# Acts 25 đź“–: Paul Appeals to Caesar
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“„ Outline]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### Paul Appeals to Caesar
**Principle**: God orchestrates events.
[[#Verse 01.]] Now three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea,and he himself intended to go there shortly.
[[#Verse 05.]] “So,” he said, “let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.”
[[#Verse 06.]] After Festus had stayed not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought.Â
[[#Verse 07.]] When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove.Â
[[#Verse 08.]] Paul said in his defense, “I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”Â
[[#Verse 09.]] But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?”Â
[[#Verse 10.]] Paul replied, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.
[[#Verse 11.]] If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”Â
[[#Verse 12.]] Then, after conferring with his council, Festus replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!”
### Festus Asks King Agrippa for Advice
**Principle**: The Lord prepares the audience.
[[#Verse 13.]] After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] While they were staying there many days, Festus explained Paul’s case to the king to get his opinion, saying, “There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix.Â
[[#Verse 15.]] When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face-to-face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.Â
[[#Verse 17.]] So after they came back here with me, I did not postpone the case, but the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected.Â
[[#Verse 19.]] Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.Â
[[#Verse 20.]] Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.Â
[[#Verse 21.]] But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”Â
[[#Verse 22.]] Agrippa said to Festus, “I would also like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he replied, “you will hear him.”
### Paul Before King Agrippa and Bernice
**Principle**: No accidents, only divine appointments.
[[#Verse 23.]] So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the senior military officers and the prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.Â
[[#Verse 24.]] Then Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting loudly that he ought not to live any longer.
[[#Verse 25.]] But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, and when he appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.Â
[[#Verse 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 this preliminary hearing I may have something to write.Â
[[#Verse 27.]] For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him.”
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Porcius Festus (25:1) became governor of Judea around AD 59 and died in office a few years later.
2. The Jewish leaders asked Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem, planning an ambush along the way (25:3).
3. A Roman citizen had the right to appeal his case to the emperor (25:11).
4. The emperor at this time was Nero, who later persecuted Christians in Rome.
5. King Agrippa (25:13) is Herod Agrippa II, the son of Herod Agrippa I from Acts 12.
6. Bernice (25:13) was Agrippa's sister. Later she became involved with Titus, the Roman general who destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.
7. Festus did not understand the charges and called them disputes about their own religion (25:19).
8. Festus needed something to write to the emperor about Paul's case (25:26-27).
9. Agrippa and Bernice entered the audience hall with great pageantry (25:23), a contrast with the chained apostle.
10. Jesus had told His disciples they would be brought before governors and kings for His sake (Luke 21:12), which happens in this chapter.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Jesus who died and whom Paul claimed was alive (25:19). God was using every trial to bring Paul's testimony about Him before governors and kings (Matthew 10:18; Acts 9:15).
## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. Festus summarized the case as a dispute about a dead man named Jesus whom Paul said was alive (25:19). Why is the resurrection at the heart of the Christian faith?
2. Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar (25:11). When is it right for Christians to use their legal rights?
3. God had promised Paul he would testify in Rome (23:11), and this appeal helped bring it about. How have you seen God use ordinary decisions to fulfill His promises?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 8: Paul has done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar.
- đź“– verse 11: Paul appeals to Caesar.
- đź“– verse 19: The dispute is about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims is alive.
## đź”— Related Passages
- đź”— [[Acts 23#Verse 11.|Acts 23:11]] - You must testify in Rome.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 15#Verse 03.|1 Corinthians 15:3-4]] - Christ died, was buried, and was raised.
- đź”— [[Matthew 10#Verse 18.|Matthew 10:18]] - Brought before governors and kings.
- đź”— [[Acts 09#Verse 15.|Acts 9:15]] - Paul will carry Jesus' name before kings.
- đź”— [[Luke 21#Verse 12.|Luke 21:12-13]] - An opportunity to testify.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Acts 25 - SOAP|Give Them Nothing To Talk About]]
## đź“„ Outline
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź“‚ Internal Notes
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### Outline
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