251 Festus then , having arrived in the province , three days later went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea . 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews brought charges against Paul , and they were urging him, 3 requesting a concession against Paul, that he might have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way ). 4 Festus then answered that Paul was being kept in custody at Caesarea and that he himself was about to leave shortly . 5 "Therefore ," he said , "let the influential men among you go there with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man , let them prosecute him." 6 After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea , and on the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought . 7 After Paul arrived , the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove , 8 while Paul said in his own defense , " I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar ." 9 But Festus , wishing to do the Jews a favor , answered Paul and said , " Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?" 10 But Paul said , "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal , where I ought to be tried . I have done no wrong to the Jews , as you also very well know . 11 "If , then , I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death , I do not refuse to die ; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar ." 12 Then when Festus had conferred with his council , he answered , "You have appealed to Caesar , to Caesar you shall go ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 25:1-12
Commentary on Acts 25:1-12
(Read Acts 25:1-12)
See how restless malice is. Persecutors deem it a peculiar favour to have their malice gratified. Preaching Christ, the end of the law, was no offence against the law. In suffering times the prudence of the Lord's people is tried, as well as their patience; they need wisdom. It becomes those who are innocent, to insist upon their innocence. Paul was willing to abide by the rules of the law, and to let that take its course. If he deserved death, he would accept the punishment. But if none of the things whereof they accused him were true, no man could deliver him unto them, with justice. Paul is neither released nor condemned. It is an instance of the slow steps which Providence takes; by which we are often made ashamed, both of our hopes and of our fears, and are kept waiting on God.