Acts 25:6-10
 
Acts 25:6 (KJB)
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.
 
Festus had spent at least ten days in Jerusalem, probably getting caught up on the situation there and all that transpired under Felix. He also probably wanted to get to know the soldiers which were stationed there along with their commanders. He probably stayed in the palace of Herod the Great which was also the quarters of Pontius Pilate when he was Governor. Once he had completed his business in Jerusalem, he then went back to Caesarea. Once he arrived there, the next day he asked for Paul to be brought before him so he could once and for all adjudicate the situation. Either he would be rid of Paul or rid of the Jews, in both instances, he could get back to governing.
 
Acts 25:7 (KJB)
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.
 
Grievous - Weighty
 
Then when all things were in place, the Jews which came from Jerusalem and not the Jews from Asia had given many complaints against Paul. In fact, the accusations here were considered very weighty and could have constituted a very serious situation for Paul except for one major thing. They could not prove one of their accusations. They had concocted so many false accusations against Paul and yet not one could be proven. This is where Paul should have been exonerated and then freed.
 
Acts 25:8 (KJB)
While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
 
Paul then responded to their litany of charges and we are not given a detailed account of what he said but Luke gives a summary of what the accusations were about. Paul answered the charges that he was not guilty against the law of the Jews nor guilty of defiling the temple. Then they added charges concerning him breaking Roman law which was a new lie they added. If they could get him on this one, then he would be crucified for making sedition against Rome. Their lies had failed because Paul was not guilty of any of these accusations and they could prove nothing.
 
Acts 25:9 (KJB)
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?
 
Festus then saw an opportunity to do the Jews a favor, as he was trying to win the favor of the Jews. He asked Paul if he was willing to go up to Jerusalem and have a trial there before him. Paul knew that if he were to go up to Jerusalem, that there were those who still had the oath to kill him and if Paul agreed to go, then one of their own would go ahead and tell the forty that Paul was on his way back to Jerusalem. Festus knew that the Jews were pack of loud arrogant people who would also bring charges against him to his superiors if he did not please them. Festus had yielded to the crowd, like Felix before him, and Pilate before him.
 
Acts 25:10 (KJB)
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.
 
Paul knew that by going up to Jerusalem, he would be killed either on the way or in the city and was probably informed by friends of the plot which was not disbanded. Paul had known that he had one way out to avoid falling into the hands of the Jewish leaders or the group that wanted to kill him. Paul knew that the power behind the seat of Festus was the throne of Caesar. As a Roman citizen he had the right to appeal to Caesar. Paul knew that he had done the Jews no wrong as Festus well knew but Paul figured the only way out of this circular situation was to be judged at Caesar’s seat.

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