Acts 25
1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,
3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
This "high priest" tells Festusm "Send Paul to Jerusalem for trial, he'll never make it because they would kill him on the way."
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.
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.
The kenites throwing their charges at Paul again and nothing sticks.
8 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.
Paul hadn't spoke about the worldly, only The Way. When you speak The Truth, people of the worldly ways will take it as an attack on them. Look at homos. You tell them Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. or Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. They believe it's a direct attack on them rather than the love it truly is for them.
9 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?
Festus is kissing up to the kenites. It's about the fame for him, not justice.
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.
Paul is calling Festus out. Paul knows he has done nothing wrong and that Festus must follow Roman law. Paul has the right to be judged before the Roman court.
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.
Paul is saying, if he has done anything "worthy of death", he's ready to die. Because there's no truth against me by Roman Law, you still want to deliver me to Jerusalem, I will appeal unto Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
Since Paul had appealed to Caesar, The "pig" = Festus had to send Paul to him.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
King Agrippa the second son of Herod (Ref.-Acts 12), was too young to be appointed at king upon the death of his father. When he become of age, in 50 A.D., Claudius gave him the kingdom. King Agrippa was well versed in Jewish customs and laws.
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:
Oh! I guess Festus = "pig" has nothing to do with it.
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.
They didn't care about judging him, they just wanted him dead.
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.
Same as our laws are today. We are entitled to a court hearing, being face to face with our accusers and a time we can defend ourselves in that court of law.
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.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
Festus is saying that he didn't hear anything wrong as far as Roman law goes.
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
"superstition" is "religion" to the Romans.
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.
I believe Festus would have rather given Paul to the kenites to please them than follow Roman law.
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.
23 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.
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.
See this man the Jews has told me of the things he has said and done, they say he should be put to death.
25 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.
Festus is forced to send Paul to Augustus instead of the Jews = kenites; not the bloodline of Judah, because by Roman law he had done nothing wrong.
26 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.
Because there is no change against Paul, Festus wants King Agrippa to give something he can write to Caesar when he sends Paul to Rome.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
You would have to wonder, why would he send Paul if he believes Caesar is going to question why he was sent, when there is no crime. God is in control!