Acts 25:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

NIV: For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.'

NASB: For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him as well.'

CSB: For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."

NLT: For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!'

KJV: For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

NKJV: For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

Festus finishes his introduction. He has invited King Agrippa II, Agrippa's sister Bernice, and the tribunes and officials of Caesarea Maritima to hear a story. This is the testimony of a Jewish man named Paul who had been charged with serious crimes by the Sanhedrin (Acts 25:23–24). The former governor, Felix, had kept Paul in custody for two years after refusing to decide on his case. In truth, Paul is completely innocent, but Felix didn't want to irritate the Sanhedrin by releasing him. Felix may have used secret assassins to squash rebellions, but he didn't want to cross the Jewish leadership (Acts 24:22–27).

When Festus held a second trial, two weeks after his arrival, he understood Felix's point of view. Paul is innocent and the Sanhedrin is formidable. He asked Paul if he wouldn't mind acquiescing to the Sanhedrin's request to move the trial from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Paul chose Rome. Jerusalem was out of the question because the Sanhedrin would just kill him along the way (Acts 25:3). Caesarea was proving, once again, to be useless. As a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to appeal his case to a higher court—an appeal "to Caesar"—and so he did (Acts 25:6–12).

In a moment, Paul will begin his story. He will explain that his main criticism from the Sanhedrin doesn't involve the Jewish or Roman laws. Rather, it's because he believes Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead about twenty-five years prior. The Jewish leaders are angry because he used to persecute Jesus-followers (Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–2) and now he spreads Jesus' message. And even though Festus thinks Paul is out of his mind, Paul would love it if Agrippa came to a right relationship with Christ (Acts 26:1–29).

When Paul is finished, the officials excuse themselves to discuss the case. They all agree Paul has committed no crime. There's nothing to tell Caesar (Acts 26:30–31). Agrippa adds, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar" (Acts 26:32).

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.