Overview of Chapters 24-28
• 24 – Paul stands trial before Felix, a terrible
ruler
• 25 – Paul stands trial before Festus, an
excellent ruler
• 26 – Paul presents his defense before the
guests of Festus, Agrippa II and Bernice
• 27 – Paul’s ship wrecks on the way to Rome
• 28 – Paul arrives in Rome where he spends 2
years waiting for his trial
Governor Felix
and Paul
• Left Paul in
prison for 2
years as a favor
to the Jews
Nero Replaces Felix with Festus
• Felix was a terrible ruler who
hated the Jews
• Festus was much stronger and
fairer
• Died after only 3 years in office
Nero Replaces Felix with Festus
• Felix was a terrible ruler who
hated the Jews
• Festus was much stronger and
fairer
• Died after only 3 years in office
Festus
A.D. 56
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
• Three days after arriving – 25:1
• The next day – 25:6
• I did not delay – 25:17
• Contrast with the
2 years Felix left Paul
in prison!
Trial in
Caesarea
Paul’s Defense
• I have done
nothing wrong
against the Jews
• Or against the
Temple
• Or against Caesar
Acts 25:8
Paul – I appeal to Caesar!
Acts 25:11
Acts 25:12
Festus – To Caesar you will go!
The Caesar before
whom Paul would
have stood was
Nero!
A.D. 54 - 68
Paul offered a
defense of
himself before
Governor
Festus, King
Agrippa, and
Agrippa’s sister
Bernice
King Agrippa II
& Bernice
• Brother and Sister
• Siblings of Drusilla (Wife of Felix)
• Children of Agrippa I
• Great-grandchildren of Herod the
Great
King Agrippa
• 17 when his father died (Acts 12)
• Given a small kingdom
• Territory grew – Became
Curator of Jerusalem Temple
• Power to appoint High Priest
Bernice
• Could be her own soap opera
• Married an uncle at 13 (he died)
• Moved in with her brother
• Rumors of incest (Josephus Jewish
Antiquities 20.145-46)
• Later remarried/divorced/returned
to Herod Agrippa II
Conclusions of Festus
• Dispute with him about their own
religion (19)
• A dead man named Jesus who
Paul claimed was alive (19)
• Nothing deserving of death (25)
• I (need) something to write (26)
Paul’s Defense
to Agrippa
• I lived as a Pharisee
(4-8)
• I opposed the name of
Jesus (9-11)
• I saw a light from heaven (12-18)
rd
3
Account of
Paul’s Conversion
• Shortest of the 3
• No mention of
Ananias
• Focus on the calling
from God to go to the Gentiles
Festus Interrupts Paul
• You are out of your mind, Paul!
(24)
• Your great learning is driving you
insane (24)
• He interrupted when Paul began
talking about RESURRECTION
2 Explosive Words (23)
King Agrippa,
do you believe
the prophets?
I know you do.
Agrippa said to
Paul, “Do you
think that in such a
short time you can
persuade me to be
a Christian?”
The Verdict
• Paul was innocent
• He could have
been set free
• Must send him to
Rome
The Centurion
(27:1)
• Julius
• Centurions were
professionals
• Was impressed
with Paul from the
start
Paul said to the men
on the ship, “Men, I
can see that our
voyage is going to be
disastrous and bring
great loss of ship and
cargo, and to our
own lives also.”
(27:10)
• Typhoon hit
them at Crete
• “Sandbars of
Syrtis” (17) are
in N. Africa
• “We…gave up
hope” (20)
An angel of
God says to
Paul, “Do Not
Fear!”
• You must stand
trial before
Caesar
• 18:9 – Corinth
• 23:11 – Jerusalem
• Complete dark
(20)
• 14 nights (27)
• 276 people
• Struck sandbar
• Saved by the
Centurion
Shipwrecked
• Island of
Malta, off the
coast of Sicily
Shipwreck on Malta (28:1)
Winter on Malta
• Healed all the
sick people on
the island (9)
• Stayed 3 winter
months (11)
So we came to
Rome (14)
• Brethren met him
• Forum of Appius
(40 miles south of
Rome)
• Three Taverns (30
miles south of
Rome)
Paul in Rome
• Lived by himself in
his own rented
apartment (16, 30)
• A soldier to guard
him (16)
• Probably chained
in 4-hour shifts
For two whole years
Paul stayed there in
his own rented house
and welcomed all who
came to see him.
Boldly and without
hindrance he preached
the kingdom of God
and taught about the
Lord Jesus Christ.
(Acts 28:30-31)
Luke does not tell us the result of
Paul’s trial before Caesar.
During the 2 years in Rome Paul
wrote the 4 Prison Epistles
During the 2 years in Rome Paul
wrote the 4 Prison Epistles
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• Philemon
• Perhaps a circular letter, sent
to churches throughout Asia
• The “whole armor of God” is
the response to the “spiritual
forces of evil” (6:10-18).
• Sent to a church Paul hadn’t
visited – started during his
ministry in Ephesus
• Response to spiritual confusion
– lift up Christ (1:15-20)
• A church that had a special 10year relationship with Paul
• Financially supported Paul
• Letter deals with how to unite in
the face of conflict (4:2)
• Name of a Christian slave
owner in the Colossian church
• Written on behalf of Philemon’s
slave, Onesimus
• Very public, private letter