Acts 25:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.

NIV: Festus answered, "Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

NASB: Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly.

CSB: Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.

NLT: But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon.

KJV: But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

NKJV: But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.

Porcius Festus is the new governor of the districts along the shore of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. He'd only been in his capital, Caesarea Maritima, three days before he traveled to meet with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

Festus had replaced Felix. This happened after the people of Caesarea complained so much that the Emperor—the infamously tyrannical Nero—called Felix to Rome to answer for his cruelty and corruption. Festus wishes to make a good impression with the locals, and he does so. History reports that he was fair and reasonable. He even eliminated the Sicarii: the assassins Felix sometimes used to keep the peace. He's not very well-versed in the culture (Acts 26:24), however, and although he knows about Paul, he may not know the whole back-story.

Two years prior, Paul had been the victim of a smear campaign. Individuals and groups accused him of things like rejecting the Mosaic law and desecrating the temple (Acts 21:20–21, 27–28). When the Roman army tribune brought him before the Sanhedrin to get clarity on the matter, Paul insulted the high priest and managed to goad the members into a fight (Acts 23:6–10).

The Sanhedrin responded initially by trying to use the tribune to enable a plot to assassinate Paul (Acts 23:12–15). When Paul's nephew foiled their plans (Acts 23:16–22) and the tribune sent Paul to the governor (Acts 23:23–24), the Sanhedrin brought formal charges against Paul. Since they had no evidence or witnesses, Felix refused to convict him but kept him under house arrest (Acts 24).

As soon as the Sanhedrin meets the new governor, they ask for a formal favor: to bring Paul to Jerusalem for a new trial (Acts 25:2–3). Festus knows Paul is in Caesarea, but it's unclear how much else he understands. He invites the Sanhedrin to send representatives for a hearing to determine if they have a case…which they do not (Acts 25:18–20).

Acts 25:1–5 describes the new governor, Festus, meeting the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They immediately present the one thing Festus can do to earn their good graces: bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial. Festus doesn't know it's a trap. He does know Paul is a Roman citizen and has the right to choose the place of his trial. For good reason, Paul does not want to go to Jerusalem. Festus invites the leaders to the capital, Caesarea Maritima, to present their case.

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.