Paul's Defense Before Governor Festus

INTRO

Today, we’re going to look at Acts 25. What I like about this chapter is that it sets up a court case of your favorite courtroom drama. In this trial, Paul gave his defense of his faith. Paul gave a total of five defenses in the book of Acts. Chapter 25 has the fourth defense. The first three are found in Acts 22, Acts 23, and Acts 24. The fifth defense is found in Acts 26. The key characters in this chapter are Festus, the chief priests and Jewish leaders, Paul, and King Agrippa. We’ll look at each of these as we move through the chapter.

TEACHING

Acts 25:1–12: The name “Festus” means festive or joyful. Festus took over as governor of Judea from Felix and was a better ruler than Felix. Festus went up to Jerusalem, just three days after his arrival in the province, in a political move to build relations with the Jews there (v. 1). The chief priests and leaders of the Jews shared their case against Paul and requested that Festus summon Paul to Jerusalem because they wanted to kill Paul on the way (vv. 2–3). This was legal maneuvering trying to get Paul to Jerusalem where he was hated by everyone. Festus refused and invited the leaders to go with him to Caesarea to bring charges against Paul (vv. 4–5). Festus was promoting due process and established himself as a careful leader with high character. Festus stayed among the Jewish leaders for eight to ten days and then returned to Caesarea to hear from Paul (v. 6).

When Paul came before Festus, the Jews from Jerusalem were also there and brought serious charges (v. 7). But Paul responded in defense with a demonstration that his authority was in Christ and that Jewish law, temple law, or Caesar himself could not find any offense against him (v. 8). In an attempt to make the Jews happy, Festus asked if Paul wanted to return to Jerusalem to face the accusations before Festus there (v. 9). Festus was playing political with what he had. He knew of Paul’s innocence and desired to keep him in Caesarea, but he was also trying to get the Jews to think he was on their side. There was a crack in his character. Paul asked to be tried by Caesar instead because he was innocent before the Jews (vv. 10–11). Paul showed his authority in Christ and as a Roman citizen with the right to appeal before Caesar. When we walk in the Authority of Christ, we know what He has done for us, and we know what He has called us to do. Festus agreed that, as a Roman citizen, Paul was entitled to a trial before Caesar (v. 12).

Acts 25:13–22: Days later, King Agrippa and his wife Bernice came to Caesarea to see Festus. (v. 13). Agrippa’s dad had executed James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John. His great-grandfather was Herod the Great who tried to kill baby Jesus, and his great-uncle Antipas beheaded John the Baptist. He was an evil person from an evil family. Bernice was his sister and his wife. While they were in Caesarea, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king with all the details of his actions (vv. 14–18). Most importantly, Festus explained that the Jews had disputed with Paul about their own religion and about Jesus whom Paul said had been resurrected from the dead (v. 19). Then Festus explained that Paul had chosen to have his case heard by Caesar (vv. 20–21). King Agrippa asked to hear Paul’s case as well (v. 22).

Acts 25:23–27: The next day, King Agrippa and Bernice pulled out all the stops and appeared with military tribunes and prominent men of the city. Paul was then brought in before the king (v. 23). Festus presented Paul to King Agrippa and emphasized the Jews had been shouting that Paul ought not to live any longer (v. 24). Festus admitted he had found nothing against Paul that deserved death, so he wanted to send him to Caesar but wanted help to know how to write up the case to send to Caesar (vv. 25–27).

CLOSING

Remember Paul’s simple statement that he had done nothing wrong (v. 10). Paul knew the authority in which he walked, and so he moved ahead confidently. Festus did a good job of handling Paul’s case fairly, but his motives were impure. In Romans 8:5–8, Paul addressed this idea of being pure or having only the desire to be good:

“For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

As we look at Paul and Festus, we see two categories:

Actually Good (Paul) Aspirations of Good (Festus)

The Mind Spirit The Mind Flesh

• Life and peace – Death
• Seeking God – Hostile to God

Paul had his mind set on the things of the Spirit. That’s why he walked in authority. Festus had his mind on the things of the flesh—it was subtle; he tried—but he was in the flesh. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Festus did not please God.