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

2
There the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews came before him and brought charges against Paul.

3
They asked him for a favor against Paul, namely, that he would have Paul brought to Jerusalem. For they were planning to kill him along the way.

4
But Festus answered that Paul was being kept in Caesarea and that he himself intended to return there soon.

5
He said, “Therefore let those among you who are in authority go down there with me and bring charges against him, if there is anything wrong in him.”

6
Festus stayed in Jerusalem no more than eight or ten days. After that he went down to Caesarea. The next day he held court and ordered Paul to be brought in.

7
When Paul arrived there, all the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious accusations against him, which they could not prove.

8
Paul, in his defense, said, “I have done nothing wrong, neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar.”

9
But Festus, wanting to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul, saying, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning this matter?”

10
But Paul said, “I am standing here before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be judged. As you yourself know very well, I have done no wrong to the Jews.

11
So if I am truly guilty and have done anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die; but if what they accuse me of is not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them as a favor. I appeal to Caesar!”

12
After conferring with the members of the court, Festus answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you must go.”

13
A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

14
Since they stayed there several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a prisoner here whom Felix left behind when he went away.

15
When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against that man and asked that he be condemned.

16
I answered them that it is not the custom among the Romans to hand over a prisoner as a favor before the accused has faced his accusers and been given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge.

17
So when they had come together here with me, I did not delay, but on the next day I held court and ordered the man to be brought in.

18
But when the accusers stood up around him, they brought no charge of such evil deeds as I had supposed.

19
Instead, they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion, and about a man named Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20
Since I was at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and have the case judged there.

21
But Paul appealed. He asked to be kept in custody until his case could be decided by the Emperor. So I ordered him held until I could send him to the Emperor.”

22
Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” Festus replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

23
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and after they had entered the courtroom with the commanders and the leading men of the city, Festus gave orders for Paul to be brought in.

24
Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all who are here with us, look at this man, whom all the Jews have accused, both those in Jerusalem and those here. They came to me and, shouting, said that he should not be allowed to live any longer.

25
But I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and since he appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him to the Emperor.

26
But I have nothing certain to write to the Emperor about him. That is why I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may have something to write.

27
For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without stating the charges against him.”

📖 Acts 25 – Paul Appeals to Caesar

🧾 Summary of the Contents

In this chapter, the new governor, Porcius Festus, takes office in place of Felix. The Jewish leaders again try to trap and kill Paul. Festus offers for Paul to be tried in Jerusalem, but Paul uses his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. After that, Festus consults with King Agrippa, who then becomes interested in hearing Paul’s defense directly.

✨ Verse-by-Verse Explanation

1. A New Plan to Trap Paul (Verses 1–5)

• Three days after taking office, Festus went up to Jerusalem.
• The chief priests asked that Paul be brought back to Jerusalem — with the intention of killing him on the way.
• But Festus refused and said that the hearing would be held in Caesarea.

📝 Meaning: This shows the ongoing evil intent of the religious leaders, as well as God’s protection over Paul.

2. Paul’s Hearing before Festus (Verses 6–12)

• Paul was accused again without evidence.
• He defended himself firmly that he was guilty of nothing against the law of Moses, the temple, or Caesar.
• Festus, wanting to please the Jews, suggested that Paul be tried in Jerusalem.
• But Paul said:

“I stand before Caesar’s tribunal… I appeal to Caesar!”
(Verses 10-11)

• Festus granted Paul’s appeal.

📝 Meaning: Paul used his legal right as a Roman citizen — a balance of wisdom and faith.

3. Consultation with King Agrippa (Verses 13–27)

• King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit Festus in Caesarea.
• Festus explained Paul’s situation and expressed his confusion because:

• • The accusations against Paul did not concern ordinary civil offenses, but rather religious disputes and about a certain man named Jesus who had died, but was said to be alive (verse 19).

• Because Festus did not know what to write to Caesar concerning Paul, he invited Agrippa to hear Paul’s case directly.

📝 Meaning: Here it is seen that the gospel about Jesus reached even the rulers, and that God used this hearing to open the way for Paul to Rome, according to God’s prophecy in Acts 23:11.

📘 Main Lessons from Acts 25

1. The Lord works through legal structures and authority, even through those who do not believe.
2. To speak boldly and use one’s lawful rights is not unbelief, but part of spiritual strategy.
3. The gospel of Jesus Christ — who died and rose again — is the heart of the controversy and the heart of salvation.
4. The righteous will still be made the scapegoat by the world’s systems, but God will keep and use them.
5. Witness can reach the highest levels, if we are faithful in our calling.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 25

• Paul remained calm under political and religious pressure — because he knew who had called him.
• The risen Jesus is both hope and a stumbling block — even rulers were confused in dealing with Him.
• An appeal to Caesar was not only a legal strategy, but part of God’s mission to bring the gospel to Rome.