1. Protected by a sincere governor: Paul would continue to witness for Christ (vs. 1-5)
 a) After 2 years of delay before corrupt governor Felix in Judea, Festus replaced him. Festus inherited
     Paul’s undecided case. He ruled for a few years until his death. He was a conscientious governor, but
     in a challenging environment to keep the peace with a growing restlessness, rebelliousness & violence.
     He wanted good relations with the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem.
 b) Three days after arriving in Caesarea, he traveled to Jerusalem to interact with Jewish leaders. The
     chief priests (including Ishmael, new high priest), and other leaders who had not lost their fervor in
     doing away with Paul. They asked for a concession/favor to bring Paul to Jerusalem to finish his trial.
     As in Acts 23:12-15, they would set an ambush to kill Paul on the way.
 c) Festus refused this. He pointed out Roman custom called for the accused to meet his accusers face to
     face & have a chance to make a defense (v16). Caesarea (Roman capital of Judea) was the appropriate
     place for this to happen. He offered their influential men to accompany him back to Caesarea for an
     immediate trial.
 d) Hatred against God’s servants continues, but He protects them even through decisions by non-
     Christian governing officials.
2. Protected by self-defense: Paul witnesses for Christ before a fresh audience (vs. 6-8, 18-19)
 a) After about 10 days in Jerusalem, Festus returned to Caesarea. The next day he sat on the judgment
     seat for Paul’s trial. Festus would have read all the documents of Paul’s case the preceded his time as
     governor. The Jewish leader’s delegation surrounded Paul and brought many serious charges against
     him. They wanted to take advantage of Festus’ inexperience & limited knowledge by heaping up many
     charges, which called for death in Jewish and/or Roman circles. They had no prove, or witnesses to
     back these charges.
 b) Paul countered he had committed no offense against the Jewish Law, the temple or Caesar.
 c) Verse 18-19 gives Festus’ perspective that these charges were not what he expected, but were about
     the Jewish religion. The central point was about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted/claimed was
     alive. Paul made sure again that this became the key issue in the trial. This was an opportunity for the
     hostile Jewish leaders, and neutral Governor Festus and his council to hear the Gospel.
 d) Look for every chance to make people consider Christ’s resurrection.
3. Protected by a legal right: Paul would witness before Caesar (vs. 9-12)
 a) It was obvious there was no case against Paul. Festus was still looking to get off to a good start with
     the Jewish leaders & wanted to do them a favor. He asked Paul if he was willing to go up to Jerusalem
     to stand trial before him. Maybe Festus thought more information would surface there to shed light on
     Paul’s case. The Sanhedrin would have taken over the case & made sure Paul got the death penalty.
 b) Paul knew this meant death, and it was wrong to shift the trial of a Roman citizen like this. He
     appealed that Caesar’s tribunal was in Caesarea and that Festus knew very well that he had done no
     wrong to the Jews (based on his reading of the court documents & listening to this trial).
 c) He expressed if his actions were worthy of death, he would accept that, but if none of these
     accusations were true, Festus could not hand him over to the Jewish leaders. Then he did what a
     Roman citizen in a capital case had a right to: he appealed to a trial before Caesar in Rome.
 d) Festus conferred with his council and they agreed that sending the case to Caesar was appropriate.
     This relieved him of the pressure of displeasing the Jews vs. injustice for an innocent Roman citizen.
 e) This would give Paul a chance to witness for Christ in the highest government on earth (23:11). The
     Lord protects & brings his servants into new circles to share the Good News of Christ’s resurrection.