Acts 25: Paul Appeals to Caesar Before Festus and Agrippa

Short answer: Acts 25 recounts Paul's trial before the new governor Festus, where the Jewish leaders again accuse him and plot to kill him. Paul appeals to Caesar, and Festus later presents the case to King Agrippa, setting the stage for Paul's defense.

What Acts 25 says

The chapter opens with Festus arriving in the province and quickly traveling to Jerusalem. The high priest and principal Jewish leaders inform him against Paul and request that he summon Paul to Jerusalem, secretly planning to kill him on the way. Festus, however, insists that Paul remain in Caesarea and invites the leaders to come down and accuse him there. After staying more than ten days, Festus returns to Caesarea, sits on the judgment seat, and commands Paul to be brought. The Jewish leaders from Jerusalem stand around Paul, bringing many serious charges they cannot prove. Paul defends himself, declaring he has sinned neither against the Jewish law, the temple, nor Caesar.

Festus, wanting to gain favor with the Jews, asks Paul if he is willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there. Paul refuses, stating he is standing before Caesar's judgment seat where he ought to be tried. He acknowledges that if he has done anything worthy of death, he does not refuse to die, but if the charges are false, no one can hand him over to them. He then appeals to Caesar. Festus confers with his council and replies that since Paul has appealed to Caesar, he will go to Caesar. This legal appeal removes Paul from the jurisdiction of the Jewish leaders and sets the course for his journey to Rome.

Some days later, King Agrippa and Bernice arrive at Caesarea to greet Festus. Festus lays Paul's case before the king, explaining that the chief priests and elders had asked for a sentence against Paul when he was in Jerusalem. Festus recounts that he told them it is not Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and had opportunity to defend himself. When the accusers came, they brought no charges of the kind Festus expected. Instead, they had questions about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead but whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Festus, perplexed, asked if Paul would go to Jerusalem for judgment, but Paul appealed to be kept for the emperor's decision.

Agrippa expresses a desire to hear Paul himself, and Festus agrees to bring him the next day. On that day, Agrippa and Bernice come with great pomp, along with commanding officers and prominent men of the city. Festus commands Paul to be brought in. Festus addresses the assembly, noting that the whole multitude of the Jews petitioned him, crying that Paul should not live any longer. Yet Festus found Paul had committed nothing worthy of death, and because Paul appealed to the emperor, Festus determined to send him. Festus admits he has no certain charge to write to his lord, so he brings Paul before Agrippa and the others, hoping that after examination he may have something to write, for it seems unreasonable to send a prisoner without specifying the charges.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.” (Acts 25:8)” (Acts 25:8) — Paul's defense summarizes the three areas of accusation: the law, the temple, and Caesar. His claim of complete innocence frames the legal and religious conflict.
• “For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”” (Acts 25:11) — Paul's appeal to Caesar is a pivotal legal move that removes him from local jurisdiction and sets the stage for his eventual journey to Rome.
• “but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” (Acts 25:19) — Festus identifies the core dispute as religious, centered on a dead Jesus whom Paul claims is alive. This highlights the resurrection as the heart of the controversy.
• “For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”” (Acts 25:27) — Festus admits the awkwardness of sending a prisoner without specifying charges, setting up Paul's upcoming defense before Agrippa.

Gospel connection

Acts 25 shows the gospel on trial before earthly authorities. Paul's appeal to Caesar and his appearance before Festus and Agrippa demonstrate that the message of Jesus, especially his resurrection, cannot be ignored by those in power. The chapter connects to the wider biblical story of God's sovereignty over human courts and rulers. Just as Jesus stood before Pilate and Herod, Paul now stands before Festus and Agrippa, bearing witness to the risen Christ. The resurrection, which Festus calls a point of dispute, is the central claim of the gospel. Paul's willingness to suffer and even die for this truth echoes the pattern of Christ and the prophets, and it advances God's plan for the gospel to reach Rome and beyond.

Application

This chapter asks readers to consider how they respond when their faith is misunderstood or misrepresented. Paul did not waver in his defense, yet he also used the legal means available to him, appealing to Caesar. We may not face formal trials, but we can face pressure to compromise or remain silent about the resurrection. The passage encourages us to be clear about what we believe, to trust God's timing, and to remember that earthly authorities are not the final judges. It also challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we seek favor with people more than faithfulness to God? Like Festus, we might be tempted to avoid difficult truths, but the gospel calls for honest engagement.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not tell us what happened to the plot to kill Paul on the road, nor does it record any response from the Jewish leaders to Festus's invitation. It does not describe Paul's emotions or thoughts during these events. It does not state whether Agrippa or Bernice had any prior knowledge of Christianity. It does not give the content of Paul's defense before Festus beyond the summary in verse 8. It does not explain why Festus wanted to gain favor with the Jews beyond the text's simple statement. It does not record the outcome of the hearing before Agrippa, which continues into the next chapter. The text is silent on the details of the charges the Jews brought, only that they could not prove them.

Questions for study

1. Why do you think the Jewish leaders were so determined to have Paul brought to Jerusalem, and what does this reveal about their intentions?
2. Festus wanted to gain favor with the Jews. How can the desire for approval influence decisions in your own life?
3. Paul appealed to Caesar. Was this an act of faith or a legal strategy, or both? How might his appeal have advanced God's purposes?
4. Festus described the dispute as being about a dead Jesus whom Paul claimed was alive. Why is the resurrection so central to the gospel and so controversial?
5. Festus admitted he had no clear charges to write. What does this suggest about the weakness of the case against Paul, and how does it encourage believers facing false accusations?

Keep reading

Related studies: Acts 10 Bible Study, Acts 11 Bible Study, Acts 12 Bible Study, Acts 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Paul appeal to Caesar?

Paul appealed to Caesar because he believed he was innocent and that the local courts were not giving him a fair trial. As a Roman citizen, he had the right to have his case heard by the emperor.

Who was King Agrippa?

King Agrippa was a ruler who came to Caesarea with Bernice to greet Festus. He was familiar with Jewish customs and expressed interest in hearing Paul's case.

What was the main accusation against Paul?

The Jewish leaders accused Paul of offenses against the Jewish law, the temple, and Caesar, but they could not prove these charges. The real dispute centered on Paul's claim that Jesus was alive.