Acts 25:1
Outline:
I. \\#Acts 1:1-8:4\\ God’s Work in Jerusalem
A. \\#1:1-3\\ The Introduction
B. \\#1:4-26\\ Jesus’ Departure
C. \\#2:1-8:4\\ The Holy Ghost’s Coming
II. \\#Acts 8:5-12:24\\ God’s Work in Judea and Samaria
III. \\#Acts 13:1-28:31\\ God’s Work in Uttermost Parts of the World
A. \\#13:1-14:28\\ The First Missionary Journey
B. \\#15:1-35\\ Judaism or Grace
C. \\#15:36-18:22\\ Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
D. \\#Acts 18:23-21:17\\ Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
1. \\#18:23\\ Galatia and Phrygia
2. \\#18:24-28\\ Apollos in Ephesus
3. \\#19:1-23\\ Paul Returned to Ephesus
4. \\#20-1-6\\ Paul in Greece
5. \\#20:7-12\\ Paul in Troas
6. \\#20:13-16\\ Paul in the Coastal Cities
7. \\#20:17-38\\ Paul Bids the Elders of Ephesus Farewell
8. \\#21:1-3\\ Paul in more Costal Cities
9. \\#21:3-7\\ Paul in Tyre
10. \\#21:8-14\\ Paul in Caesarea
11. \\#21:15-17\\ Paul arrived in Jerusalem
E. \\#Acts 21:18-28:30\\ Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome
1. \\#Acts 21:18-23:32\\ Paul in Jerusalem
a. \\#Acts 21:18-25\\ Paul before the Church
b. \\#Acts 21:26-30\\ Paul in the temple
c. \\#Acts 21:31-22:23\\ Paul on the steps
d. \\#Acts 22:24-30\\ Paul to be examined
(1) \\#Acts 22:24-29\\ By the Whip
(2) \\#Acts 22:30-23:10\\ By the Council
e. \\#Acts 23:11-32\\ An Attempt to Kill Paul
(1) \\#Acts 23:11\\ Paul Vision
(2) \\#Acts 23:12-15\\ The Plot
(3) \\#Acts 23:16-22\\ The Revealing
(4) \\#Acts 23:23-33\\The Relocation
(5) \\#Acts 23:31-33\\ The Transport
2. \\#Acts 23:33-27:2\\ Paul in Caesarea
a. \\#Acts 23:34-24:27\\ Before Felix
b. \\#Acts 25:1-25:12\\ Before Festus
c. \\#Acts 25:13-26:32\\ Before Agrippa and Festus
3. \\#Acts 27:1-28:16\\ Paul’s Journey to Rome
4. \\#Acts 28:17-31\\ Paul in Rome
I. \\#Acts 23:33-27:2\\ Paul in Caesarea
A. \\#Acts 23:34-24:27\\ Before Felix
B. \\#Acts 25:1-25:12\\ Before Festus
1. \\#1\\ Once Festus became governor, he toured the area,
coming through Jerusalem.
a. "after three days" - Apparently, Festus started
his tour three days after arriving in the area.
b. "ascended up" - Remember that Jerusalem is higher
in elevation.
2. \\#2-3\\ While at Jerusalem, the Jews asked that Paul
be sent back, thinking they would kill him.
3. \\#4-5\\ Festus refused, telling those who had
accusations should go to Caesarea for another trial.
4. \\#6\\ "ten days" - After staying in Jerusalem 10
days, he returned to Caesarea.
5. "the next day" - The trial began the following day.
6. \\#7\\ "grievous complaints …which they could not prove"
As before, they accused Paul but had no evidence.
7. \\#8\\ Paul continued to defend himself, saying he had
done nothing wrong.
8. \\#9\\ "But Festus"
a. Even so, Festus wanted to start things on the right
foot with the Jews so he asked Paul if he were
willing to be tried at Jerusalem.
b. I suspect the request was necessary since Paul
was a Roman citizen.
9. \\#10-11\\ Paul, realizing his life would be in danger
and knowing his rights as a Roman citizen, instead
appealed that Caesar would hear his case.
10. \\#12\\ "unto Caesar shalt thou go"
a. "when he had conferred with the council" - Festus
must have had others whom he trusted for counsel.
b. Together, they decided to send Paul to Caesar,
perhaps thinking that would get the "sticky"
situation of having to deal with the Jews and a
Roman citizen off their hands.
C. \\#Acts 25:13-26:32\\ Before Agrippa and Festus
1. \\#13\\ "king Agrippa and Bernice"
a. This King Agrippa was son of Herod Agrippa who killed
James and whose death is recorded in
\\#Acts 12:1-23\\. Born in 27AD, he ruled from 48
to 100. He was the last important descendent of
Herod the Great. Julius Marcus Agrippa was not
king over Judah which had been reduced to a
province, but began as a young king over a smaller
area and gradually territory was added to his
kingdom. He was granted charge over the sacred
items in Jerusalem and appointed the High Priest
but was never king over Jerusalem. The city itself
remained under the control of the governor, but it
appears from Scripture that the two worked together
well.
http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodians/julius_m_agrippa_ii.html
https://books.google.com/books?id=3TUHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA131&lpg=PA13
1&dq=were+agrippa+and+bermce+related&source=bl&ots=kHhPdVk5Ak&sig=
NXCrTO7c9DjTY7_obewLFCpZ4bM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMIhKXK_
fKpxwIVjKGACh3V2AOs#v=onepage&q=were%20agrippa%20and%20bermce%20r
elated&f=false
b. Bernice was Drusilla’s sister and brother to Agrippa;
however, it was thought the two were far more!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berenice_(daughter_of_Herod_Agrippa)
c. "Caesarea" - These two came to Caesarea.
d. \\#14\\ "many days" - These two abode in Caesarea,
probably enjoying its events, for an undisclosed
period of time.
2. \\#14-22\\ At a point in that visit, Felix brings up
Paul’s case and recounts it to Agrippa.
a. \\#18\\ "they brought none accusation of such things
as I supposed" - Festus’ thoughts on the charges
was that he was surprised by them.
b. \\#19\\ "of their own superstitions, and of one,
Jesus" - To Festus, it was a case of unfounded
religious beliefs of about some "unknown one" named
Jesus and whether He were dead or not.
c. \\#21\\ "Paul …appealed …unto …Augustus" -
Augustus being Caesar.
d. \\#22\\ "I would also hear the man" - This was not a
command but a request—and no doubt what Festus
himself desired by telling Agrippa the story—
although it was no doubt wise that Festus take it as
it were a command, seeing the influence and power of
Agrippa.
3. \\#25:23-26:32\\ The Hearing
a. \\#23-27\\ Festus’ Account
(1) \\#23\\ "on the morrow" - The next day a great
host was gathered including "Agrippa …Bernice
…chief captains and principal men of the
city." The only ones not mentioned are the
accusers which probably were not invited as they
lived 50 miles away.
(2) \\#25\\ "I found that he had committed nothing
worthy of death" - Festus now states plainly
what had been evident but left unsaid; that is,
Paul had done nothing for which to be condemned.
(3) "he himself hath appealed to Augustus" - This
statement made it seem as though the only reason
Paul was still held was because he himself had
requested a hearing before Caesar, but such was
not the case. Had Paul not made his appeal, he
would have already been sent to Jerusalem to his
death.
(4) \\#26\\ "I have no certain thing to write" - As
Festus had considered sending Paul to Caesar, he
realized he had no charge to send with him,
placing himself in a dangerous place before
Caesar.
(5) "I have brought him forth before you" - So
Festus’ motive is exposed. He wanted Agrippa to
help him find a charge. (As Paul will point out
\\#Acts 26:3\\, Agrippa was known to be well
versed in Jewish religion.)
NOTE - All of this would indicate that once a prisoner requests a
hearing before Caesar and that hearing is granted, it must be
carried out.
(6) \\#27\\ "unreasonable to send a prisoner and not
to signify the crimes" - It is refreshing when
common sense rises to the surface!
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