But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
Festus was not openly hostile to Paul, yet ambition and the hope of gain made him willing to sacrifice justice for the favor of the Jews. He offered Paul the choice to spare himself from violating Roman citizen privilege, but crafted his persuasion to get Paul to Jerusalem anyway, where murderers lay in wait, a scheme that nearly delivered an innocent man to assassins.
AI summary
See how restless malice is: Paul bears his imprisonment patiently, yet his enemies cannot bear even a three-day delay in pursuing him to death. They rush upon Festus the moment he arrives, trying to prejudge the cause before any fair trial.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 25:1-12
Festus, newly entered on his office and already courting Jewish approval, asked Paul to submit to trial at Jerusalem before the Sanhedrin with himself present. He dared not command it outright, fearing the charge of delivering a Roman citizen into Jewish hands would reach the emperor; so he sought Paul's consent instead.
AI summary