about those he opposed Paul and treated him with injustice? Festus was no different. In 61 AD he died in office. There aren’t any historians that claim he was killed it office, he just seems to have died of natural causes… maybe a heart attack, a stroke or something like that.

Deuteronomy 32:35–36 (NASB)

35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ 36 “For the Lord will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants...

(Romans 12:19)

Psalm 27:1–3 (NASB)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.

Paul gives us an example of how to submit to the governing authorities… (v. 10-11)

Romans 13:1–7 (NASB)

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Discussion Questions:

How does the historical context impact your understanding of this passage?

What do you think about Paul’s actions here?

What about Felix overall? What do we think about him?

Where else do you see God at work in this text?

Any other thoughts, observations or questions?