Acts 25:1 - 26:32

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Acts

Rusty's Notes

• We left off with Paul in prison in Caesarea at Herod’s Palace where his friends were able to visit him.

Acts 24:27 -  After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.[1]
 
APPEAL TO CAESAR
ACTS 25

• Spring, 60 AD
• Two years in prison with the thought of death lingering over his head.
• But he also trusted God and remembered that in Acts 23:11 – Jesus stood over Paul and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”[2]

1 Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

• Knowing how important it was for him to get along well with the Jewish leaders, Festus lost no time in visiting the holy city and paying his respects; and the leaders lost no time in bringing up Paul’s case.
• The new high priest was Ishmael; he had replaced Jonathan who had been killed by Felix.
• Ishmael wanted to resurrect the plot of two years before and remove Paul once and for all.[3]

2 The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed, 3 asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. 4 Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”

• Was this Festus’ wisdom or was this the Lord’s plan to protect Paul?

6 When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal (judgment seat, “bema seat”), he commanded Paul to be brought in. 7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove. 8 Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”
9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”
10 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. 11 If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

• A Roman judge could not move a case to another court without the consent of the accused, and Paul refused to go!
• Instead, he claimed the right of every Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar.[4]
• He knew his fate at the hands of leadership in Jerusalem and also knew that he would have protection for his trip to Rome.
• With one statement, he paved his way to safety and greatly disappointed the Sanhedrin.

12 Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

• Festus is legally bound to write a report to Caesar and send it with Paul to Rome.
• But Festus doesn’t have anything to charge Paul with base upon what he has heard from the Sanhedrin.
• He agrees to send Paul to Nero to be judged.

 
KING AGRIPPA AND BERNICE VISIT FESTUS
13 Several days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid a courtesy call on Festus.

• This youthful king, the last of the Herodians to rule, was the great-grandson of the Herod who killed the Bethlehem babes, and the son of the Herod who killed the Apostle James (Acts 12).
• Acts 12:23 - At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.[5]
• The fact that his sister lived with him created a great deal of suspicion on the part of the Jewish people, for their Law clearly condemned incest (Lev. 18:1–18; 20:11–21).
• Rome had given Herod Agrippa II legal jurisdiction over the temple in Jerusalem, so it was logical that Festus share Paul’s case with him.[6]

14 Since they were staying there several days, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There’s a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews presented their case and asked that he be condemned. 16 I answered them that it is not the Roman custom to give someone up before the accused faces the accusers and has an opportunity for a defense against the charges. 17 So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The next day I took my seat at the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 The accusers stood up but brought no charge against him of the evils I was expecting. 19 Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive. 20 Since I was at a loss in a dispute over such things, I asked him if he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding these matters. 21 But when Paul appealed to be held for trial by the Emperor (Nero), I ordered him to be kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.”
“Tomorrow you will hear him,” he replied.

• Herod was much more knowledgeable of Jewish law than Festus.
• He had lived in the area and dealt with many Jewish situations already.
• Perhaps he could help Festus come up with the crime to charge Paul with before he is sent to Rome.

 
PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA
23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city.

• This same accusation has been around for two years.
• Everyone was very familiar with Paul’s plight.
• They wanted to see how the soap opera would end… or continue.
• Acts 9:15-16 - But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”[7]

When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer. 25 I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 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. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
 
PAUL’S DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA
26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

• This is Paul’s longest speech in Acts.
• Pomp & circumstance… wedding… now listen to me.

1. Paul was a Pharisee

4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. (son of a Pharisee) 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope. 8 Why do any of you (plural… looking at the Pharisees)

• The Greeks, Romans and Sadducees did not believe in resurrection.

consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

• “I am the chief of all sinners.”

 
PAUL’S ACCOUNT OF HIS CONVERSION AND COMMISSION

1. Paul saw the Light

12 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.

• Blinded for three days.
• Lived in spiritual darkness as a Pharisee
• He walked in religion that killed (the Law)
• He didn’t realize what he knew so well was the instrument for him to see that he needed a Savior.
• And then he saw the Light (grace)

1. Paul heard a voice.

14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

• Like an animal that fights the prods.

15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant (minister)

• An “under-rower” – a lowly servant on a galley ship.
• From being an honored leader to a humble subordinate worker.

and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

• Rescued from religion to salvation.

1. Paul was not disobedient

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me.

• It is because he equated the Gentiles with the Jews when it came to receiving salvation.

1. Paul continues to this day

22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place--23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

• He said it… the word “Gentiles” and the place went nuts!
• Paul and the apostles only had the Old Testament to teach from.
• They used the Scripture to lead people to Jesus.
• Isaiah 49:6 - he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”[8]​

 
AGRIPPA NOT QUITE PERSUADED
24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”

• How could the governor plead ignorance?
• When Jesus was on trial, The Jewish Sanhedrin was involved and so was the Roman governor, Pilate.
• Jesus of Nazareth had been a famous public figure for at least three years, and huge crowds had followed Him.[9]
• There had to be a part of understanding on Festus’ part.
• Who would send a crazy man to the Emperor?
• Festus was being convicted.

25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”

• How could he say “no” with Sanhedrin standing in front of him?
• He needed to be on good standing with the Jews.

28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

• Festus dismissed Paul by calling him crazy.
• Agrippa basically said, “Do you think your little story is going to cause me to trust in Jesus?”

29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”

• Paul was passionately trying for Festus and Agrippa to hear his words and come to salvation.
• To a point where they both were uncomfortable and decided to end this escapade.

30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”[10]

• Paul knew he had to get to Rome.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 24:27). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 23:11). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 503). Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 503). Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 12:23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 503). Victor Books
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 9:15–16). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Is 49:6). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 506). Victor Books.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Ac 25:1–26:32). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.