Paul Before Festus Acts 25:1: 20 – JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Paul before Festus is the event in Acts 25:1-20 when Porcius Festus, the new Roman governor of Judea, dealt with the Jewish leaders’ charges against Paul in Caesarea.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Name the new governor who took over from Felix.
2. Describe the plot the Jewish leaders made against Paul.
3. State the reasons the Jewish leaders hated Paul.
4. Explain how Festus responded to the request to move Paul to Jerusalem.
5. Describe Paul’s defence and the difficult position Festus was in.

What are the key terms in Acts 25:1-20?

These six words appear often in the story, so learn them first.

Who was Festus?

Porcius Festus was the Roman governor of Judea who took over from Felix.

• Position: he became governor after Felix’s term ended.
• Base: he ruled from Caesarea, the Roman headquarters.
• First visit: about three days after arriving, he went up to Jerusalem to meet the Jewish leaders.
• Paul’s position: Paul had been in prison for two years under Felix, and his case passed to Festus.

What was the plot against Paul?

The plot was a plan by the Jewish leaders to kill Paul on the road while he was being moved to Jerusalem.

1. Festus arrived in Jerusalem, and the high priest and chief men raised Paul’s case at once.
2. They asked Festus for a favour: to send Paul to Jerusalem for trial.
3. The request looked reasonable, but they had secretly arranged an ambush along the road.
4. The men in hiding were to kill Paul during the journey.

Why did the Jewish leaders hate Paul?

• Jesus as Messiah: he taught that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
• Gentiles: he welcomed non-Jews as equals in the faith.
• Customs: they accused him of teaching against the Jewish law and customs.
• Growth: his teaching was spreading quickly through the region.

How did Festus respond to the request?

Festus refused to move Paul to Jerusalem and said Paul would stay in Caesarea.

• Paul’s place: Festus said Paul was being kept in Caesarea.
• His plan: he said he would be going back there shortly.
• His invitation: the leaders in authority should go down with him and accuse Paul there if he had done wrong.
• Result: the ambush plan failed for the time being.

What happened at the trial in Caesarea?

Festus held the trial in Caesarea the day after he returned, with Paul’s accusers standing around him.

• Timing: Festus stayed in Jerusalem eight to ten days, then went back to Caesarea.
• Court: the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought in.
• Accusers: the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem stood around Paul.
• Charges: they made many serious charges.
• Proof: they could not prove any of them.

What were the earlier charges against Paul?

Acts 24:5-6 records the charges made earlier before Felix.

• Riots: he stirred up trouble among Jews everywhere.
• Nazarenes: he was a leader of the group called Nazarenes.
• Temple: he tried to make the temple unclean.

What was Paul’s defence?

Paul’s defence was that he had committed no offence against the Jewish law, the temple or Caesar.

• Jewish law: he said he had not broken it.
• Temple: he said he had not offended against it.
• Caesar: he said he had done nothing against Roman rule.
• Result: the accusers brought no proof to answer him.

What was Festus’s dilemma?

Festus’s dilemma was that he saw no crime in Paul but wanted to win the favour of the Jewish leaders.

• The facts: Paul had not broken Roman law.
• The pressure: Festus wished to do the Jews a favour.
• His question: he asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there before him.
• The danger: the road to Jerusalem was where the plot to kill Paul had been planned.
• Paul’s answer: Paul refused and appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:10-11).

What did Festus tell King Agrippa about Paul?

Festus told King Agrippa that Paul’s accusers had brought no charge he expected, only arguments about religion.

• Visitors: King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
• Festus’s report: he said Paul’s accusers had asked for a sentence against him.
• Roman custom: he told them a man must face his accusers and answer for himself.
• The charges: they were about the Jews’ own religion and a dead man called Jesus whom Paul said was alive.
• Festus’s feeling: he was puzzled by such questions.

What is the order of events in Acts 25:1-20?

1. Festus becomes governor and goes up to Jerusalem.
2. The Jewish leaders ask him to send Paul to Jerusalem, planning an ambush.
3. Festus says Paul will stay in Caesarea.
4. Festus returns to Caesarea and holds the trial.
5. The accusers fail to prove their charges, and Paul defends himself.
6. Festus asks Paul about a trial in Jerusalem.
7. Festus later explains the case to King Agrippa.

What lessons can we learn from this story?

• Courage: Paul spoke boldly for the truth while in prison.
• Honesty: false accusations fall when there is no proof.
• Justice: a leader should judge fairly and not seek to please people.
• Trust in God: God kept Paul safe from the plot.

Evaluation

1. Who took over from Felix as governor of Judea?
2. What did the Jewish leaders secretly plan to do to Paul on the road to Jerusalem?
3. Give three reasons the Jewish leaders hated Paul.
4. Why did Festus refuse to send Paul to Jerusalem at first?
5. Why was Festus in a difficult position when he asked Paul to stand trial in Jerusalem?

Assignment

In your exercise book, write a short account of Paul’s trial before Festus in Caesarea. Include the accusations made against Paul and Paul’s reply to them.