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Acts 25

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Acts 25 Overview

Festus succeeds Felix and immediately faces Jewish leaders asking that Paul be brought to Jerusalem, intending an ambush. Festus instead holds court in Caesarea, where Paul denies wrongdoing against Jewish law, the temple, or Caesar. When Festus proposes Jerusalem, Paul appeals to Caesar as his right. Later King Agrippa and Bernice arrive, and Festus explains the puzzling case: the dispute concerns Jewish religion and ‘one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.’

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Before you read Acts 25

Coming from

The high priest Ananias, elders, and the advocate Tertullus accuse Paul before Governor Felix of sedition, leading a sect, and profaning the temple. Paul denies the factual charges while openly confessing worship according to ‘the way’ and hope in the resurrection of both just and unjust. Felix, already knowledgeable about the movement, postpones judgment and later hears Paul reason about faith in Christ, righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Hoping for a bribe, Felix leaves Paul imprisoned for two years.

In this chapter

Acts 24 left Paul in custody after Felix repeatedly delayed the case. Acts 25 introduces the new governor Festus and advances the legal path toward Rome.

Leads into

Acts 26 gives Paul’s fullest defense before Agrippa, including his pre-conversion zeal, Damascus encounter, Gentile mission, and claim that his message says nothing beyond Moses and the prophets.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul’s appeal to Caesar is not an abandonment of trust in God. It is a lawful use of Roman citizenship that becomes the formal mechanism for reaching the Rome Jesus already promised.

Festus’s summary unintentionally captures the central Christian claim: Jesus was dead, and Paul insists He is alive.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Providence can work through legal procedures

An imperial appeal moves Paul toward his assigned witness in Rome.

Christian faith makes historical claims

The resurrection is not merely private meaning; the dispute concerns whether the dead Jesus is alive.

False accusations require proof

Festus notes the accusers do not establish the crimes he expected.

God can put gospel testimony before rulers

Paul’s imprisonment increasingly places him before governors and kings.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Acts 23:11

The Lord’s promise that Paul will testify at Rome explains the significance of the appeal.

Luke 21:12–15

Jesus had predicted disciples would be brought before kings and rulers for testimony.

Romans 13:1–7

Paul’s teaching on civil authority provides context for his lawful use of Roman courts.

1 Corinthians 15:14–20

Paul’s insistence on resurrection explains why Festus’s summary is not a minor doctrinal dispute.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not say Christians must never use courts or legal rights

Paul repeatedly uses Roman law to protect due process and advance witness.

Do not assume an appeal to Caesar means Caesar is spiritually trustworthy

Paul uses a legal structure without endorsing imperial religion.

Do not reduce Christianity to ethical teaching when Festus identifies the resurrection claim as the central dispute

Acts keeps historical resurrection at the center.

Read Acts 25 watching for…

The leaders’ hidden ambush plan.

Paul’s threefold denial of wrongdoing.

Why he appeals to Caesar.

Festus’s uncertainty about what charge to write.

The arrival of Agrippa and Bernice.

Festus’s summary of the controversy about the living Jesus.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-12Festus hears the Jewish accusations, and Paul appeals unto Caesar 13-22Festus explains Paul’s case to Agrippa and Bernice 23-27Paul is brought before Agrippa so Festus may have something definite to write to Caesar

Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.

And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.

And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.

While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?

Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.