Atos 25
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Atos 25:1-5
25:1 "Festus" This was Felix's successor. He was a nobler personality, but obviously under the same political pressure and mind set. He was in office for two years and died in A.D. 62 while still in office (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 20.8.9). ▣ "three days later" This shows how upset and persistent the Jewish leadership was concerning Paul. Festus also wanted to make a good first impression. 25:2 "the chief priest and the leading men of the Jews" This may refer to the Sanhedrin, which was made up of 70 Jewish leaders from Jerusalem. They formed the highest judicial body of the Jews in both politics and religion. Under Rome it had limited authority. However, it could also refer to the other wealthy and elite citizens of Jerusalem who would be very anxious to meet the new Roman procurator and begin to establish a good relationship with him. It is surely possible that it refers to both groups. After two years there was a new high priest, Ishmael ben Fabus (A.D. 56-62). He, too, wanted to establish himself and a good way to do this was to attack the renegade Pharisee, Paul. SPECIAL TOPIC: SANHEDRIN ▣ "they were urging him" This is an IMPERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. They asked again and again. 25:3 This shows animosity against Paul on the part of these religious leaders. They saw Paul as an enemy from within! The rapid success of Christianity stressed both the Sadducees and Pharisees. ▣ "(at the same time, setting an ambush to kill him on the way)" The tactics of the Jewish leadership had not changed (cf. Acts 23:12-15). Murder was an acceptable option (i.e., Jesus and Paul earlier in Acts 23:16). 25:5 "if" This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his purposes (cf. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 3, p. 429). Dr. Bruce Tankersley, the Koine Greek specialist at East Texas Baptist University, says it might be THIRD CLASS because there is no VERB in the protasis. Festus assumed Paul was guilty. Why else would the Jerusalem leaders be so persistent, and so tenacious?
Atos 25:6-12
25:6-9 These events showed Paul that he had no real hope for justice with Festus. He knew what awaited him in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 25:3). He also knew Jesus wanted him to go to Rome (cf. Acts 9:15). 25:6 "After he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them" I would imagine the Jewish leaders wined and dined Festus. They manipulated all the Roman officials. 25:8 Paul asserts that he is innocent of all charges against the Law of Moses (cf. Acts 21:21,28) the temple (cf. Acts 21:28; 24:6) Caesar (cf. Acts 16:21; 17:7) Numbers 1 and 2 are exactly what Stephen was charged with in Acts 6:13-14. Paul claiming that he had "committed no offense either legally or religiously" is a clear statement that he had not violated his sense of right or wrong or his sense of personal obligation. This relates to Paul's use of "conscience." Acts 23:1, "good conscience" Acts 24:16, "clear conscience" (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5,19; 2:9; 2 Tim. 1:3) SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSCIENCE 25:10-11 Paul asserts that he was already before the proper authority and in the proper place. Luke records in Acts 25:11 Paul's official appeal to Caesar. The right of appeal to Caesar initially started with Octavian in 30 B.C. (cf. Dio Cassius, History, 51.19). This initial dictate was expanded to forbid blinding, scourging, and torture to any Roman citizen who appealed to Caesar (cf. Paulus, Sententiae 5.26.1). There is a good discussion of Roman Law of the first century in A. N. Sherwin-White's Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament, "lecture four: Paul before Felix and Festus," pp. 48-70. 25:11 "If. . .if" These are two FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES which are assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his purpose. These two usages in context show how this grammatical construction was used to make a point. The first is false to reality (but exactly the same condition used by Felix in Acts 25:5); the second is true to reality. ▣ "I do not refuse to die" Paul recognized the power of the state (see full note on capital punishment in Rom. 13:4 online). The OT perspective on capital punishment can be found in Gen. 9:6. See an interesting discussion of capital punishment in Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 114-116. NASB, TEV, REB "no one can hand me over to them" NKJV, Peshitta "no one can deliver me over to them" "no one can turn me over to them" "no one has the right to surrender me to them" The term charizomai basically mean "to gratify" or "grant as a favor." Paul realized that Festus was trying to impress the Jewish leadership by giving them himself! However, it is possible that Festus is trying to abide by a decree from Julius Caesar (cf. Josephus, Antiq. 14.10.2), which encouraged Roman officials in Palestine to allow the wishes of the high priest. ▣ "I appeal to Caesar" This was the legal right of every Roman citizen in capital punishment cases (Pliny the Younger, Letters 10.96). At this point in history, Nero was the Caesar (A.D. 54-68). Oh my, Paul would have to face the worst of the worst! 25:12 "his council" This refers to Festus' Roman legal constituents (i.e., leading Roman citizens of the province), not the Jewish leaders. To not check with this group would have opened Festus up to a legal offence in Roman jurisprudence CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO ACTS 25:13-26:32 BACKGROUND Herod Agrippa II (Marcus Julius Agrippa) He is the son of Herod Agrippa I (cf. Acts 12), who was the political ruler of Judea and who had control of the temple and Priesthood (A.D. 41-44) and grandson of Herod the Great. He was educated in Rome and was pro-Roman. He returned to Rome after the Jewish war of A.D. 70 and died there in A.D. 100. At the age of 17 his father died, but he was too young to assume his kingdom. In A.D. 50 Herod Chalcis, Agrippa II's uncle, the King of Chalcis (a small kingdom in Northern Palestine), died and Agrippa II was given his kingdom by Emperor Claudius. Also, he was given control over the temple and the High Priesthood. In A.D. 53 he exchanged this small kingdom for the tetrarches of Herod Philip (Ituraea and Trachonitis) and Lysanius (Abilene). Later, Emperor Nero added certain cities and villages around the Sea of Galilee to his control. His capital was Caesarea Philippi, which he renamed Neronias. For historical reference cf: Josephus Jewish Wars 2.12.1,7-8; 15.1; 16.4; 7.5.1 Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews 19.9.2; 20.5.2; 6.5; 7.1; 8.4; 9.6. Bernice She was the oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. She was the sister of Agrippa II, and for a period of time may have been his incestuous lover (there is no evidence of this, only rumor). Later she was a mistress to Emperor Titus while he was a general. He was the Roman general who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70. She was Drusilla's sister (cf. Acts 24:24). She was married to Herod Chalcis (Herod Agrippa I's brother, her uncle), but when he died she moved in with her brother. She later married Polemon, King of Cilicia, but left him to return to her brother who had just been given the title of "King." She was the mistress of Emperor Vespasian. Historical references Josephus Jewish Wars 2.1.6; 15.1; 17.1. Josephus' Antiquities of the Jew 19.9.1; 15.1; 20.1.3 Tacitus' History 2.2 Seutonius' Life of Titus 7 Dio Cassius' Histories 65.15; 66.18 Juvenal's Satire 61.156-157
Atos 25:13-22
25:13 "King Agrippa" This refers to Agrippa II. He was the brother of Drusilla and Bernice. He was educated in Rome and was very loyal to Rome's policies and programs. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAMILY OF HEROD THE GREAT ▣ "Bernice" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BERNICE 25:13-19 This again reveals one of Luke's literary and theological purposes, which was to show that Christianity was not a political threat to Rome (cf. Acts 25:25). In the early decades of the first century Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism, which was acknowledged by Rome as a legal religion. Rome wanted no part of disputes between Jewish religious sects! 25:16 Luke quotes Paul's knowledge of Roman law. An accused has the right to face his accusers (i.e., Acts 23:30). Paul's eyewitness accusers were members of the Greek speaking synagogues in Jerusalem, who claimed he brought a Gentile into the temple. The case should have been dismissed on this legal point! 25:18 "they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting" This shows the intensity and nature of the Jewish opposition. It was not political, but religious. NASB, NRSV, NJB, NIV "crimes" "such things" "evil crimes" "charges" "evil deeds" "evil things" "serious charges" There are several Greek MSS variants. ponērōn – GENITIVE PLURAL in MSS אi 2 , B, E, meaning "things of evil" (cf. Acts 28:21) ponērau – ACCUSATIVE NEUTER SINGULAR in MSS P 74 , A, C * ponēra – ACCUSATIVE NEUTER PLURAL in MSS א * , C 2 omit – MSS L, P, and some Lectionaries (cf. NKJV) UBS 4 puts option #1 in the text with a "C" rating (difficulty in deciding). Felix was surprised that the charges were not serious and had to do with Jewish religious matters, not legal matters (i.e., treason). 25:19 "religion" This is literally a compound term from "fear" and "gods." This term can mean "superstition," which was exactly what these Roman leaders thought about the Jewish religion. However, Festus would have not wanted to insult his Jewish dignitaries, so he used an ambiguous term (so too, Paul, Acts 17:22). Verses 18-19 show again that Roman justice found no fault with Paul or Christianity. ▣ "about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive" The resurrection was one the central pillars of the sermons (kerygma). in Acts (cf. Acts 26:8). Christianity stands or falls on this theological assertion (cf. 1 Corinthians 15). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH
Atos 25:23-27
25:23 What a wonderful opportunity to preach the gospel! ▣ "the commanders" This is the term chiliarch, which means leaders of a thousand, as centurion means leader of a hundred. We learn from Josephus' Antiq. 19.19.2, that there were five auxiliary cohorts in Caesarea at this period. ▣ "the prominent men of the city" This would refer to the civic leaders of Caesarea. Notice the groups in the assembly. a Roman procurator an Idumean regional king Roman military leaders prominent civic leaders of Caesarea ▣ 25:26 "the Emperor" This term is sebastos, which was the Greek equivalent of the Latin term augustus. Its basic etymology is "revere, "adore," "venerate," or "worship." It was first used of Octavian in 27 B.C. by the Senate. Here, it is used of Nero (A.D. 54-68). Nero seems to have expanded the worship of the Emperor cult. 25:26 "I have nothing definite about him to write" Festus had the same problem as Lysias, the commander from Jerusalem. He was bound by Roman law to write an indictment against Paul along with any evidence or judicial opinion. Paul was a mystery to these Roman leaders. But it is very clear they found no legal charges against him! ▣ "lord" The is the Greek word kurios, which means owner, master, ruler. This is the first documented use of kurios as a stand-alone title for Nero. This title was rejected by the Emperors Octavian/Augustus and Tiberias because they felt it was too close to the Latin rex (king), which caused the Roman populace and Senate discomfort. However, it appears often during and after Nero's day. Vespasian and Titus used the term "savior" and Domitian used "god" to describe themselves (cf. James S. Jeffers, The Greco-Roman World p. 101). The term kurios became the focus of the persecution against Christians, who could use this term only for Jesus Christ. They refused to use it in the recurrent incense offering and pledge of allegiance to Rome. SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord, Lord (kurios)