• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Why didn't Felix, Festus, and Agrippa free Paul?

tonychanyt

24/7 Christian
Oct 2, 2011
6,061
2,238
Toronto
Visit site
✟196,410.00
Country
Canada
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Paul was in the custody of Claudius Lysias, the commander of the Roman barracks in Jerusalem, Acts 23:

11 The following night the Lord stood by him [Paul] and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
God arranged a way for Paul to testify in Rome through the Romans.

The commander learned of a plot to kill Paul. For Paul's safety, he decided to hand over Paul's custody to governor Felix in Caesarea.

Felix held a formal trial and talked to Paul privately many times but did not free him, Acts 24:

26b he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Festus held a trial. In the end, Acts 25:

Some Jews had plotted to kill him. Paul sensed that they would try again. He figured that the safer place for him was under the protection of the Roman authority.

There was yet another trial/hearing:

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
Festus was interested in Agrippa's opinion on the case, he said to him:

27 "it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
That was the purpose of the hearing from Festus' point of view.

King Agrippa was also interested in the case and held a hearing. In the end, Acts 26:

Why didn't Agrippa free Paul?

It wasn't Agrippa's jurisdiction/authority. His input was only advisory to Festus.

Why didn't the Roman authorities free Paul?

Horizontally, Paul explained in Acts 28:

Felix and Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor.

Vertically, Paul explained in Acts 27:

23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24a and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.'
Not only Paul must testify in Rome (Acts 23:11), but also he must stand before Caesar.