King Agrippa Consults With Festus On Paul’s Case

7 Cheshvan • Apostolic Era, c. 59 AD

King Agrippa Consults With Festus On Paul’s Case

Days after Paul’s appeal to Caesar, King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrived in Caesarea, paying their respects to Governor Festus. During their visit, Festus seized the opportunity to discuss Paul's complex case with Agrippa. The Roman governor was perplexed, as Paul's Jewish accusers had brought no charges of actual crime, only disputes over their own religion and a man named Jesus whom Paul asserted was alive. Festus explained his predicament, acknowledging Paul's Roman citizenship and his appeal to Caesar.

Festus presented Paul's situation as a matter for imperial review, but admitted he had no specific crime to report to the Emperor. Agrippa, having a keen interest in Jewish customs and disputes, expressed a desire to hear Paul himself. Festus readily agreed, seeing this as an opportunity to gain insight before composing his official report to Rome. This pivotal meeting would soon bring Paul before a king, allowing him yet another platform to proclaim the Gospel before influential leaders.

But after some days, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. And when they had spent many days there, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king… I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write.
— Acts 25:13-15a, 26-27

Timeline Box: Festus's consultation with Agrippa immediately follows Paul's appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:12), which occurred after Felix left office, approximately c. 59 AD. This event is chronologically next in the narrative.

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