Acts 25:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

NIV: Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I would like to hear this man myself.' He replied, 'Tomorrow you will hear him.'

NASB: Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I also would like to hear the man myself.' 'Tomorrow,' he *said, 'you shall hear him.'

CSB: Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself.""Tomorrow you will hear him," he replied.

NLT: I’d like to hear the man myself,' Agrippa said. And Festus replied, 'You will — tomorrow!'

KJV: Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

NKJV: Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”

As the new governor over a territory that includes the homeland of the Jews, Festus has a steep learning curve. No doubt he has heard of Jews—how they have strict dietary standards and refuse to work on the Sabbath—but he's not familiar with their religion, society, or politics. Still, he wanted to have a good relationship with them, so three days after he arrived in Caesarea Maritima, the capital, he traveled to Jerusalem to meet with the Sanhedrin (Acts 25:1).

Two weeks later, Festus was completely confused. The Sanhedrin asked him to bring Paul, a prisoner left by former-governor Felix, to Jerusalem for trial. Festus explained they must meet in Caesarea first. Because he was a Roman citizen Paul could choose where the hearing would be, and he was being held in Caesarea. The Jews came and offered up several serious charges with no witnesses or even evidence. Paul countered by explaining the conflict had nothing to do with the law—Roman or Jewish. It's all because he believes a Jewish man named Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead about 25 years prior (Acts 25:2–8, 19).

When Festus asked Paul if they could move the trial to Jerusalem, Paul appealed the case to Caesar (Acts 25:11). That is good because now Festus can't legally fulfill the Sanhedrin's request. But it is bad because he must send Paul to Caesar with no charges. There's nothing to try (Acts 25:25–27).

So, when King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrive to show their regards to Festus, the governor asks for help. Agrippa is the grandson of Herod the Great and son of Agrippa I (Acts 12:1–3, 20–23). He knows the people, the culture, the law, and the religion (Acts 26:3). Festus explains to Agrippa what he's up against, and Agrippa agrees to hear Paul.

The next day, Festus invites Agrippa, Bernice, and the leaders of Caesarea (Acts 25:23). Paul describes how he converted from a persecutor of the church into its most active missionary—all because he is certain Jesus rose from the dead. Festus and Agrippa are more convinced than ever before: Paul may be eccentric, but he's not a criminal. If they had heard his story before the hearing with the Sanhedrin—before he appealed to Caesar—they would have let him go (Acts 26).

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.