Festus

24A few days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul. He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ.

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

NoteChrist means the special king God had promised to send. Paul taught that Jesus is that promised king.

25Paul talked about doing right, about self-control, and about the day God will judge. Felix became afraid. He said, "You may go for now. When I have time, I will send for you."

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

NoteSelf-control means choosing not to do whatever you want. Paul also spoke about a day when God will judge everyone.

26Felix also hoped Paul would give him money to be let go. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him.

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

NoteMoney given in secret to a judge is called a bribe. Felix wanted Paul's friends to pay him to set Paul free. Taking money like that was against Roman law.

27Two years went by. Then Porcius Festus took Felix's place as governor. Felix wanted to please the Jews. So he left Paul in prison.

But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

NoteRome sent a new governor to take over after a few years. Festus was the new man. Paul had waited in prison two whole years with no decision.

1Festus was the new Roman governor, the ruler of that area. Three days after he arrived, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.

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

NoteCaesarea was a city by the sea. Roman rulers lived there. Jerusalem sat up in the hills, so people said they went "up" to it.

2There the high priest and the Jewish leaders told him their case against Paul. They kept asking him for something.

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

NoteThe leading priests were the men in charge at the temple. The temple was God's house in Jerusalem. The high priest was the man in charge at the temple. The temple was God's house in Jerusalem.

3They asked him to send Paul to Jerusalem as a favor. They were planning to hide by the road and kill Paul.

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

4But Festus said no. He said Paul would stay in Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon.

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

5"So let your leaders come down with me," he said. "If this man has done wrong, they can accuse him there."

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.

6Festus stayed with them more than ten days. Then he went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat in the judge's chair. He ordered his men to bring Paul in.

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.

NoteA Roman ruler sat in a special chair to decide cases. When he sat down there, the trial had started.

7When Paul came in, the Jews from Jerusalem stood around him. They said he had done many bad things. But they could not prove any of it.

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.

8Paul spoke for himself. He said, "I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, or against the temple, or against Caesar."

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.

NoteThe Jewish law was the set of rules God gave his people long ago. Caesar was the ruler of all the Roman lands, far away in Rome.

9Festus wanted to please the Jewish leaders. So he asked Paul, "Will you go up to Jerusalem? I will judge your case there."

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?

10Paul said, "I am standing in Caesar's court. This is where my case should be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, and you know that well."

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.

11"If I have done something that deserves death, I will not beg to live. But if their charges are not true, no one may hand me over to them. I ask Caesar to hear my case."

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.

NotePaul was a Roman citizen, and that gave him special rights. One right was to ask the ruler in Rome to decide his case himself. Then no one else could judge him.

12Festus talked it over with the men who advised him. Then he said, "You have asked for Caesar. To Caesar you will go."

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

13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They came to greet Festus.

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

NoteAgrippa was a king who ruled a small area for the Romans. Bernice was his sister. They came to be polite to the new governor.

14They stayed for many days. Festus told the king about Paul's case. He said, "Felix, the ruler before me, left a man here in prison."

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:

15"When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and the Jewish elders told me about him. They wanted me to say he was guilty."

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

NoteThe elders were older men who helped lead the Jewish people.

16"I told them that Romans do not do things that way. A man must first face the people who accuse him. He must be allowed to speak for himself."

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.

17"So they came here with me. I did not wait. The next day I sat in the judge's chair and had the man brought in."

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.

18"His accusers stood up to speak. But they did not charge him with the crimes I expected."

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

19"They only argued with him about their own religion. They argued about a man named Jesus who had died. Paul says that Jesus is alive."

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

NoteReligion means the way people worship God. Festus was Roman. He did not understand the Jewish way of worship.

20"I did not know how to look into things like this. So I asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there."

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.

21"But Paul asked to be kept here until the Emperor could decide. So I ordered my men to hold him until I can send him to Caesar."

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.

NoteThe Emperor was the most powerful ruler of all. Caesar was another name for him. The King James calls him "Augustus," which was a title, like saying "the great one."

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." Festus said, "Tomorrow you will hear him."

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

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came in with a grand show. They entered the hearing room. Army commanders and important men of the city came too. Festus ordered his men to bring Paul in.

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.

NoteThe King James says they came "with great pomp." That means fine clothes, music and crowds, to show how important they were. The army commanders were soldiers in charge of many other soldiers.

24Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all of you here, look at this man. All the Jewish people have come to me about him, both in Jerusalem and here. They shouted that he should not live any longer."

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.

25"But I found that he had done nothing that deserves death. And he has asked the Emperor to hear his case. So I decided to send him."

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.

26"I have nothing sure to write to the Emperor about him. That is why I brought him out before you all, and most of all before you, King Agrippa. That way, after we question him, I may have something to write."

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.

27"It does not make sense to me to send a prisoner without saying what he is charged with."

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

NoteTo be charged means someone says out loud what wrong you have done. Festus had nothing to write down.

24While Paul was saying this, Festus shouted at him. Festus was the Roman governor. He said, "Paul, you are out of your mind! All your studying has made you crazy!"

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

NoteFestus was the governor. Rome put him in charge of that whole area.

25Paul said, "I am not crazy, honored Festus. What I am saying is true and sensible."

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

NotePaul calls him "most noble Festus." That was a polite way to speak to a ruler.

26"The king knows about these things. That is why I can speak openly to him. I am sure he has heard all of it. None of this happened in secret."

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?"

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

NoteA Christian is someone who follows Jesus. The name was quite new back then.

29Paul said, "Quickly or slowly, I ask God for this. I wish you and everyone listening today could be like me. But I would not wish these chains on you."

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

NotePaul was wearing chains because he was a prisoner. He wanted others to know Jesus, but not to be locked up.

30Then the king stood up. The governor stood up too, and Bernice, and everyone sitting with them.

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

NoteBernice was King Agrippa's sister. She lived with him and went where he went.

31As they walked out, they talked to each other. They said, "This man has done nothing that deserves death or prison."

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have gone free. But he asked Caesar, the ruler of Rome, to judge his case."

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the top ruler of Rome. Any Roman citizen could ask Caesar to judge his case. Once Paul asked, no one else was allowed to let him go.