Appealing to Caesar
[ READ ] Acts 25:1-27
Paul Appeals to Caesar
1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, 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 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”
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 arrived, 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.”
Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
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 and 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 came 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 Being 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.”
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 in. 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.”
1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, 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 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”
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 arrived, 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.”
Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice
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 and 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 came 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 Being 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.”
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 in. 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.”
By this point in Acts, Paul has spent two years trapped in prison. Jewish leaders are hatching a plot to kill him. As Festus appears on the scene, his concern seems to be perhaps more with the politics of pleasing influential people than with administering justice.
In Acts 23, Jesus had exhorted Paul to "Take courage... you must testify also in Rome.” We are starting to see in Acts 25 that Paul won’t reach Rome despite the trials; he reaches Rome through them.
God's redemptive plan advances and continues to unfold even with the obstacles in Paul’s path. The schemes of the Jewish council, Festus' political maneuvering, and Paul's appeal to Caesar all become the means by which Christ carries His witness toward Rome.
Luke also reminds us where the true issue lies. Festus describes the dispute as being "about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive" (v. 19). To Festus, it is perhaps merely a religious disagreement. Yet Luke knows that everything hinges on this one truth: Jesus died, and Jesus is alive. The risen Christ is quietly directing every event to accomplish God's sovereign purposes.
- Jenna Connor
In Acts 23, Jesus had exhorted Paul to "Take courage... you must testify also in Rome.” We are starting to see in Acts 25 that Paul won’t reach Rome despite the trials; he reaches Rome through them.
God's redemptive plan advances and continues to unfold even with the obstacles in Paul’s path. The schemes of the Jewish council, Festus' political maneuvering, and Paul's appeal to Caesar all become the means by which Christ carries His witness toward Rome.
Luke also reminds us where the true issue lies. Festus describes the dispute as being "about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive" (v. 19). To Festus, it is perhaps merely a religious disagreement. Yet Luke knows that everything hinges on this one truth: Jesus died, and Jesus is alive. The risen Christ is quietly directing every event to accomplish God's sovereign purposes.
- Jenna Connor
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How do the actions of the Jewish leaders, Festus, and Paul ultimately serve God’s purpose of bringing Paul’s witness toward Rome?
+ What does Festus’ description of “a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive” reveal about the true issue at the heart of this passage?
+ How do the actions of the Jewish leaders, Festus, and Paul ultimately serve God’s purpose of bringing Paul’s witness toward Rome?
+ What does Festus’ description of “a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive” reveal about the true issue at the heart of this passage?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life does it currently feel as though nothing is moving forward?
+ How might trusting Christ’s sovereign purposes change the way you respond to delay, opposition, or circumstances you cannot control?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Where in your life does it currently feel as though nothing is moving forward?
+ How might trusting Christ’s sovereign purposes change the way you respond to delay, opposition, or circumstances you cannot control?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, thank You that Your sovereign purposes cannot be thwarted. Deepen our relationship with You so that our trust in You continues to grow. Teach us to rely on Your strength as we face the inevitable obstacles in our path. Help us to persevere with confidence, knowing that You are always at work, accomplishing Your redemptive purposes even when we cannot yet see them. May our lives faithfully bear witness to the risen King. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, thank You that Your sovereign purposes cannot be thwarted. Deepen our relationship with You so that our trust in You continues to grow. Teach us to rely on Your strength as we face the inevitable obstacles in our path. Help us to persevere with confidence, knowing that You are always at work, accomplishing Your redemptive purposes even when we cannot yet see them. May our lives faithfully bear witness to the risen King. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ As your faith in and relationship with Christ deepens and strengthens, have you considered discipling someone in your church? Your movement group? Mens/Women’s group?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ As your faith in and relationship with Christ deepens and strengthens, have you considered discipling someone in your church? Your movement group? Mens/Women’s group?
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