When we closed yesterday Governor Felix lost his post at Caesarea and was called back to Rome because of his excessively vicious handling of disputes between the Jews and the Syrians. His successor as the governor of Judea is Porcius Festus who was promoted to the position in about 62 AD. Felix, contrary to Roman law, allowed Paul to languish in prison for two year without rendering a verdict. He left Paul there when he was called back to Rome. Now the problem of Paul and his accusers falls into Festus's hands.
"Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul." (Acts 25:1-2) Paul's enemies pounce on Festus before he can even get settled in. Felix disappointed them by failing to settle Paul's case, and they hope this new governor who knows far less about the Jewish religion than Felix will agree to a request to have Paul transferred back into their custody. Not understanding the intense hatred the Sanhedrin harbors for Christianity, and not having previously witnessed the murderous rage they feel toward the Apostle Paul, the newcomer Festus becomes a target for their deceit. Paul's enemies are going to wear innocent expressions while asking that he be placed in their custody. They are going to speak in reasonable tones when explaining that Paul's case involves matters of Jewish religious law which should be decided by those who know Jewish religious law best. They are going to try to appear helpful when they offer to relieve Festus of the problem of Paul.
Festus refuses their request at this time. He hasn't had a chance to evaluate the situation himself and it is not proper for him to release a Roman prisoner (who is a Roman citizen) into their custody until he has heard Paul's side of the story. "They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred. to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus answered, 'Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.'" (Acts 25:3-5)
"After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them." (Acts 25:6-7) Festus is treated to the same charade as was Felix. All sorts of accusations are made against Paul but his enemies can't back any of them up.
"Then Paul made his defense: 'I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.'" (Acts 25:8) As in our courts today, the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt; the defendant is not required to prove his innocence. The band of men from Jerusalem fail to prove their case that Paul has broken any Roman laws. Festus can see he has no grounds for continuing to hold him as a prisoner. However, he is not very well-versed in Jewish laws. He is still unclear as to whether Paul has broken any of those. Being new to his position he wants to make a good impression on the Jews in order to keep the peace, so he is going to suggest moving the trial to Jerusalem if Paul is willing to go. "Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, 'Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?'" (Acts 25:9)
Festus is completely in the dark about a plot to kill Paul. Where the religious elite are concerned, he has no idea who he is dealing with. He doesn't understand the culture of Judea, and more specifically the culture of the Sanhedrin. He doesn't understand the current religious or political climate of Jerusalem. It never enters his mind that a plot is afoot to assassinate a man who is not violent and who has not been convicted of any crime. The murderous opposition of the Sanhedrin against Paul and against all things Christian is something Festus is completely unaware of. It never enters his mind that assassins are lurking in the hill country on the way back to Jerusalem. If he knew this, he would never dream of putting a man in his custody into such danger, especially since that man is a citizen of Rome.
Paul asserts his rights as a Roman citizen. "Paul answered: 'I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!'" (Acts 25:10-11) Although Festus knows little about religious laws, Paul points out that he can plainly see that the men from Jerusalem have not proven their case. He says, in essence, "As a Roman citizen I should be tried in a Roman court of law. It is clear that these men have not been able to prove any of their accusations. You are wise enough to see through their lies. If I had committed any crime worthy of death I would be willing to face my punishment, but I have not broken any laws worthy of death or otherwise. As a Roman citizen I have the right to refuse being handed over to these men from Jerusalem. As a Roman citizen I have the right to appeal to the highest court in the kingdom. I want my case heard by Emperor Nero."
Nero succeeded Claudius as emperor of Rome in 54 AD. When Nero first came to power his prejudice against Christians had either not yet formed or had not yet been made evident. Nero will eventually become as sadistic and barbaric toward Christians as Adolf Hitler was to the Jews, but in the year Paul makes his appeal to Nero there is no indication that the emperor will descend into madness. Paul thinks he has a good chance of receiving a fair trial in the courtroom of the man who will, in fact, be the one to order his execution sometime between 64 AD and 68 AD. But on this day as Paul stands before Festus it is not his time to die. If he had not been a Roman citizen his fate would have been sealed now, for he would have been handed over to his enemies and assassinated on his way back to Jerusalem. Instead he will live to fight the good fight until it is God's will for him to leave this earth and be with the Savior forevermore. Upon hearing Paul assert his rights as a Roman citizen, Festus lawfully agrees with his request. "After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: 'You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!'" (Acts 25:12)
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