1Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him, 3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, plotting to kill him on the way. 4However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly. 5“Let them therefore”, he said, “that are in power among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.”
6When he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 7When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove, 8while he said in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.”
9But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged by me there concerning these things?”
10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well. 11For if I have done wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die; but if none of those things is true that they accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”
13Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; 15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him. 16I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction before the accused has met the accusers face to face and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him. 17When therefore they had come together here, I didn’t delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought. 18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charges against him of such things as I supposed; 19but had certain questions against him about their own religion and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20Being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. 21But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar.”
22Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.”
“Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him.”
23So on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and they had entered into the place of hearing with the commanding officers and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and as he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him, 26of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination I may have something to write. 27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to also specify the charges against him.”
Saul was born in Tarsus in Asia Minor. His family was of the line of Benjamin and possessed Roman citizenship (Rom 11:1, Acts 25:11) by virtue of his home city. He studied the law under the tutelage of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and learned the trade of tent maker, which he later used to support his ministry (Acts 18:3).
Saul enters the New Testament in a negative light by approving of the stoning of Stephen, having become a zealous Pharisee. After this event “he made havoc of the church,” arresting every Christian man and woman he could find (Acts 8:1-3). The Lord Jesus picked Saul as “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
After Saul’s conversion his name was changed to Paul (Acts 13:9). He went on to become author of thirteen books of the New Testament, the founder of many churches in Asia Minor and Greece, a missionary to Rome and a witness of Christ to many rulers, including the “household of Caesar.” During this time he was imprisoned, beaten, stoned and even shipwrecked. After being arrested in Jerusalem, he appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome. After arriving in Rome, he was imprisoned again and put under house arrest, finally being released until he was arrested in the persecution of Nero. Tradition says he was beheaded by Nero and buried outside the walls of Rome.
In 2009 the Vatican announced that excavations carried out in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls had discovered a first or second century tomb containing bone fragments, incense and fragments of linen, which might be those of Paul.
The writings of Paul have probably influenced Christian doctrine more than any other person after Christ. His letter to the church of Rome is the first systematic presentation of theology written. Other letters include instructions for church order, familial relations, qualifications for pastors and deacons, teachings against legalism and antinomianism, and an incipient form of later Gnosticism in the second century. His letters affirm the doctrines of salvation by grace through faith and election. His life of service to the Gospel also stands as an example for all Christians.