Shirley H Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Acts 24:27, "But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix..."

Acts 25: 1-22, Festus is the topic.

The Jews hated Felix. They wrote letters to Rome detailing their outrage at his brutality against them. Festus replaced Felix as governor. Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea, Festus went to Jerusalem to talk to the Jewish leaders. They were negotiating about Paul.

King Agrippa wanted to meet Paul personally. Acts 25:22

August 23 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

As indicated in Acts 24-26, Festus (full name Porcius Festus) was the successor to Antonius Felix as the Roman procurator of Judea (the same position previously held by Pontius Pilate during Jesus' earthly ministry). 

After assuming office, Festus (along with King Herod Agrippa II and Festus' sister Bernice) went to the city of Caesarea (the Roman provincial capital of Judea, located on Judea's Mediterranean coast) to hear the apostle Paul present his defense regarding charges that had been brought against Paul by the Jewish authorities.

The Jewish authorities asked Festus to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem to be tried there, with the intent of killing Paul as part of the transfer/imprisonment process. To avoid this, Paul appealed his case to the emperor (Nero) in Rome (as it was his right to do as a Roman citizen by birth), requiring Paul to be transferred to Rome. 

After granting Paul's request, Festus (who had said during Paul's defense that he considered Paul insane) observed that, if Paul had not appealed to the emperor, he could have been set free, since the charges that the Jewish authorities were bringing against Paul did not involve violations of Roman law.

Festus subsequently died in Judea in AD 62, less than two years after taking office.

August 23 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Festus was the governor of Judea who succeeded Felix. See Acts 24:27--25:1; 25:3-4, 9,12-14, 22-24; 26:24-25; 26:32).

Another source says that Porcius Festus was a Roman procurator, succeeding Antonius Felix somewhere between AD 55 and 60. History describes him as fair and reasonable—much more so than Felix or Festus’ successor, Albinus. In the Bible, Porcius Festus is known for sending Paul to Rome to stand trial under Emperor Nero. ("Caesar")

The Acts of the Apostles narrate that the Apostle Paul had his final hearing before Festus (Acts 24:27). In Acts 25:12, Festus sought to induce Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial; Paul appealed to the Emperor. The appeal resulted in Paul being sent to Rome for judgment by the Emperor himself although Festus had difficulty in detailing charges against him (Acts 25-26).

Agrippa consented to hear Paul for himself, so we go to the witness' skillful guard before the ruler and Bernice. See Tim Maas' answer here. With a magnificent clarity, Paul gave a review investigation of his previous life and afterward a sketch of his present conciliatory observer to Christ as the risen, celebrated Son of God. Such was the effect of Paul's amazing allure that Festus, the Roman lead representative, failed to remember the standard pride of his office and burst out into an uproarious disdain saying: "Paul, thou workmanship adjacent to thyself; much learning doth make you crazy." (paraphrasing Acts 26:24-- Festus here avoided a decision by accusing Paul of being mad.)

With trademark serenity and with a firm control of his regular motivations so no unguarded expression may get away from his lips, Paul addressed Festus in all civility: "I'm not mad, most honorable Festus; but rather express forward the expressions of truth and soberness."(paraphrasing Acts 26:25). In his exceptional Bible Characters, Alexander Whyte says that a solitary word will once in a while immortalize a man. "What will you give me?" was all Judas said. (Matthew 26:15).

So with a single word Festus is also referred to us as though an entire section had been expounded on him. He said Paul was a fool. (Ac 26:24). 

Be that as it may, the uncontrolled and improper upheaval of Festus didn't stun Paul. Did they not say of his Master, for whom he had experienced a lot "He is beside Himself"? (Mk 3:21). 

Paul checked it an advantage to share his Master's madness. Later on, he expounded on being a dolt for the wellbeing of Him. He realized that no man is a genuine Christian who isn't the world's dolt (1 Cor. 3:18; 4:10; 2 Cor. 11:23). Surrounding us are the people who have never been borne along by the energy of God, who consider the profound man to be mad (Hos. 9:7). HL

September 05 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Joel Steinhauser

He was found to be historical as written by the Jewish Historian Josephus:

Jewish Encyclopedia

FESTUS, PORCIUS:
By: Richard Gottheil, Samuel Krauss
Procurator of Judea about 60-62 C.E., after Felix (Josephus, "Ant." xx. 8, § 9; "B. J." ii. 14, § 1). Although he was more just than his predecessor, he could not allay the intense bitterness of feeling among the Jews, caused chiefly by their being slighted in the affair of Cæsarea. Felix left him also the suit with Paul (Acts xxiv.-xxvi.), whom he sent to Rome (ib. Xxvii.), Paul having appealed to the emperor as a Roman citizen. Festus proceeded with rigor against the Sicarii, pursuing them with infantry and cavalry. He also took severe measures against a certain "magician," as Josephus calls him, but who was probably one of the numerous prophets who enticed the people into the desert, promising them salvation (compare "Ant." l.c.; "B. J." l.c.). 

When King Agrippa II., in order to be able to oversee the court of the Temple, erected a high wall in the former Hasmonean castle, the Jews in turn erected a higher wall to cut off his view. Festus, however, for military reasons would not allow this latter wall to stand; but he was just enough to permit the Jews to send an embassy to appeal against his decision to Nero, who decided in their favor ("Ant." xx. 8, § 11). Festus died after a short term of office, and was succeeded by Albinus.

November 27 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report