Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

We commonly say, ?New lords, new laws, new customs;? but here was a new governor, and yet Paul had the same treatment from him that he had from the former, and no better. Festus, like Felix, is not so just to him as he should have been, for he does not release him; and yet not so unjust to him as the Jews would have had him to be, for he will not condemn him to die, nor expose him to their rage. Here is, I. The pressing application which the high priest and other Jews used with the governor to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 25:1-12

25:1-12 Three days after he had entered into his province, Festus went up to Jerusalem. The chief priests and the chief men of the Jews laid information before him against Paul. They urged him, asking a favour against Paul, to send for him to be brought to Jerusalem, for they were hatching a plot to murder him on the way. But Festus replied that Paul was under guard at Caesarea and that he himself would soon be leaving. "So," he said, "let your men of power come down with me, and, if there is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 25:9

But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure ,.... As did his predecessor Felix, Acts 24:27 he being just entered upon his new government, and having met with some caresses and civilities from the Jews at Jerusalem, by whom he had been much pressed and urged about the affair of the apostle: answered Paul, and said, wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me ? meaning by the Jewish sanhedrim, he Festus being present: this was what the Jews had requested... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 25:10

Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat ,.... Not that here was a seat in the judgment hall built by Herod for Caesar himself to sit in, should he ever come there, as some have thought; but the seat on which Festus sat is called Caesar's judgment seat, because it was in a Raman court of judicature, and because Festus, who filled it, represented Caesar himself: where I ought to be judged : being a Roman citizen, and not at Jerusalem by the sanhedrim of the Jews, who had nothing... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:9

Willing to do the Jews a pleasure - This was merely to please them, and conciliate their esteem; for he knew that, as Paul was a Roman citizen, he could not oblige him to take a new trial at Jerusalem. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:10

I stand at Caesar's judgment seat - Every procurator represented the person of the emperor in the province over which he presided; and, as the seat of government was at Caesarea, and Paul was now before the tribunal on which the emperor's representative sat, he could say, with the strictest propriety, that he stood before Caesar's judgment seat, where, as a freeman of Rome, he should be tried. As thou very well knowest - The record of this trial before Felix was undoubtedly left for the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:9

Verse 9− 9.And Festus. Whether Festus knew somewhat of their laying await, (which we may well conjecture) or whether he were altogether ignorant thereof, he dealeth unjustly with Paul; and we see how soon those are drawn unto all corruption which are not guided by the Spirit of God. For Festus doth not openly contemn or hate Paul; but ambition, and peradventure also desire of gain, got the upper hand, so that, for pleasing the other part, he doth unjustly bring him in danger of death; also, it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 25:10

Verse 10− 10.I stand at Caesar’s judgment-seat. Because Paul seeth that he is betrayed into the hands of the Jews through the ambition of the governor, he objecteth the privilege of the city of Rome. He had submitted himself modestly, if he had commanded him to do − (601) that which was just and equal. Now, because the governor doth not his duty willingly, necessity compelleth the holy man to defend himself by law; and by this means the Lord delivereth him now again, even when he was almost... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

Persistent hatred. There is a bitterness and a dogged persistency in the enmity of an Oriental, and an inextinguishable thirst for revenge, which are unlike anything we know of among ourselves. Some knowledge and perception of this are necessary to enable us to understand many things in the Old Testament, including allusions to his enemies in some of the Psalms of David. The conduct of the Jews to St. Paul is a remarkable example of this persevering hatred, which nothing could avert or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 25:1-12

Tenacity in right. Paul is brought before a fresh judge. He defends the principles of duty and right in the same spirit as before, with perfect boldness, as the state of the matter demands, and at the same time with due respect to the office of the judge. I. CONSTANCY IN THE DEFENSE OF RIGHT . Let us view this in contrast: 1. To the audacity of the hypocrite. They brought many and heavy charges against Paul, which they were unable to prove. Again, "the servant is as... read more

Group of Brands