Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 25
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 25:
Two years later, Paul is still confined (likely under a type of house arrest) and Festus has replaced Felix as the governor (an event that happened in 59 AD). The Jews in Jerusalem who are opposed to Paul’s message of God’s inclusivity are still advocating against him, and Festus attempts to gain politically by offering a trial in Jerusalem (vs. 9). Paul counters by asserting his right as a citizen to an appeal to the highest court, with the Caesar (emperor) in Rome (vs. 11). In the meantime, the regional King, Agrippa, visits his subordinate governor, Festus (vs. 13). Festus tries to show that he’s been handling this problem left over from the previous governor, Felix, competently (vs. 14-21). King Agrippa is curious (vs. 22) and this leads to an occasion for Paul to share his witness again (Ch 26). Through these “current events” of the 1st century, we see how God powerfully works in and through the events of history, bringing Paul into contact with prominent Gentile leaders.
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 25:
Paul Appeals to Caesar
1 Now when Festus had come into his province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they urged him, 3 asking as a favor to have the man sent to Jerusalem, plan an ambush to kill him on the way. 4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5 “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”
6 When he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7 And when he had come, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem stood about him, bringing against him many serious charges which they could not prove. 8 Paul said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended at all.” 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem, and there be tried on these charges be fore me?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried; to the Jews I have done no wrong, as you know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death; but if there is nothing in their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”
Festus Consults King Agrippa
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix; 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him. 16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed; 19 but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 And Agrippa said to Festus, “I should like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you shall hear him.”
Paul Is Brought before Agrippa
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then by command of Festus Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you, and, especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
Festus, the Roman governor holding Paul in prison, could find no charges to write against Paul. If you were charged in court of being a Christian, what charges would be brought by the prosecution to prove you're a Christian?
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1 Tres días después de llegar a la provincia,
subió Festo de Cesarea a Jerusalén,
2 y los príncipes de los sacerdotesy los jefes de los judíos le presentaron acusación
contra Pablo, e insistían 3 en pedirle
la gracia de que ordenara conducirlo a Jerusalén,
mientras preparaban una emboscada
para matarlo en el camino.
4 Pero Festo les respondió que Pablo
estaba custodiado en Cesarea y que
él mismo se disponía a partir hacia allí
cuanto antes:
5 –Que bajen conmigo –dijo– los
principales de entre vosotros y acusen
a este hombre, si ha cometido algún crimen.
6 Tras quedarse con ellos no más de
ocho o diez días, bajó a Cesarea y al día
siguiente se sentó en el tribunal y mandó
traer a Pablo. 7 En cuanto lo trajeron
le rodearon los judíos bajados de Jerusalén,
alegando contra él muchas y graves
acusaciones que no podían probar.
8 Pablo se defendía:
–Yo no he cometido ningún delito
contra la Ley de los judíos ni contra el
Templo ni contra el César.
9 Pero Festo, que deseaba atraerse a
los judíos, le dijo a Pablo:
–¿Quieres ir a Jerusalén y ser juzgado
allí de estas cosas en mi presencia?
10 –Estoy ante el tribunal del César –
contestó Pablo–, que es donde debo ser
juzgado. A los judíos no les he hecho
ningún mal, como tú bien sabes. 11 Si soy
reo de crimen y he hecho algo que merezca
la muerte, no rehúso morir; pero
si nada hay de lo que éstos me acusan,
nadie puede entregarme a ellos: ¡apelo
al César!
12 Entonces Festo deliberó con su
consejo y respondió:
–Has apelado al César y al César
irás.
13 Pasados algunos días llegaron a
Cesarea el rey Agripa y Berenice y fueron
a saludar a Festo. 14 Como se detuvieron
allí unos días, Festo mencionó al
rey el asunto de Pablo:
–Hay aquí un hombre que Félix dejó
en prisión, 15 contra quien los príncipes
de los sacerdotes y los ancianos de los
judíos presentaron acusación cuando
estuve en Jerusalén, pidiendo sentencia
condenatoria. 16 Yo les contesté que,
entre romanos, no es costumbre entregar
a un hombre antes de que el acusado
tenga delante de él a sus acusadores y
la oportunidad de defenderse de la acusación.
17 Cuando llegaron aquí, me senté
al día siguiente en el tribunal, sin ninguna
dilación, y ordené que trajeran a
aquel hombre. 18 Los acusadores se presentaron
ante él, pero no alegaban ninguna
acusación de los delitos que yo
sospechaba. 19 Tenían contra él ciertas
cuestiones de su religión y de un tal Jesús,
ya muerto, de quien Pablo afirma
que vive. 20 Perplejo por estas cuestiones,
le propuse si deseaba ir a Jerusalén para
ser juzgado allí de estas cosas. 21 Pero
como Pablo apeló para que su causa sea
reservada a la decisión del César, mandé
custodiarlo hasta que lo pueda enviar
al César.
22 Agripa le dijo a Festo:
–Yo también quisiera oír a ese hombre.
–Mañana le oirás –respondió él.
23 Al día siguiente llegaron Agripa y
Berenice con gran pompa y entraron en
la sala de la audiencia, junto con los tribunos
y los hombres más importantes
de la ciudad. A una orden de Festo trajeron
a Pablo. 24 Dijo Festo:
–Rey Agripa y todos los presentes
entre nosotros, veis aquí a este hombre.
Toda la multitud de los judíos me ha interpelado
contra él, tanto en Jerusalén
como en este lugar, gritando que no merece
vivir más tiempo. 25 Comprendí, sin
embargo, que no había cometido nada
digno de muerte. Pero como ha apelado
al César he decidido enviárselo. 26 Dado
que no tengo nada preciso que escribir al Emperador sobre él, lo he traído
ante vosotros, y especialmente ante ti,
rey Agripa, para que, una vez hecho el
interrogatorio, tenga algo que escribir;
27 pues me parece improcedente enviar
un preso sin indicar de qué se le acusa.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Festo, el gobernador romano que mantenía a Pablo en prisión, no pudo encontrar ningún cargo en contra de Pablo. Si usted fuera acusado en la corte de ser un cristiano, ¿qué cargos presentaría la fiscalía para probar que es un cristiano?
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para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).