“Kill Paul!” had been the cry of the unbelieving Jews ever since Paul had arrived in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27–31; 22:22; 23:10–15; 25:3); however, Festus knew nothing of this. Paul had been warned of this danger, but he had also been assured that the Lord would protect him, use his witness and then take him safely to Rome (Acts 23:11; 26:17). The situation was growing more serious, for now it was the council itself, and not a group of outsiders, that was plotting Paul’s death. You would think that their anger would have subsided after two years, but it had not. Satan the murderer was hard at work (John 8:44)
Acts 25:1–Acts 28 (MEV)
1 Now three days after Festus had come into the province, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem.
2 The high priest and the elders of the Jews spoke to him against Paul. And they begged him,
3 asking as a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him along the way.
4 Festus said that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
5 He also said, “Let the men in authority go down with me. If there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
6 Having stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered that Paul be brought in.
7 When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges against him which they could not prove,
8 while he defended himself, saying, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned at all.”
9 Desiring to do the Jews a favor, Festus answered, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be judged concerning these charges before me?”
10 Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you know very well.
11 If I am doing wrong or have done anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if these are empty charges of which these men accuse me, no one may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
12 When Festus had conferred with the council, he then answered, “To Caesar you have appealed. To Caesar you shall go.”
13 After several days King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.
14 When they had been there many days, Festus stated Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man left as a prisoner by Felix.
15 When I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence against him.
16 “I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he who is accused meets the accusers face to face and has the opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge brought against him.’
17 So when they assembled here, without delay I sat on the judgment seat the next day and ordered that the man be brought in.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such crimes as I had supposed.
19 But they had disagreements with him about their own religion and about a Man named Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted was alive.
20 Being perplexed about such questions, I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there concerning these charges.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be under guard for the decision of Caesar, I ordered that he be secured until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” He said, “Tomorrow you shall hear him.”
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the hall with the commanders and the leading men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.
24 Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all the men who are present with us, you see this man, concerning whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death. But when he himself appealed to Caesar, I decided to send him.
26 But I have nothing to write to His Majesty concerning him. Therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that upon examination, I might have something to write.
27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without signifying the charges against him.”
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that today I shall make my defense before you against all the accusations of the Jews,
3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to patiently listen to me.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning in my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
5 They knew me from the beginning and could testify, if they wished, how according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand on trial for hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God day and night. Concerning this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why is it judged incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 “I, too, thought that I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,
10 which I indeed did in Jerusalem and locked up many of the saints in prison by authority from the chief priests. And when they were killed, I cast my vote against them.
11 I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme. And being extremely enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 “So I went to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests.
13 At midday, O King, I saw along the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
16 But rise and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness both of what you have seen and of what I will yet reveal to you.
17 I will deliver you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you,
18 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works proving their repentance.
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22 Therefore having obtained help from God, I continue to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
23 that the Christ must suffer, that He would be the first who would rise from the dead, and would announce light to His own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 So as he made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are mad. Much learning is turning you to madness.”
25 Paul said, “I am not mad, most excellent Festus. I speak the words of truth and reason.
26 The king, before whom I also speak freely, knows about these things. For I am persuaded that none of this is hidden from him, for this was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to be a Christian.”
29 Paul said, “I pray to God that not only you, but all who hear me this day, might become not only almost, but thoroughly and altogether, what I am, except for these chains.”
30 When he had said this, the king rose, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them.
31 When they had gone aside, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing deserving death or imprisonment.”
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
1 When it was decided that we should sail into Italy, they handed Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan Regiment, named Julius.
2 Boarding a ship from Adramyttium, we put out to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be given care.
4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.
5 Sailing across the sea off of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
7 We sailed slowly for many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to proceed, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.
8 Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
9 As much time had been lost and as the voyage was now dangerous, because the Day of Atonement was already over, Paul advised them,
10 saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.”
11 But the centurion was persuaded more by the captain and the owner of the ship than by what Paul said.
12 Since the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority decided to sail on from there, if somehow we might reach Phoenix, a harbor in Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and winter there.
13 When a south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained the necessary conditions, they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
14 But soon afterward a tempestuous wind swept through, called the Euroclydon.
15 When the ship was overpowered and could not head into the wind, we let her drift.
16 Drifting under the lee of an island called Cauda, we could scarcely secure the rowboat.
17 When they had hoisted it aboard, they used ropes to undergird the ship. And fearing that they might run aground on the sand of Syrtis, they let down the mast, and so were driven.
18 We were violently tossed by the storm. The next day they threw cargo overboard.
19 On the third day we threw the tackle of the ship overboard with our own hands.
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was upon us, all hope that we should be saved was lost.
21 After they had long abstained from food, Paul stood in their midst and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete, incurring this injury and loss.
22 But now I advise you to take courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has given you all those who sail with you.’
25 Therefore, men, take courage, for I believe God that it will be exactly as it was told to me.
26 Nevertheless, we must be shipwrecked on a certain island.”
27 When the fourteenth night came, while we were drifting in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors supposed that they were approaching land.
28 They took soundings and found the water to be one hundred and twenty feet deep. When they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be ninety feet deep.
29 Fearing that we might run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
30 When the sailors strove to abandon ship and lowered the rowboat into the sea, under the pretext of lowering anchors out of the bow,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these sailors remain in the ship, you cannot be saved.”
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the rowboat and let her fall off.
33 As day was about to dawn, Paul asked them all to eat, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have waited and continued without food, having eaten nothing.
34 So I urge you to eat. This is for your preservation, for not a hair shall fall from your head.”
35 When he had said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it he began to eat.
36 Then they were all encouraged, and they also ate food themselves.
37 In all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
38 When they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw the wheat into the sea.
39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land. But they noticed a bay with a shore, into which they were determined to run the ship if possible.
40 Casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while loosening the ropes that secured the rudders. Then they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
41 But striking a sandbar where two seas met, they ran the ship aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was broken up by the violent surf.
42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.
43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, prevented them from their intent and ordered those who could swim to abandon ship first and get to land,
44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And in this way they all escaped safely to land.
1 When they had escaped, they learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The natives showed extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because of the rain and the cold.
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper driven out by the heat fastened on his hand.
4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, justice does not allow him to live.”
5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 They expected him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But while they waited and saw no harm befall him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 In that area was an estate of the chief man of the island, named Publius, who had welcomed us and courteously housed us for three days.
8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with a fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and, placing his hands on him, prayed and healed him.
9 When this happened, the rest on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.
10 They honored us in many ways. And when we sailed, they provided us with necessary supplies.
11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.
12 Landing at Syracuse, we waited there for three days.
13 From there we circled around and sailed to Rhegium. After one day the south wind blew, and the next day we arrived at Puteoli.
14 There we found brothers, and were invited to remain with them for seven days. And so we went to Rome.
15 From there, when the brothers heard of us, they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 When we arrived at Rome, the centurion handed the prisoners over to the captain of the guard. But Paul was allowed to remain by himself with the soldier who guarded him.
17 After three days Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. When they had assembled, he said to them, “Brothers, having done nothing contrary to our people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 When they had examined me, they were determined to release me, because there was no charge against me deserving death.
19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my nation.
20 For this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, because I am bound with this chain for the hope of Israel.”
21 They said to him, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers that have come have reported or spoken any evil of you.
22 But we think it is proper to hear from you what you think. For concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
23 When they had arranged a day to be with him, many came to him at his residence. From morning until evening he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God to them, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
24 Some believed what was said, but some did not believe.
25 Being in disagreement with one another, they were dismissed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit accurately spoke to our fathers through Isaiah the prophet,
26 ‘Go to this people and say: You shall certainly hear, but never understand; and you shall certainly see, but never perceive;
27 for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will hear it!”
29 When he had said these words, the Jews departed and disputed greatly among themselves.
30 Paul remained two whole years in his own rented house. He welcomed all who came to him,
31 boldly and freely preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.