ACTS 25:1–12
PAUL BEFORE FESTUS AND HIS APPEAL TO CAESAR
Text – Acts 25:1–12
1 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
2 The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their charges against Paul and appealed to him,
3 asking for a favor against Paul, that he order him brought to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
4 Festus replied that Paul was being held in custody in Caesarea and that he himself would soon be leaving.
5 “So let your leaders come down with me,” he said, “and if there is anything wrong with the man, let them accuse him.”
6 He stayed not more than eight or ten days among them and then went down to Caesarea. The next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.
7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and laid many serious charges against him that they could not prove.
8 Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there stand trial before me on these charges?”
10 Paul replied, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.
11 If I am guilty and have committed anything deserving death, I do not seek to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 Then Festus conferred with his council and replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
Historical and Jewish Context
Porcius Festus succeeded Felix as governor and sought to establish good relations with Jewish leaders. Jerusalem remained a volatile center of unrest. Appeals to Caesar were a legal right of Roman citizens in capital cases. The Jewish leaders’ request masked a renewed assassination plot. Festus’ political maneuvering reflects the tension between justice and appeasement common in Roman administration.
Catholic Theological Perspective
Paul’s appeal to Caesar is not an escape from suffering but obedience to God’s plan. By invoking his legal rights, Paul ensures protection from injustice and advances the Gospel toward Rome—the heart of the empire. Christian witness includes lawful self-defense and moral clarity. Paul’s willingness to accept death if guilty shows integrity and trust in God’s judgment. The Church learns that faith and civic responsibility can work together in God’s providence.
Parallels in Scripture
Acts 23:11 – Promise of witness in Rome
Matthew 10:18 – Witness before rulers
Romans 13:1–4 – Authority as God’s instrument
Philippians 1:12–13 – Imprisonment advancing the Gospel
Proverbs 21:1 – God guiding rulers
Key Terms
Charges – Unproven accusations
Tribunal – Seat of lawful judgment
Appeal to Caesar – Right of a Roman citizen
No offense – Integrity of conscience
Favor – Political compromise
To Caesar you shall go – Fulfillment of God’s plan
Catholic Liturgical Significance
Acts 25:1–12 is proclaimed during the Easter Season, highlighting courage, justice, and trust in God’s guidance through lawful means.
Conclusion
Acts 25:1–12 shows Paul standing firm in truth and justice. His appeal to Caesar is a decisive step that moves the Gospel toward the center of the world, fulfilling Christ’s promise and revealing God’s sovereign guidance over history.
Reflection
How do I respond when truth is threatened by political compromise?
Do I trust God’s plan when it unfolds through legal or secular processes?
Am I ready to stand by truth even at personal cost?
Prayer
Lord God, You are the just judge and ruler of history. Grant me courage to stand for truth, wisdom to act prudently, and trust in Your providence as You guide my life according to Your will. Amen.