Bible Commentaries

Desired favor; desired that Festus would favor them by sending for Paul, so that they might kill him.

Any wickedness; if he has committed any crime.

Persecutors of Christians, though high in ecclesiastical or political office, will often make statements which they cannot prove, which are not true, and the falsehood and malignity of which are so manifest, that they may be seen and condemned even by enlightened heathen.

Caesar’s judgment-seat; the Roman tribunal, before which he then was. Of course there was no good reason why he should go to Jerusalem.

I appeal unto Caesar; I will go to Rome and be tried before the emperor. To this, as a Roman citizen, he had a right. When men destitute of the spirit of Christ, at the head of ecclesiastical affairs, deny the right of private judgment, and are disposed to persecute those who exercise it, good men sometimes have more to fear from them, than from the most absolute civil despot.

The council; his own council, with whom he was accustomed to advise in the administration of justice. The original Greek has a different word here from that applied to the Jewish council, or Sanhedrin.

Agrippa; Herod Agrippa, son of the Herod mentioned in chapter Acts 12:1, and great-grandson of Herod the Great, under whose reign Christ was born.

Bernice; Agrippa’s sister. She first married her uncle the king of Chalcis, and then Polemon king of Chilicia, whom she deserted to live with her brother Felix Agrippa.

To salute Festus; to congratulate him upon his accession to office.

To condemn a man unheard, without his being informed of the nature, extent, and grounds of his accusation, or being permitted to meet and examine his accusers face to face, is the essence of tyranny; and must be condemned by the judgment and common-sense of the whole world.

Worldly politicians, high in office and clothed with great pomp and power, often think and speak very lightly of events into which angels desire to look, which fill heaven with rapture, and will be the theme of grateful and adoring praises from multitudes which no man can number, for ever and ever.

Doubted of such manner of questions; how such questions should be disposed of, or what course he should take with them.

Augustus; Augustus and Caesar were used as terms of office: each meant the Roman emperor. At that time, this emperor was Nero.

Have dealt with me; accused before me, and wished me to condemn.

No certain thing; no crime to allege, or accusation to specify.

Somewhat; something definite.

Signify; point out, specify.