Again we find the efforts of the Jews defeated by God’s good providence in Festus refusing to bring Paul to Jerusalem, as they intended to kill him on the way. He ordered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that his accusers should go down there and prove their accusations. When he was come there, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem, laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, “Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all.”
Again in Festus we see the injustice in pandering to the Jews, and Paul seeing the injustice, appeals to Caesar, at whose judgment seat he then stood. Festus then conferred with the Council and answered, “Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go.” To Rome, therefore he must go, not as an Apostle, but as a prisoner. But Paul must also witness, to other great ones of the earth. Festus takes occasion by the visit of King Agrippa and his wife, to bring Paul’s case before them, and their curiosity is aroused to hear of this wonderful man, and the superstitions of the Jews and of the teachings of Paul. With the object of having some accusation to lay before Caesar, and to gratify the curiosity of King Agrippa and his wife, they meet with great pomp to give his case a hearing, specifically to find out what crimes were laid against him. Thus he is permitted to testify to his own conversion, and to the truth that Jesus was risen and glorified.