Acts 25:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See what vindication of Paul the governor declares: "He himself demanded judgment before Augustus. I have nothing certain to write about him to my lord." Thus Festus writes, and the cruelty of the Jews is revealed. 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. See: Lysias condemned them, Felix condemned them, Festus condemned them, though they tried to please them, and Agrippa condemned them. What is more, even the Pharisees condemned them.

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.

"I have nothing certain to write about him": the governor found nothing in Paul worthy of death. Yet, as is evident, he did not clearly understand the substance of the case. This is understandable in him as a foreigner, only recently arrived in that province and unfamiliar with its institutions, character, and customs.

Festus's perplexity about what he should write to the emperor in accusation of Paul may be regarded as sincere. In this case Agrippa, as a good courtier, could help Festus, especially after becoming more closely acquainted with the accused.

Saint John Chrysostom sees in this a new vindication of Paul. "See how he accuses those Jews and vindicates him. What an abundance of vindications. After repeated examination the governor finds nothing with which to accuse him, while they said that he was worthy of death. This too proves Paul's innocence, that the judge has nothing to say about him. See into what great difficulty the Jews placed their rulers."