When Festus “came unto Felix’ room” as governor, he found Paul in prison. Felix had left him there because he was willing “to show the Jews a pleasure” (Acts 24:27).
The “more than forty” Jews, which banded themselves together “under a great curse” that they would not eat until they had slain Paul (Acts 23:12-14), were still seeking the life of the apostle, even though two years had passed since they had made the threat (Acts 24:27).
Just “three days” after Festus came into office “he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 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. 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. 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. While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended anything at all. 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? 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. For if I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go” (Acts 25:2-12).
These verses bring out the fact that Paul is to go to Rome and stand before Caesar. However, before he is brought before Caesar he must bear his testimony to King Agrippa.
You might be interested in reading the record of how it came about that Paul was brought before Agrippa. The record is given in this chapter, verses 13 to 27. This is in direct fulfillment of the Word spoken by the risen Lord in Acts 9:15—”He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before … kings.”
