What does Acts 25:13 mean?
Festus, the new governor of the eastern Mediterranean, is getting to know the local leadership. His first point of business was to travel to Jerusalem to meet the Sanhedrin: the priests, scribes, and elders who were responsible for the Jewish culture and religion (Acts 25:1).Now, he meets Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. Their father was Agrippa I, the king who killed the apostle James and tried to kill Peter (Acts 12:1–3) and soon after died of intestinal worms (Acts 12:20–23). Their grandfather was Herod the Great. The Jewish historian Josephus was a friend of theirs. Agrippa and Bernice's relationship was incestuous.
When Festus met with the Sanhedrin, they formally requested a favor: that he bring the man Paul from house arrest in Caesarea Maritima, the governor's capital, to Jerusalem. The Jews claimed they wanted Paul to try him for crimes against the state, the Mosaic law, and the temple; really, they wanted to ambush him along the way and kill him. Festus countered with a preliminary hearing in Caesarea, but when the Jews arrived Festus realized their accusations were baseless. Festus tried to recover a chance to please the Sanhedrin by asking Paul if he would allow the trial to move to Jerusalem. Paul responded by chastising Festus for not doing his job and appealing his case to Caesar (Acts 25:2–12).
Now, Festus must send Paul to Rome, but he has no workable charges. Nothing the Sanhedrin representatives said made sense. All Festus can tell is that they're arguing about theological variations among the different sects of Judaism. Fortunately, Agrippa's family has been in the area for generations; he's well versed in Jewish law (Acts 26:3). Festus takes advantage of Agrippa's visit and asks for his help (Acts 25:14–22).
Acts 25:13–22 relates how the new governor, Festus, draws King Agrippa II into his conundrum. Festus wants to be on good terms with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, but they want to try Paul for crimes that are obviously baseless. While Festus ponders what to do, Paul appeals his case to Caesar (Acts 25:1–12). But Festus can't send Paul to Rome without formal charges. Agrippa is intrigued and agrees to hear what Paul has to say.
In Acts 25, the new governor, Festus, must clean up Felix's mess. He tries to ingratiate himself with the Sanhedrin but when they ask him to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial, he refuses. The Sanhedrin agrees to come to Caesarea Maritima, instead, to present their accusations. Festus quickly realizes they don't have a case. Yet when he hesitates to dismiss the charges, Paul appeals the case to a higher court. Festus then invites King Agrippa II, the king's sister Bernice, and the city leaders to hear Paul and determine how to justify Paul's presence before Caesar.
