13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. (Acts 25:13-21 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. How God will not be wanting to his servants in their greatest straits and sufferings, but will providentially dispose of all matters to their deliverance, when it may most conduce to his own glory and their good.
Thus here, King Agrippa comes to congratulate Festus; Festus declares the cause of God’s oppressed servant to the king, and God makes use both of Festus and Agrippa to screen the apostle from the violence of his enemies: In the mount will the Lord be seen; the people’s extremities are the seasons of his succour.
Observe, 2. How the very light of nature in and among the heathens condemns it as an act of manifest and notorious injustice in a judge to pass sentence upon a person unheard, and unallowed to make his defence.
This baseness was below the Roman gallantry whilst Pagans; Festus demands the accusers and the accused to appear face to face; and yet such a diabolical spirit of malice had so blinded the Jews, that, contrary to the law of nature and the law of all nations, they would have had St. Paul here condemned without knowing the cause and hearing his defence.
Observe, 3. What base and vile, what low and undervaluing thoughts, and apprehension have carnal men of the high and holy things of God.
Festus here calls the religion and worship, which was of God’s own institution, most profanely and contemptuously by the name of superstition: They had certain questions against him of their own superstition. And how slightingly does he also speak of our glorified Redeemer, styling him one Jesus; but no wonder that the dunghill cocks of the world know not the worth of the pearl of great price.