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Acts 25:21 - Festus Consults King Agrippa

But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor
Paul's appeal to the Emperor, also known as Caesar, was a legal right of Roman citizens. This appeal was made during his trial before Festus, the Roman governor. The context here is that Paul, facing accusations from Jewish leaders, exercised his right to have his case heard by the highest authority in the Roman Empire. This reflects the Roman legal system's structure, where citizens could appeal to the Emperor if they believed they were not receiving a fair trial. The Emperor at this time was Nero, known for his later persecution of Christians. Paul's appeal demonstrates his strategic use of his Roman citizenship to further the gospel and protect his mission.

I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar
Festus, as the Roman governor, had the authority to detain Paul until arrangements could be made for his transfer to Rome. This phrase indicates the legal process and the administrative duties of a Roman governor. The journey to Rome was significant, as it fulfilled God's promise to Paul that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). This also aligns with the broader narrative of Acts, where the gospel spreads from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, with Rome symbolizing the heart of the known world. The mention of Caesar connects to the broader theme of the early church's interaction with Roman authority and the spread of Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Paul
The apostle who is central to this passage. He is under trial and has appealed to Caesar, which is his right as a Roman citizen.

2. Caesar
The Roman Emperor at the time, to whom Paul has appealed. This appeal is significant as it shifts the jurisdiction from local authorities to the highest authority in the Roman Empire.

3. Festus
The Roman governor who succeeded Felix. He is responsible for handling Paul's case and is the one who decides to send Paul to Caesar.

4. Roman Legal System
The context in which Paul makes his appeal. The Roman legal system allowed citizens to appeal to Caesar, which was a significant right and privilege.

5. Caesarea
The place where Paul is being held and where Festus is governing. It is a significant location for Roman administration in Judea.

Teaching Points

Divine Sovereignty in Human Affairs
God's plan is at work even through human legal systems. Paul's appeal to Caesar is part of God's larger plan to spread the gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire.

Courage and Wisdom in Trials
Paul demonstrates both courage and wisdom by using his rights as a Roman citizen. Believers can learn to wisely navigate their own legal and societal systems while maintaining their faith.

The Role of Suffering in the Christian Life
Paul's willingness to endure imprisonment and trials for the sake of the gospel challenges believers to consider how they view suffering and its purpose in their lives.

The Importance of Legal Rights
Understanding and utilizing one's legal rights can be a tool for advancing the gospel and protecting one's mission.

Faithfulness in Witnessing
Despite his circumstances, Paul remains focused on his mission to witness for Christ. Believers are encouraged to remain faithful in their witness, regardless of their situation.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Acts 25Could the dialog between Paul, Festus, and Agrippa in Acts 25:23-27 be a later literary construction designed to enhance Paul's standing, rather than a factual historical record?Why does Festus, mentioned in Acts 25:9-11, appear to rely so heavily on the Jewish leaders' accusations instead of conducting a thorough investigation himself?How historically credible is the swift transfer of Paul's case from one Roman governor to another in Acts 25:1-12, given the bureaucracy of Roman legal proceedings?Acts 21:37-40 - How plausible is it that Paul, a 'Jew of Tarsus,' was fluent in Greek and immediately recognized as such by a Roman commander?

(21) Unto the hearing of Augustus.--The title is the Greek equivalent, as seen in the name Sebaste (= Augusta) given to Samaria, for the epithet which, like our "his majesty," had become a kind of official title of the Roman emperor. It had first been given by the Senate to Octavianus (Sueton. Aug. c. 7), and was adopted by his successors. As connected with "augur, it had originally, like Sebastos, a religious connotation. The month of August, dedicated to the first emperor as July had been dedicated to Julius, and the names of Augsburg and Sebastopol, arc interesting as perpetuating its memory. The word for "hearing" (the same as our medical term diagnosis) corresponds rather to our thorough investigation.

Verse 21. - To be kept for the decision of the emperor for to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, A.V.; should for might, A.V. The decision; διαγνῶσις, here only in the New Testament; but it is used in this sense in Wisd. 3:18 ("the day of trial," or "hearing," A.V.), and by Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 15. 3:8). For the verb διαγινώσκω, see Acts 23:15; Acts 24:22, notes. The emperor (τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ); rather, as the A.V., Augustus. Augustus was the title conferred by the senate upon Octavius Caesar, B.C. 27, whom we commonly designate Augustus Caesar. It became afterwards the distinctive title of the reigning emperor, and, after the end of the second century, sometimes of two or even three co-emperors, and was now berne by Nero. Its Greek equivalent was Σεβαστός. Augustus may be derived, as Ovid says, from augeo, as faustus from farce, and be kindred with augur, and mean one blest and aggrandized of God, and so, full of majesty. It is spoken of all holy things, temples and the like, "Et queocunque sua Jupiter auget ope" (Ovid, 'Fast.,' 1:609); and, as Ovid says in the same passage, is a title proper to the gods. For, comparing it with the names of the greatest Roman families, Maximus, Magnus, Torquatus, Corvus, etc., their names, he says, bespeak human honors, but of Augustus, he says, "Hie socium summo cum Jove nomen habet." And so the Greek Σεβαστός bespeaks a veneration closely akin to adoration. Caesar, originally the name of a family of the Juliagens, became the name of Octavius Caesar Augustus, as the adopted son of Julius Caesar; then of Tiberius, as the adopted son of Augustus; and then of the successors of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, who had by descent or adoption some relationship to C. Julius Caesar the great dictator. After Nero, succeeding emperors usually prefixed the name of Caesar to their other names, and placed that of Augustus after them. AElius Verus, adopted by Hadrian, was the first person who bore the name of Caesar without being emperor. From this time it became usual for the heir to the throne to bear the name; and later, for many of the emperor's kindred to be so called. It was, in fact, a title of honor conferred by the emperor. Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But [when]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

Paul
Παύλου (Paulou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

appealed
ἐπικαλεσαμένου (epikalesamenou)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1941: (a) To call (name) by a supplementary (additional, alternative) name, (b) mid: To call upon, appeal to, address.

to be held over
τηρηθῆναι (tērēthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

decision
διάγνωσιν (diagnōsin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1233: Judicial examination, decision; an act of discernment. From diaginosko; examination.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Emperor,
Σεβαστοῦ (Sebastou)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4575: From sebazomai; venerable, i.e. a title of the Roman Emperor, or imperial.

I ordered
ἐκέλευσα (ekeleusa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2753: To command, order, direct, bid. From a primary kello; 'hail'; to incite by word, i.e. Order.

him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

held
τηρεῖσθαι (tēreisthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 5083: From teros; to guard, i.e. To note; by implication, to detain; by extension, to withhold; by extension, to withhold.

until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

I could send
ἀναπέμψω (anapempsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 375: To send up (to a higher tribunal), send back. From ana and pempo; to send up or back.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

Caesar.”
Καίσαρα (Kaisara)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2541: Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor.

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