# Acts Chapter 25
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## Summarrium
Festus arrives to take over as tribunal from Felix. The Jewish leadership ask Festus for a favour to try Paul in Jerusalem. Festus, aware of the threats against Paul's life, holds a tribunal in Caesarea where the Jewish authorities bring charges against Paul they are unable to prove. Paul points out that he has committed no offence against the law of the Jews, the temple, or Caesar. Paul appeals to Caesar and Festuts agrees to sent him to Caesar.

Festus however is concerned that he has nothing to write about given the point of contention seems to be theological. The dispute is not a legal concern but a concern about the personal identity of Jesus. To aid him in his examination of Paul Festus calls King Agrippa to come and question Paul. In this way both Agrippa and Festuts might be able to indicate the charges to be brought against Paul.

## Meditatio
What struck me about this passage is that Paul's trial is somewhat secondary to the underlying issue raised by Acts 25. Who is Jesus? Festus here recognises that there is no real legal dispute or charges otherwise he would have dispensed with Paul some time ago. But given he is a Roman citizen by Birth he has certain rights and so disposing of a citizen is no small task. Yet in reality this problem has come to light because of who Paul claims Jesus is.

He points out that he has committed no offence against the law or the temple. So his claim about who Jesus is does not stand in opposition to those institutions. Yet the Jewish Leadership dispute his claim and as such Paul is in a situation where he has the stronger hand to a certain extent. The burden of proof rests with the Jewish leadership to demonstrate that he is guilty of the offences they claim he is; something which verse 7 suggests was not possible.

It's kind of unsurprising then that Festus takes the classic act of a bureaucrat faced with an unpleasant decision. He cannot find charges to bring against Paul given the Jewish leadership cannot prove him guilty of offence. Yet neither can he let Paul go free given the potential threat to Pauls person and the risk of loosing face with the Jewish leadership. Festus therefore plans to outsource his thinking to a consultant. He involves King Agrippa to make the decision for him. Some call this 'sharing risk', but in reality it's passing the buck.

Interestingly the King Agrippa mentioned in Acts 25 is Herod Agrippa II. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I who was the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa II ruled various territories in the northeastern part of the Roman Empire, including parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. His full name was Marcus Julius Agrippa, and he reigned from AD 50 to around AD 93/94. He represents the end of the Herodian dynasty which we have seen as a key political force within Israel during the time of John, Jesus and now Paul.