25:1 Now 1 when Festus was come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
(1) Satan's ministers are subtle and diligent in seeking every
occasion: but God who watches for his own, easily hinders
all their counsels.
25:62 And when he had tarried among them more than ten days,
he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the
judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
(2) We may justly avoid an injury, but not with an injury.
25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from
Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous
complaints against Paul, which a they could not prove.
(a) They could not prove them certainly and without
undoubted reasons.
25:93 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered
Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be
judged of these things before me?
(3) God does not only turn aside the counsel of the wicked, but
also turns it upon their own heads.
25:134 And after certain days king b Agrippa and Bernice
came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
(4) Festus, without even trying to, even before kings, brings
to light the wickedness of the Jews, and Paul's innocence,
and in this way marvellously confirms the Church of God.
(b) This Agrippa was the son of Agrippa whose death Luke
spoke of before, and Bernice was his sister.
25:16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to
c deliver any man to die, before that he which is
accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence
to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against
him.
(c) The Romans did not used to deliver any man to be
punished before, etc.
25:195 But had certain questions against him of their own d
superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul
affirmed to be alive.
(5) The profane and wicked take an occasion to condemn the true
doctrine, because of private controversies and contentions
of men between themselves: but the truth nevertheless
abides safe and sure in the meantime.
(d) This profane man calls the Jewish religion
"superstition", and that before King Agrippa, but it is
no wonder: for the rulers of provinces, because of the
majesty of the empire of Rome, used to think themselves
better than kings.
25:226 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the
man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
(6) That is fulfilled in Paul which the Lord had told to
Ananias about him; see (Ac 9:15).
25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice,
with great e pomp, and was entered into the place of
hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the
city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
(e) Gorgeously, like a prince.
25:26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my f lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and
specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after
examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
(f) To Augustus. Good princes refused this name at the
first, that is, to be called lords, but afterwards
they allowed it, as we read of Traianus.
