Acts 25:1-6

¹ Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

² Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him,

³ asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.

⁴ But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly.

⁵ “Therefore,” he said, “let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.”

⁶ And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

Because of unrest and riots in Jerusalem, Felix was recalled and Festus was appointed in his place. He was only in office three days when he traveled to the hot spot. He wasn’t able to resolve things. The unrest continued until, 12 years later, Rome sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.

high priest (v.2) — Ananias was no longer high priest; Ishmael Ben Phabi had taken the office.

Festus refused to send Paul to Jerusalem (v.4), but then asked Paul if he would go (v.9) because he wanted to do the Jews a favor.

Festus answered (v.4) — later (v.16), Festus told Agrippa that he told the Jews that it wasn’t Roman custom to give an uncondemned man to his accusers without a trial.