Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Porcius Festus was a Roman procurator of Judea, succeeding Antonius Felix around AD 59-60. His tenure is noted in the New Testament, particularly in the Acts of the Apostles, where he plays a significant role in the trial of the Apostle Paul. Festus is depicted as a Roman official who, while seeking to administer justice, is also influenced by political pressures and the complexities of Jewish-Roman relations.
Historical Context:Festus was appointed by Emperor Nero to replace Felix, whose administration had been marked by corruption and unrest. Festus inherited a province fraught with tension between the Roman authorities and the Jewish population. His role was to maintain order and ensure the smooth collection of taxes, while also dealing with the various factions within Judea.
Festus and the Apostle Paul:Festus is most prominently featured in
Acts 25-26. Upon arriving in Judea, he was immediately confronted with the case of Paul, who had been imprisoned by Felix. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sought to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, intending to ambush and kill him along the way (
Acts 25:3). Festus, however, invited them to present their charges in Caesarea, where Paul was being held.
Trial of Paul:In Caesarea, Festus convened a hearing to examine the accusations against Paul. The Jewish leaders accused Paul of offenses against the Jewish law, the temple, and Caesar. Paul defended himself, asserting his innocence and highlighting the lack of evidence against him (
Acts 25:8). Festus, unfamiliar with Jewish religious disputes, found himself in a difficult position.
Appeal to Caesar:Seeking to placate the Jewish leaders, Festus asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem for trial. Paul, aware of the danger, exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar (
Acts 25:11). Festus conferred with his council and agreed to send Paul to Rome, stating, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!" (
Acts 25:12).
Consultation with King Agrippa:Before sending Paul to Rome, Festus sought the counsel of King Agrippa II, who was visiting Caesarea. Festus explained the situation to Agrippa, expressing his perplexity over the religious nature of the charges and his need to draft a report for the emperor (
Acts 25:26-27). Agrippa expressed interest in hearing Paul himself.
Paul's Defense before Agrippa:In a formal hearing attended by Festus, Agrippa, and other dignitaries, Paul presented his defense, recounting his conversion and mission to the Gentiles. Festus interrupted, exclaiming, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane" (
Acts 26:24). Paul calmly responded, affirming the truth of his words and appealing to Agrippa's knowledge of the prophets.
Festus' Legacy:Festus' administration was brief, lasting only about two years. He is remembered in the biblical narrative as a Roman official caught between the demands of justice and the political realities of his time. His interactions with Paul highlight the early Christian struggle for recognition and the complexities of Roman governance in Judea.
Conclusion:Festus' role in the New Testament underscores the providential unfolding of God's plan, as Paul's appeal to Caesar ultimately led to the spread of the Gospel in Rome. His account serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by early Christians and the sovereignty of God in guiding the course of history.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Festusfestive, joyful
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Festus, Porcius
The successor of Felix (A.D. 60) as procurator of Judea (Acts 24:27). A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of Paul, then a prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next day," after he had gone down to Caesarea, he heard Paul defend himself in the presence of Herod Agrippa II. and his sister Bernice, and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds, would have set him free had he not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11, 12). In consequence of this appeal Paul was sent to Rome. Festus, after being in office less than two years, died in Judea. (seeAGRIPPA.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FESTUS; PORCIUSfes'-tus, por'-shi-us Porkios Phestos):
The Roman governor or procurator who succeeded Felix in the province of Judea (Acts 24:27), and was thus brought into prominence in the dispute between Paul and the Sanhedrin which continued after the retirement of Felix (Acts 25;Acts 26). Upon the arrival of Festus in Jerusalem, the official capital of his province, the Jews besought of him to send Paul from Caesarea to Jerusalem to appear before them, intending to kill him on the way (Acts 25:3). Festus at first refused their request, and upon his return to Caesarea proceeded himself to examine Paul (Acts 25:6). But on finding that the evidence was conflicting, and reflecting that, as the accused was apparently charged on religious rather than on political grounds, the Sanhedrin was a more suitable court for his case than a Roman tribunal, he asked Paul if he were agreeable to make the journey to Jerusalem (Acts 25:7-9). But Paul, who knew well the nefarious use that the Jews would make of the pleasure which Festus was willing to grant them, made his appeal unto Caesar (Acts 25:10, 11). To this request of a Roman citizen accused on a capital charge (compareActs 25:16), Festus had perforce to give his consent (Acts 25:12). But the manner of his consent indicated his pique at the apparent distrust shown by Paul. By the words "unto Caesar shalt thou go," Festus implied that the case must now be proceeded with to the end: otherwise, had it been left in his own hands, it might have been quashed at an earlier stage (compare alsoActs 26:32). Meantime King Agrippa and Bernice had arrived in Caesarea, and to these Festus gave a brief explanation of the circumstances (Acts 25:13-21).
The previous audiences of Festus with Paul and his accusers had, however, served only to confuse him as to the exact nature of the charge. Paul was therefore summoned before the regal court, in order both that Agrippa might hear him, and that the governor might obtain more definite information for insertion in the report he was required to send along with the prisoner to Rome (Acts 25:22-27). The audience which followed was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the interruption of Paul's speech (Acts 26:1-23) by Festus: "Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad" (Acts 26:24). Yet the meeting was sufficient to convince both Agrippa and Festus that "this man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds" (Acts 26:31).
While Festus displayed a certain contempt for what he regarded as the empty delusions of a harmless maniac, his conduct throughout the whole proceeding was marked by a strict impartiality; and his straightforward dealing with Paul formed a marked contrast to the dilatoriness of Felix. The praise bestowed upon the latter by Tertullus (Acts 24:2) might with better reason have been bestowed on Festus, in that he freed the country from many robbers (Sicarii: Josephus, Ant, XX, viii-x; BJ, II, xiv, 1); but his procuratorship was too short to undo the harm wrought by his predecessor. The exact date of his accession to office is uncertain, and has been variously placed at 55-61 A.D.
(compare Knowling in Expositor's Greek Testament, II, 488-89; see also FELIX).
C.M. Kerr
PORCIUS FESTUS
por'-shus.
SeeFESTUS.
Greek
5347. Phestos --Festus, a governor of Judea...Festus, a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Phestos
Phonetic Spelling: (face'-tos) Short Definition:
Festus Definition:
Festus...4201. Porkios -- Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea
... Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Porkios Phonetic Spelling: (por'-kee-os) Short Definition: Porcius...
Library
Letter ccxciv. ToFestus and Magnus.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCXCIV. ToFestus
and Magnus. It is doubtless a father's duty to make provision...
Festus Succeeds Felix who is Succeeded by Albinus as He is by...
... CHAPTER 14.Festus Succeeds Felix Who Is Succeeded By Albinus As He Is By Florus;
Who By The Barbarity Of His Government Forces The Jews Into The War....
Paul BeforeFestus and Agrippa.
... PAUL BEFOREFESTUS AND AGRIPPA. Chap. xxvi.... Felix was succeeded byFestus, who a
few days after his arrival in the province, went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem....
A Prisoner who Preached to his Judges
... But after two years had passed Felix was succeeded by PorciusFestus, who,
wishing to win the favor of the Jews, left Paul in prison....
Paul Appeals to Caesar
... [This chapter is based on Acts 25:1-12.] "WhenFestus was come into the province,
after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem....
Paul Having Been Sent Bound from Judea to Rome, Made his Defense...
... 1.Festus [469] was sent by Nero to be Felix's successor. Under him Paul, having
made his defense, was sent bound to Rome....Festus died while in office....
Acts XXV
... his destruction. (1) "Now whenFestus had come into the province, after
three days he went up from C??sarea to Jerusalem. (2) And...
"Almost Thou Persuadest Me"
... [This chapter is based on Acts 25:13-27; 26.] Paul had appealed to Caesar,
andFestus could not do otherwise than send him to Rome....
'Before Governors and Kings'
... And as he thus spake for himself,Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou
art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.25....
Jerusalem to Rome
... come.". 5. The speech beforeFestus the Roman governor (Acts 25:7-11) in
which Paul appeals to Caesar. 6. The speech beforeFestus...
Thesaurus
Festus (14 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Festus, Porcius.
...Festus, after being in office less than
two years, died in Judea. (see AGRIPPA.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
...Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryFestus, Porcius....Festus, after being in office less than
two years, died in Judea. (see AGRIPPA.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia....
Agrippa (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Agrippa (12 Occurrences). Acts 25:13 Now when some days
had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greetedFestus....
Appeal (30 Occurrences)
... Under the Roman law the most remarkable case of appeal is that of Paul from the
tribunal ofFestus at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome (Acts 25:11, 12...
Wishing (25 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by PorciusFestus,
and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds....
Bernice (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bernice (4 Occurrences). Acts 25:13 Now when some days
had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greetedFestus....
Caesare'a (17 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Acts 25:1Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after
three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea, (See RSV)....
Appealed (19 Occurrences)
... city. (See NAS). Acts 25:12 ThenFestus, when he had conferred with the
council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar...
Felix (11 Occurrences)
... At the end of a two years' term, PorciusFestus was appointed in the room of Felix
(AD 60), who proceeded to Rome, and was there accused of cruelty and...
Cesarea (17 Occurrences)
... him. (WBS). Acts 25:1 Now whenFestus had come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. (WBS). Acts...
Resources
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