9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go. (Acts 25:9-12 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, How Festus, being willing to gratify the Jews, asks Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be tried there in the Jewish court about those matters?
The apostle replied that he was his proper judge, under the Roman emperor and not the Jews; and that being a Roman, he might claim the privilege of a Roman which accordingly he did by appealing unto Cesar.
Festus, hearing that, not only accepted his appeal but was glad of it to get rid of him without peril on the one hand or ill will on the other.
Here we may remark, 1. That carnal politicians do not so much consider what is just and righteous in its own nature as what is of use and advantage to themselves, be it right or wrong. The apostle had cleared himself from all slanderous accusations; and yet Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, will not set him at liberty. It is too often the practice of corrupt judges, that they may please the people, to deliver up truth to be injuriously crucified; considering more their own interest, than the prisoner’s innocency.
Note, 2. How the apostle appeals from Jerusalem to Rome, from his own countrymen to heathens; from the high priest to the emperor Nero; expecting to find more justice at the hands of infidels than from the Jewish Sanhedrin. And to this, the apostle was in some sort divinely admonished by Christ himself to make his appeal. Be of good cheer, Paul, thou shalt bear witness to me at Rome. Ac 23:11
Doubtless, this was a mighty support and strong consolation to him to know that he appealed and desired to go to Rome where God had appointed to have him go.