I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
Kings usually think sending ambassadors enough, but here Agrippa came himself, personal converse is the sweetest among friends. He visits Festus not to judge Paul but to gratify his curiosity, fulfilling Christ's promise that His followers should be brought before governors and kings for a testimony.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 25:13-27
To whom I answered,.... As follows: it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die; or to give any man to destruction; to pass sentence of death upon him, without hearing his cause, and purely at the request of another, and merely to gratify him: before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face; so as to...
Verse 16. It is not the manner, etc. He here states the reasons which he gave to the Jews for not delivering Paul into their hands. In , we have an account of the fact that he would not accede to the requests of the Jews; and he here states that the reason of his refusal was, that it was contrary to the Roman law.