Assignment 10.4 to 10.17.09 (two weeks)

[Irving]

Assignment 10.4 to 10.17 (two weeks)
Acts Chapter
25.

Preface: After two years in confinement in Caesarea, relieved by some
concessions from the Governor, Felix, Paul now found himself under the
control of a new Governor, Porcious Festus. Felix had been removed
for incompetence, and, despite his attempt to ingratiate the Jewish
leaders by keeping Paul in prison, those perpetual discontents
organized a delegation to go to Rome to indict Felix for
maladministration. Felix’s brother Pallas had enough influence with
the Emperor, Nero, to have the charges dropped. Subsequently Felix and
his wife drop out of history. There is a record, however, of their son
and his wife,two of the large, unfortunate number of people who died
in the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. This information
is not found in Scripture but in other documents including the
historical works of Josephus.

Porcious Festus, displaying political wisdom, made an early visit to
Jerusalem, rather than remaining at the Roman Provincial capitol in
Caesarea. When he learned, from the priests, of Paul’s case, he
invited them to come with him to his court and renew their charges
against Paul there, rather than accepting their suggestion to have
Paul returned to Jerusalem. Festus could not have known that they had
planned an ambush of Paul somewhere on a return trip, but, again,
displaying good judgment, countered with his invitation. They agreed
and Paul had his second formal hearing before a Roman governor of
Judea

At the hearing, the Jews stood around Paul and leveled their same old
serious charges against Paul, but without any substantial proof.
Again, Paul made his defense, declaring that had not transgressed laws
of the Jews, of the Temple or of the Roman Empire. Festus, now wishing
to curry the favor of the Jewish leaders, to ease his future dealings
with this intransigent Group, asked Paul if were willing to go to
Jerusalem to stand trial before him there.

Imagine how Paul must have felt after spending 24 months cooling his
heels in prison, and now to be offered a trial in the venue of his
accusers. From the tenor of his next words we conclude that he
controlled his temper and responded in a well-reasoned reply. He
stated the obvious, that he was in a Roman court, where I should be
tried, and he said, boldly, that Festus knew that he was not guilty
of these alleged crimes. Then, conscious of the divine message that he
had received that God wanted him to go to Rome to preach the Gospel
there, he professed his willingness to die if he deserved death, but
if the charges brought against him by these Jews are false, no one
( implying the inclusion of Festus) has the right to hand me over
them!! Then, as a Roman citizen, he exclaims, “ I appeal to Caesar.
The cautious Roman politician confers with his advisers and gives Paul
his answer.
You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.

Within a few days, Herod Agrippa II, the last of the Herodian line to
hold a kingdom, visited Caesarea to pay respects to the new governor.
He was in the company of his sister, Bernice, with whom he lived in an
incestuous relationship. Agrippa II gave support to Judaism,
completing the Temple restoration in Jerusalem and paving important
streets in the city with marble, but his loyalty to Rome came first.
He sided with Rome in the Jewish revolt of 66 A.D., regained his
throne after temporary loss in the revolt, and had a close association
with Titus, the Roman conqueror of Jerusalem. Eventually, Agrippa II
moved to Rome and died there in 93 A.D.

Festus took the opportunity to consult with Agrippa II about Paul’s
case. He laid out the history of the case before Agrippa II, and made
a point of saying that the charges made against Paul, were totally
unexpected by him. He said they were points of dispute about their
religion and about a dead man named Jesus, whom Paul maintained was
still alive.
Festus admitted that he was at a loss about how to investigate such
charges, and had, therefore, asked Paul if he would be willing to
return to Jerusalem to stand trial there. But then Paul made an appeal
to be tried by Caesar, so I have held him until I can arrange his
travel to Rome.

Then Agrippa said that he wanted to talk to Paul himself. Festus
replied that it could be arranged the very next day. The trial took
place in an audience room with high ranking officers and leading men
of the city. Agrippa II and Bernice entered with great pomp. Paul was
brought in. Festus began the proceedings relating again a brief
history of the case and stated that he found no basis for execution,
which the Jews were demanding. He went on to say that because Paul had
appealed to Caesar, he had decided to send him to Rome.
Then Festus explained why he thought it important to involve Agrippa,
namely, to help him prepare a brief for the Emperor’s eyes, defining
why Paul was being sent to him. He said it was unreasonable to send a
man to the Emperor without specifying charges against him . He
probably was worried that if he did not provide some reasonable basis
for sending Paul, he would not be well regarded in Rome.

Then, as recorded at the start of Chapter 26, Agrippa II spoke up and
gave Paul permission to speak for himself.

verses 1-5: Festus makes haste to get acquainted with the Jewish
leadership in Jerusalem.
The difficulties of governing the Jews was well known among Roman
governmental figures, and Festus was anxious to start off on the right
foot. Immediately, the Jews bring up the case of Paul, and ask, as a
favor ( not unaware of Festus’ inclination to gain their good opinion)
that he bring Paul back to Jerusalem, ostensibly for trial, but
really to facilitate their ambush and killing of Paul. Festus counters
with his invitation for their accompanying him back to Caesarea for a
trial there.

verses 6, 7: After spending 8 or ten days, sufficiently long to
establish some reciprocal familiarity, they make the approximately 85
mile trip to Caesarea. Convening the court the next day probably means
the day after arrival because the trip would have taken more than one
day. There was nothing new in the charges brought against Paul by the
Jews.

verse 8: There was nothing new in Paul’s defense against the charges
either.

verse 9: The verse says Festus wanted curry favor with the Jews with
his question to Paul as to whether he would be willing to return to
Jerusalem for trial. Later in this chapter see evidence that Festus
was on strange ground with these complaints against religious laws.
Perhaps, at this point he thought it would be easier for him to gain
some familiarity with the religious charges in a Jerusalem venue.

verses 10-12: Paul will have nothing to do with a return to Jerusalem.
In addition to the immediate factors confronting Paul, he also had
knowledge that God wanted him to get to Rome. (see 23:11). He, again,
used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Rome,for the apparent reason
that he could not get a fair Roman trial in Caesarea, even though he
was standing in a Roman Court when he made the appeal to Caesar. The
cautious Festus conferred with advisers and told Paul that he was
going to Rome.

verses 13-15: Agrippa II, who had been educated in Rome was too
young (17) to ascend his father’s throne upon his death, but by age
50 he had received the throne of his deceased uncle, Challcis. By age
53 he was permitted to exchange this rule for that of former tetrachy
of Philip plus some territories in Lebanon. This made him the puppet
king whose territory included Caesarea. When he and his sister Bernice
visited the new governor, Festus, to pay their respects, the latter
used the opportunity to consult with Agrippa, particularly to learn
more about the religious aspects of Paul’s case. Agrippa II had
partial Jewish ancestry and was familiar with Jewish culture and
religion. Festus related the details he knew about the case to Agrippa
II.

verses 16-20: Festus details his own involvement in the case to
Agrippa II. Although it is not revealed in earlier verses, Festus
tells Agrippa that he had told the Jewish leaders that it was contrary
to Roman custom to turn an accused man over to his accusers before he
has a chance to defend himself against their charges. Whether he lied
to Agrippa II to make his performance appear more professional, or the
record has not shown this explanation to the Jews, we cannot know.
Festus also reveals to Agrippa II that the charges raise against Paul
were totally u unexpected on his part. These were alleged violations
against religious laws. Festus confesses that he was at a loss to
investigate these matters. This was his reason, Festus said, for his
asking Paul if he would be willing to be tried again, but under him,
in Jerusalem.

verse 21: Festus concludes his case description to Agrippa II with
his conclusion to honor Paul’s appeal to the Emperor and the statement
that he was holding him until travel arrangements could b made.

verse 22: Agrippa, now intrigued, tells Festus that he would like to
hear Paul himself, and Festus replies that it could done the very next
day.

verse 23 - 27: Festus did not arrange a private audience with Agrippa
for Paul. The room where the meeting was to take place was filled with
high ranking officials and leading men of the city. Festus began the
proceedings by calling for Paul to brought in. He addressed King
Agrippa and all present. He summarizes Paul’s case in four points. (1)
The Jewish community and leaders in both Jerusalem and Caesarea have
charged that his crimes require the punishment of death.(2) I have
found that he has done nothing deserving death. (3) Because he has
appealed to the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. (4) I
need help, especially from King Agrippa to write a suitable letter to
the Emperor justifying hi being tried before him.

In Chapter 26, we will take up Agrippa’s reply.

Study Questions for
Chapter 25

1. In the remarks of Festus to Agrippa alone and later to the
officials and leading men of the city as well as Agrippa, he leaves
out the detail that Paul’s appeal to the Emperor was made as Paul saw
it as his only alternative to another sham trial in Jerusalem. What do
you think might have happened if Paul had not appealed to Rome? What
does this tell you about Festus?

2. Make a comparison between Felix and Festus with respect to their
treatment of Paul.

3. Do you think Paul would have made the appeal to Rome if he had not
had the divine communication reported in Acts 23:11?

4. After seeing the persistence of the Jewish leaders in their
campaign against Paul , what can you say about their motives?