Acts 25:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For the same reason he said, "It is unreasonable to send a prisoner and not indicate the charges against him." The examination of such matters truly exceeded the understanding of such a judge. But if you are perplexed, why do you drag him to Jerusalem?

Therefore Paul, unwilling to be judged by him, demands judgment before Caesar and says, "I appeal to Caesar's judgment." This was precisely what they charged him with.

Do you hear how the case is transferred? Do you hear of the Jews' evil design? Do you hear of the disturbance? See into what great difficulty the Jews placed their rulers. Do you see how many times the case undergoes examination?

The Jews were the cause of this vindication, which was also to become known to those in Rome.

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."