Acts 25:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.

NIV: Paul answered: 'I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well.

NASB: But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

CSB: Paul replied, "I am standing at Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well.

NLT: But Paul replied, 'No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: So Paul said, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know.

Festus has just taken the position of governor about two weeks prior. He is trying to develop a good relationship with the Jewish leadership—something the previous governor, Felix, shirked in lieu of cruelty and violence. But Paul is not cooperating.

Paul has been in Caesarea Maritima for two years, ever since the Sanhedrin conspired for his murder (Acts 23:12–15) and presented false accusations before then-governor Felix (Acts 24:5–6). Now, the Sanhedrin has presented the same unprovable and untrue charges in front of Festus (Acts 25:7). They've also asked an official request of Festus: to bring Paul down to Jerusalem for trial. Festus tries to be accommodating, probably not realizing it's a trap for Paul (Acts 25:2–3).

When Paul had first been brought before Felix (Acts 24:1–21), Felix was cruel and corrupt, yet also experienced as a leader over the Jews. Festus is more ethical, but a novice. Felix knew Paul was innocent but delayed the acquittal to please the Sanhedrin (Acts 24:27). Paul doesn't know if Festus has the wherewithal to defy the Jews and release him.

So, when Festus asks Paul if he will allow the trial to move to Jerusalem, Paul declines. Festus is the governor of Caesarea, where they are; Jerusalem, where the "crime" took place; and Cilicia, where Paul is from: Festus has equal jurisdiction in all three places. Because of his Roman citizenship, Paul gets to choose, not Festus. Paul is very likely aware that the bounty on his head had not been lifted (Acts 23:12–15; 25:3).

But Paul has another option. He can choose to have the trial in Caesarea, Jerusalem, Tarsus—or Rome, before a higher court, referred to as an appeal "to Caesar." To free himself of the legal merry-go-round, he appeals "to Caesar" (Acts 25:11). The Sanhedrin is no longer his problem.

Acts 25:6–12 shows Paul taking legal matters into his own hands. He has been incarcerated in Caesarea Maritima for two years without charges. Felix has been replaced by Festus, and the Sanhedrin return to Caesarea to see if their paltry evidence will slip by the new governor. When Festus unwittingly seems about to enable the Sanhedrin to kill Paul, Paul plays his trump card: he is a Roman citizen and he appeals to a higher court, in Rome. After a short audience with King Agrippa II and the leaders of Caesarea, Paul gets his wish (Acts 26—28).

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.