Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Acts 25
Acts 25:11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
Acts 25:19Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
Festus summarizes the entire conflict as a dispute over a man named Jesus who was dead but Paul claimed was alive, highlighting the Resurrection as the main issue.Acts 25:25But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
The Roman governor admits he finds no reason for Paul to be executed, proving Paul's innocence of any actual crimes against the state.
Historical & Cultural Context
A New Governor and an Old Grudge
After two years of Paul being held in prison under the previous governor, Felix, a new governor named Festus takes over the province. Almost immediately, the religious leaders in Jerusalem try to take advantage of the transition by asking Festus to move Paul's trial to Jerusalem. Their secret plan is to ambush and kill Paul on the road, showing that their hatred for his message has not faded with time. Festus, however, insists that the trial take place in Caesarea, where Paul is currently being held.
The Legal Stand and the Royal Visit
The scene shifts to the courtroom in Caesarea where Paul faces his accusers. When Festus tries to please the Jewish leaders by suggesting a trial in Jerusalem, Paul realizes he will never get a fair hearing there. He stands his ground, asserting his innocence against the law, the temple, and the Roman Emperor. To escape the local political games, Paul makes a formal appeal to Caesar, which was the right of every Roman citizen to have their case heard by the highest court in Rome.
Paul's Trials and Appeals in Caesarea
In Acts 25:1-27, the setting is primarily the Roman administrative capital of Caesarea. The chapter begins with political maneuvering in Jerusalem and ends with a grand, formal audience involving King Agrippa and the Roman elite.
The Plot is Renewed (Acts 25:1-5)
1 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,
3 asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem - because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.
Commentary:
Religious leaders try to trick the new governor into sending Paul into an ambush, but Festus refuses.
Paul Appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:6-12)
6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?"
10 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.
11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."
Commentary:
Paul refuses a biased trial in Jerusalem and uses his Roman rights to demand a hearing before the Emperor.
Festus Consults King Agrippa (Acts 25:13-22)
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix,
15 When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
17 So when they had come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed.
19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
20 And as I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."
Commentary:
Governor Festus admits to King Agrippa that Paul hasn't committed any crimes, but the dispute is about Jesus being alive.
The Grand Audience (Acts 25:23-27)
23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought out.
24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."
Commentary:
Paul is brought before a high-society gathering so the governor can figure out what charges to actually write down.
Divine Sovereignty and Human Justice
The Power of the Resurrection
Even to a secular Roman governor, the core of the Christian message was clear: it all hinges on the fact that Jesus is alive. Festus identifies this as the central point of the entire conflict, showing that the Resurrection is the non-negotiable foundation of the faith.
God's Use of Secular Systems
Paul doesn't hesitate to use his Roman citizenship and the legal protections available to him. This reveals that God can work through 'worldly' structures like courts and laws to protect His servants and fulfill His divine purposes.
Innocence and Integrity
Throughout the chapter, multiple authorities admit that Paul has done nothing wrong. His life and conduct were so blameless that his enemies had to resort to religious technicalities and murder plots because they couldn't find any actual crimes to charge him with.
Applying Paul's Legal Journey to Our Lives
Like Paul in Acts 25:8-10, you can stand on the truth with calmness and respect. You don't have to be a doormat. It is okay to use the legal and social protections available to you to ensure you are treated fairly while maintaining your integrity.
Paul was a prisoner for years, yet God was using that time to set up a meeting with a King and a trip to Rome. When you feel stuck, remember that God is often working behind the scenes of human politics and delays to put you exactly where He wants you to be.
In Acts 25:19, the governor noted that Paul's main point was that Jesus is alive. Your faith should be so focused on the living Jesus that even people who don't believe can see that His life is the most important thing to you.
God's Plan Through Human Courts
Acts 25 demonstrates that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by secret plots or political maneuvering. By using Paul's Roman citizenship and the curiosity of a king, God transformed a legal crisis into a platform for the Gospel. The message is that the Creator is sovereign over every tribunal and throne, inviting us to trust His guidance even when we are caught in the gears of human systems. In every trial, the living Jesus remains the central figure and the ultimate reason for our hope.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith involves trusting God's protection while wisely using the resources He has given us. Paul's appeal reminds us that our lives are not governed by luck or political whims, but by a God who directs our steps toward His grander mission.
- Are you trusting God to protect your reputation and your future today?
- How can you use your current 'platform' - whether a job, a school, or a social circle - to speak about the living Jesus?
- Where do you need to see God's sovereignty in a situation that feels out of your control?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Paul's own teaching on how Christians should relate to and respect government authorities.
Jesus's promise that His followers would stand before governors and kings as witnesses for His sake.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Paul chose to appeal to Caesar rather than trying to win over Festus and the local leaders?
- Festus was 'at a loss' regarding religious questions. How can we better explain the 'points of dispute' about Jesus to people who don't understand our faith?
- In what ways does this chapter show that God is in control even when Paul seems to be at the mercy of powerful men?