Acts 25 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 25 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• The events of Acts 25 occurred in approximately 59 A.D.

CHARACTERS:

• Paul (Saul) – Paul was an Apostles who planted churches in the Mediterranean region.

• Porcius Festus – The 5th Roman Procurator (governor) of Judea. He replaced Antonius Felix.

• Paul’s Jewish Enemies – They planned to murder Paul if given the opportunity.

• Herod Agrippa II – Last king of the Herodian Dynasty. He ruled as a client king of Rome over several territories outside of Judea.

• Berenice – Sister of Herod Agrippa II. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I who God killed in Acts 12.

WHERE:

• The key events of Acts 25 happened in Jerusalem and Caesarea Maritima.

OUTLINE:

• THE JEWS TRY TO TRICK FESTUS IN AN ATTEMPT TO KILL PAUL (25:1-5):

  • While the new governor, Porcius Festus, was visiting Jerusalem, some of the prominent Jews asked him to bring Paul to Jerusalem.

  • They were planning to ambush him on the way and kill him.

  • But Festus told them Paul would remain in Caesarea, and they would need to travel there if they wanted to make an accusation against him.

• PAUL ON TRIAL BEFORE FESTUS (25:6-12):

  • A few days later, Festus returned to Caesarea and summoned Paul to hear his case.  

  • The Jews from Jerusalem were present, and they accused Paul of many serious crimes that they could not prove.

  • Paul defended himself by telling Festus he had done nothing wrong, not against the Jewish Law, not against the Temple, or against Caesar.

  • When Festus revealed he wasn’t going to judge Paul’s case in an unbiased way, Paul appealed his case to Caesar in Rome.

• AGRIPPA AND BERNICE REQUEST TO HEAR PAUL’S CASE (25:13-27):

  • After several days, King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice, arrived in Caesarea.

  • Festus recounted Paul’s trial to Agrippa and told him he was unsure what to write to Caesar regarding Paul’s crimes because the Jews hadn’t presented a compelling case against him.

  • Agrippa requested to hear Paul for himself, and it was arranged for the next day.

  • When they had all gathered, Paul was brought into the audience hall and Festus announced that the reason for their meeting was to understand the charges against Paul so he could write a letter to Caesar explaining Paul’s appeal.

APPLICATION:

• The world isn’t always a fair place.

• Paul was tried by two governors and neither of them gave him a fair verdict.

• Although we can’t always rely on human authorities to do the right things, isn’t it reassuring that Jesus will make everything right in the end?

• No one will receive a biased or unfair trial when they stand before Jesus on the final day.

• Jesus will correct the wrongs done in the world and vindicate the righteous.