ACTS LESSON 54


     Let me lay a little ground work from the previous lesson. We know
that Felix had imprisoned Paul for over two years, and Paul had
preached the gospel to him. When Felix was succeeded by Festus, he
tried to settle the Paul problem by trying to talk Paul into going to
Jerusalem to be tried. Paul refused and appealed to Caesar, which was
his right, as a Roman citizen. Soon after Festus took office, he was
visited by King Agrippa and his sister Bernice. After Agrippa has
stayed a few days, Festus tells him about Paul. He is still explaining
the problem to Agrippa, as we pick up the lesson here in Acts 25:15.

    Acts 25:15 "About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests
and the elders of the Jews informed [me], desiring [to have] judgment
against him."

    The chief priests and elders of the Jews had so much hate built up
of Paul, that after two years they were still wanting to kill him.

    Acts 25:16 "To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans
to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the
accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself
concerning the crime laid against him."

    Festus wants Agrippa to know that he has not gone beyond the Roman
law in this matter.  He is trying to make a good impression on Agrippa
the king. He recites to Agrippa the law of the Romans pertaining to
this situation. He is saying, I know the Roman law and I stick to it.

    Acts 25:17 "Therefore, when they were come hither, without any
delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man
to be brought forth."

    Here, we see that Festus is explaining to Agrippa that he had not
avoided this problem, but had fully done his job.

    Acts 25:18 "Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought
none accusation of such things as I supposed:" Acts 25:19 "But had
certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one
Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive."

    It appears that Festus knows very little about Christianity or
Judaism. He even calls their religious belief "superstition". He was
telling Agrippa, I thought they would accuse him of breaking some
civil law, but the law they were accusing him of breaking was their
religious law.

    Acts 25:20 "And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I
asked [him] whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of
these matters."

    Festus wants Agrippa to know that he did not overlook the wishes
of the Jews either.
    Acts 25:21 "But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the
hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him
to Caesar."

    Here we hear an apology by Festus to Agrippa for holding Paul
over. He is just explaining why he kept Paul over.

    Acts 25:22 "Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the
man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him."

    All of this has stirred an interest in Agrippa.  Agrippa, being a
Jew, and a king, feels that he might be able to settle this matter
himself. He is the superior here and tells Festus that he wants to
question Paul the next day. Festus tells him that he will see to it.

    Acts 25:23 "And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice,
with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the
chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment
Paul was brought forth."

    We see, here, that all the men of the city, who had any position
of rule, came to sit in on this meeting of Agrippa and Bernice with
Paul.  There was much show of world power. This show was put on for
Bernice and Agrippa. This was probably a large room where trials were
generally held. This outward show of world importance is done in honor
of visiting dignitaries. Festus, being in direct charge of Paul,
commanded him to be brought forth to be examined by Agrippa.

    Acts 25:24 "And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are
here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of
the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and [also] here,
crying that he ought not to live any longer."

    Festus had just been in power a few days, and had made his first
trip as ruler to Jerusalem, when the Jews came to him and asked him to
turn Paul over to them. They wanted to kill Paul, but they were not
able to convince Festus that he had done anything worthy of death.
Now Festus has explained to all of those present who this Paul is who
will stand before them. The Jerusalem Jews were not present at this
meeting.

    Acts 25:25 "But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy
of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have
determined to send him."

    Remember, Festus has to defend his own decisions at this time,
because he has just been in power a very short time.  He says here,
that his decision to send Paul to Augustus Caesar was because Paul had
requested that, as a Roman citizen.

    Acts 25:26 "Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before
thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have
somewhat to write."
    Here, we see Festus, in front of all these witnesses, shifting the
responsibility of deciding about Paul over to Agrippa. The name
lord (not capitalized) was many times used in speaking of someone who
had rule over you.

    Acts 25:27 "For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner,
and not withal to signify the crimes [laid] against him."

    This is almost a plea by Festus. He says, how can I send a man to
Rome to be tried, when I really have not heard any charges placed
against him that would be of interest to a Roman court?


                                 Notes








































                           Acts 54 Questions


1.  Who had imprisoned Paul for over two years?
2.  Who was Felix replaced with, as ruler?
3.  Who had Paul appealed his case to?
4.  Who was Festus visited by, soon after taking office?
5.  Who had tried to get judgement against Paul?
6.  What was the right of a Roman to do, before he was delivered to
    die?
7.  Why is Festus going into such detail to explain to Agrippa, what
    he had done?
8.  In verse 19, he called their religious beliefs what?
9.  When Paul appealed to Caesar, what did Festus do?
10. In verse 22, what does Agrippa tell Festus?
11. Why did he want to do this?
12. How did Agrippa and Bernice come to the hall?
13. Who else was present?
14. Who commanded Paul to be brought forth?
15. What did Festus say the Jews at Jerusalem had wanted to do to
    Paul?
16. Who did Festus address in his speech?
17. In verse 25, Festus says that he found Paul not worthy of ______.
18. Who is Festus calling lord in verse 26?
19. Why did Festus say he brought Paul before these men and Agrippa?
20. In verse 27, Festus said it seemeth unreasonable to do what?

                                 Notes