“And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:”
King James Version (KJV)
25:12 The council - It was customary for a considerable number of persons of distinction to attend the Roman governors. These constituted a kind of council, with whom they frequently advised.
25:13 Agrippa - The son of Herod Agrippa, #Acts 12:1|; and Bernice - His sister, with whom he lived in a scandalous familiarity. This was the person whom Titus Vespasian so passionately loved, that he would have made her empress, had not the clamours of the Romans prevented it.
25:15 Desiring judgment against him - As upon a previous conviction, which they falsely pretended.
25:16 It is not the custom of the Romans - How excellent a rule, to condemn no one unheard! A rule, which as it is common to all nations, (courts of inquisition only excepted,) so it ought to direct our proceedings in all affairs, not only in public, but private life.
Ac 25:14 Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king. He did this for advice. He was really perplexed. He had just come into the province of Judea, and was not acquainted with Jewish customs. He could see nothing wrong in Paul, but the Jewish rulers accused him so vehemently that he was not sure that he understood the case. King Agrippa was a Jew by birth, would understand the real difference between Paul and the Sanhedrin, and could aid Festus to formulate the charges that must be sent to Rome when Paul was sent to appear before Caesar's tribunal.