And Festus saith: King Agrippa and all ye men who are here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews dealt with me at Jerusalem, requesting and crying out that he ought not to live any longer.
και φησιν ο φηστος αγριππα βασιλευ και παντες οι συμπαροντες ημιν ανδρες θεωρειτε τουτον περι ου παν το πληθος των ιουδαιων ενετυχον μοι εν τε ιεροσολυμοις και ενθαδε επιβοωντες μη δειν ζην αυτον μηκετι
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
See how Festus speaks about him: he not only presents him as innocent, but also defends him. What does he say? See how he accuses the Jews and justifies Paul. Look at their frenzy: they cried out that he ought to die. From this it is clear that Paul rightly transferred the case to Caesar. If the Jews raged even when nothing blameworthy could be said against him, then he had to appeal to him.
King Herod Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I; see Acts ch. 12. He possessed, with the title of king, the tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias; Lk 3:1. He was the last king of the Herodian family, with whom that royal line came to an end.
Being in a vassal relationship to Rome, he considered it his duty to congratulate Festus on his new appointment. For this purpose he came to Caesarea soon after Festus entered upon the office of procurator of Judea.
Wishing to show courtesy to his guest, Festus proposed that Herod hear Paul's case. Herod also professed the Hebrew faith and therefore was more capable of understanding the matter than Festus, the Roman procurator. As Festus observed, Paul's accusers disputed with him over certain questions of their own worship of God; vv. 13-27.
And Festus said, and so forth. In presenting the prisoner to the assembly, the governor also set forth the reason that moved him to do this. “The whole multitude of the Jews” is somewhat exaggerated compared with vv. 2 and 15. Yet it is not unlikely that the persons mentioned there were accompanied by a large crowd. They supported the complaints and accusations brought against Paul with cries demanding his sentence of death.
Festus's presentation of the Apostle Paul to King Agrippa and to all who had gathered to see and hear him is full of dignity. Especially well said was Festus's statement that Paul's enemies demanded his death, while he had found nothing in him for which he ought to be punished with death.
Yet he did not say that he found no guilt in him at all, though he had said this earlier; v. 18. Still, one may discern this thought in the fact that the Apostle himself demanded the judgment of Augustus, as the emperors were called from the time of Octavian.
It is implied that, had there been no such demand, Paul could have been released. Yet Festus did not say this. "See," says Saint John Chrysostom, "what vindication of Paul the governor declares: since he himself demanded judgment before Augustus, I decided to send him to him.
"Festus speaks thus, and the cruelty of the Jews is revealed. For the governor cannot be suspected when he says this. He speaks in such a way that the Jews are condemned even by him. And when all have condemned them, then God also punishes. Festus not only presents him as innocent, but even defends him."
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 34 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS