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| 1 Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. |
Festus – Was appointed in the place of Felix, as governor of Judea. R1568:3, 4500:3
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| 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, |
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| 3 And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.
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| 4 But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. |
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| 5 Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. |
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| 6 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. |
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| 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 they could not prove. |
Grievous complaints – Setting forth the arguments of Tertullus to prejudice his mind. R4500:3
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| 8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. |
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| 9 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? |
Wilt thou go – The governor asked St. Paul whether he were willing to stand trial before his own countrymen. R4500:6
Festus proposed that, since the accusations pertained principally to the Jewish religion, that Paul go up to Jerusalem to be tried. R1568:3
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| 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. |
Where I ought to be judged – Paul appealed for such justice as the law provided. R5189:3
Have I done no wrong – He was respectful and law-abiding. R1555:6*
Paul more than once appealed to the law for justice and protection from his enemies. R954:3*
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| 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. |
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| 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. |
Unto Caesar – Paul was to be sent to Rome under military protection. R1568:6
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| 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. |
King Agrippa – Of Galilee. R4501:1
King of the country west of the upper Jordan. R1568:6
Agrippa and his wife professed the Hebrew faith. R4501:1
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| 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: |
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| 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. |
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| 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to 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. |
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| 17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. |
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| 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: |
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| 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. |
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| 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. |
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| 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. |
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| 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. |
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| 23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great 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. |
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| 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. |
All the multitude – Uncontrollable popular clamor, awakened by superstition. B330
Dealt – Or negotiate. R791:5
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| 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. |
Nothing worthy of death – The persecutions of the Christians under Pagan Rome were not worthy of comparison with those under Papal Rome. Roman magistrates frequently declined the odious task of persecution. B330
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| 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my 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. |
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| 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. |
Laid against him – No real charges could be made out. R1569:2
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