1 NOW when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. [ Festus, this new governor, the new provincial governor over that area. When Festus comes into power, his first act is to go to Jerusalem, because that's kind of the main group that he's ruling over. He goes there to kind of see how things are with the Jews. ]

2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, [ What's the very first thing the Jews bring up to him? They're bitter still about Paul. It's been two whole years, and they still are bitter. ]

3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. [ They're concerned that Paul's up in Caesarea, where they can't really get at him. So they're asking Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem. Festus most likely saw the writing on the wall, that they probably just wanted to kill him and be done with him, no trail just kill him. ]

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

5 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 so Festus says, "How about this? Why don't you guys come up to Caesarea? I want to hear the case." ]

6 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.

7 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.

8  While he answered for himself, [ Paul will be offer his own defense. There obviously was a ton of material summarized here, because he spoke to the Jewish law, The laws of the Temple and the Roman law. Suggesting that he broke none of them. ] Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. [ Of all of these laws I have broken none of them. ]

9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, [ Festus wanting to keep the good will of the Jews on his side. ] answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? [ So Fetus suggests that Paul go with him to Jerusalem to be judged, 'Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?'" Well Paul already knows the answer to what will happen there. ]

10 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. [ So Paul responds. No, I am a Roman citizen, I know my rights, and where I ought to be judged. As far as the Jews are concerned, I have done no wrong, and you know it. ]

11 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. [ You know I have done no wrong and enough is enough, and drops his ultimate trump card, "I appeal unto Caesar." mic drop. This is a gutsy move because you don't want to waste the emperor's time. One does't do that lightly. But Paul saw the writing on the wall, Festus is flirting with the idea of sending him back to Jerusalem. Paul says, "You know my rights as a Roman citizen, so let me just drop that card, to Caesar, I appeal." I wonder if Paul also remembered the words that he was promised to teach the gospel in Rome and taught well I can just speed the process along here. Do you ever think about that in your own life? sometimes when we have been given a promise by God, that doesn't seem like it's coming to pass. We think that we are the one's that just need to make it happen now - right? Patriarchal blessings are a good exemple. We need to pray and be wise enough to discern the difference when it's a, I need to do this myself, or I need to act in a way that shows I just trust God. Could this also be that God told him that he would go to Rome to teach the gospel, and so it was kind of like if the opportunity presents itself take it. ]

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

13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. [ King Agrippa who is really Herod Agrippa II, comes to visit the new governor, Festus. And he's intrigued by Festus' prisoner. Agrippa is a Jew. His actual name is Herod Agrippa. From the Herodian Dynasty, these Jews. And so Paul could speak insider speak to Agrippa. This would be great-grandson of Herod the Great, the great temple builder. Agrippa's uncle would've been the Herod that Jesus went to during his trial. And so they're all connected in the Herodian Dynasty. So Agrippa wants to hear Paul, and they come in great pomp and circumstance. He comes with his sister. His sister is named Bernice. ]

14 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: [ Or "I have got this huge problem that that I just want to walk away from." "And the chief priest and the Jews, they hate this guy. They want me to bring judgment against him, but I don't really have much to judge. I'd actually love if you could listen to him with me. And he's appealed to Caesar, and I don't know what to tell Caesar when I send him to him. What are the charges? What are the charges against this guy? There's some Jews that don't like him. What do we say?" And so he says, "All right, let me hear this guy on the morrow." And so on the morrow... Well, by the way, it's kind of funny, in verse 19, from a Gentile non-believing perspective, if you ask Festus, what does Paul believe? It's kind of funny to hear non-believers explain what you believe. Here's how he says it. He says, "Well, the Jews have certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." ]

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

16 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 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. [ So on the morrow I will listen to his case... Well, from a Gentile non-believing perspective, if you ask Festus, what does Paul believe? It's kind of funny to hear non-believers explain what you believe. Here's how he says it. He says, "Well, the Jews have certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." ]

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

19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. [ A dead guy this is about some dead guys that Paul says is still alive? Yes, he says is still alive. "But because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar, so let's talk." And so he is, "All right, let's talk. Let's hear him tomorrow." ]

20 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 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.

22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. [ Again Agrippa says I will gear the matter tomorrow. ]

23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, [ The stage is set. All of the important people are there gathered around. Out Paul comes, as all eye are now on him. ] with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.

24 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. [ The Jews want him dead. ]

25  But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, [ But the evidence is just not there. ] and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, [ He Paul has exercised his right to go before Ceasar. ] I have determined to send him.

26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, [ But I have no idea what to tell Ceasar with this man, because I can really find no fault. ] and specially before thee, [ So I am asking for your help here.] O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. [ So that I will know what to write Ceasar. ]

27 F or it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. [ I don't want Ceasar to think that I am stupid for sending him a prisoner with no charges - well no duh. ]