Acts 25:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.

NIV: But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write.

NASB: Yet, I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.

CSB: I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write.

NLT: But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.

Governor Festus is speaking before a crowd in Caesarea Maritima, the city that became his capital a few weeks earlier. His audience includes young military officers, city officials, and King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice (Acts 25:23).

He has gathered them together because he has a problem. The previous governor, Felix, had held a trial wherein the Sanhedrin—the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem—accused a man named Paul of grievous crimes against the Empire and Jewish law. When Felix heard their evidence, however, he realized Paul was completely innocent. And yet, Felix didn't want to irritate the Sanhedrin, so he kept Paul in custody (Acts 24).

Two years later, Festus replaced Felix and held another trial. The same thing happened: the Sanhedrin made charges with no evidence or witnesses and Paul easily refuted them. This time, however, when Festus attempted political maneuvers, Paul demanded his Roman civil rights. As a citizen, he demanded his case be transferred to Rome where a higher court would make the ruling (Acts 25:1–12).

Festus must send Paul to Rome, but he has no workable charges. He hopes Agrippa, an expert in Jewish customs (Acts 26:3), will hear Paul's story and Paul will somehow incriminate himself. Festus has included the city officials for good measure.

Neither the governor nor the king realizes there is a bigger story being told. Decades ago, when Paul traveled to Damascus to arrest Jesus-followers and take them to trial in Jerusalem, Jesus told a man named Ananias that Paul would bring Jesus' name before kings (Acts 9:15). Paul will do so in Acts 26.

Acts 25:23–27 describes Festus giving King Agrippa II and Bernice a flamboyant greeting for the day's entertainment. He has invited the military and civilian leaders to the great hall to hear the story of Paul. This is the man Felix incarcerated for two years, the Sanhedrin wants dead, and who is on his way to have his case tried before Caesar. By the end of Paul's testimony, the room is convinced: Paul hasn't committed any crime (Acts 26). And yet, because he appealed to a higher Roman court (Acts 25:11), he must go.

In Acts 25, the new governor, Festus, must clean up Felix's mess. He tries to ingratiate himself with the Sanhedrin but when they ask him to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial, he refuses. The Sanhedrin agrees to come to Caesarea Maritima, instead, to present their accusations. Festus quickly realizes they don't have a case. Yet when he hesitates to dismiss the charges, Paul appeals the case to a higher court. Festus then invites King Agrippa II, the king's sister Bernice, and the city leaders to hear Paul and determine how to justify Paul's presence before Caesar.

When Felix is called back to Rome to answer for his cruelty, he leaves a bit of a mess. Paul is still under house arrest without charges (Acts 24). When the new governor Festus refuses to exonerate him, Paul appeals to a higher court. Paul is a Roman citizen, so Festus must send him. Yet he still has no formal charges. After inviting King Agrippa II and the city leaders to hear Paul's testimony, they realize Paul has done nothing wrong and should have been released. Paul and Luke survive a harrowing sea voyage but finally arrive at Rome (Acts 27—29).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.