Bible Encyclopedia: Festus

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FESTUS; PORCIUS

fes'-tus, por'-shi-us Porkios Phestos):

The Roman governor or procurator who succeeded Felix in the province of Judea (Acts 24:27), and was thus brought into prominence in the dispute between Paul and the Sanhedrin which continued after the retirement of Felix (Acts 25; Acts 26). Upon the arrival of Festus in Jerusalem, the official capital of his province, the Jews besought of him to send Paul from Caesarea to Jerusalem to appear before them, intending to kill him on the way (Acts 25:3). Festus at first refused their request, and upon his return to Caesarea proceeded himself to examine Paul (Acts 25:6). But on finding that the evidence was conflicting, and reflecting that, as the accused was apparently charged on religious rather than on political grounds, the Sanhedrin was a more suitable court for his case than a Roman tribunal, he asked Paul if he were agreeable to make the journey to Jerusalem (Acts 25:7-9). But Paul, who knew well the nefarious use that the Jews would make of the pleasure which Festus was willing to grant them, made his appeal unto Caesar (Acts 25:10, 11). To this request of a Roman citizen accused on a capital charge (compare Acts 25:16), Festus had perforce to give his consent (Acts 25:12). But the manner of his consent indicated his pique at the apparent distrust shown by Paul. By the words "unto Caesar shalt thou go," Festus implied that the case must now be proceeded with to the end: otherwise, had it been left in his own hands, it might have been quashed at an earlier stage (compare also Acts 26:32). Meantime King Agrippa and Bernice had arrived in Caesarea, and to these Festus gave a brief explanation of the circumstances (Acts 25:13-21).

The previous audiences of Festus with Paul and his accusers had, however, served only to confuse him as to the exact nature of the charge. Paul was therefore summoned before the regal court, in order both that Agrippa might hear him, and that the governor might obtain more definite information for insertion in the report he was required to send along with the prisoner to Rome (Acts 25:22-27). The audience which followed was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the interruption of Paul's speech (Acts 26:1-23) by Festus: "Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad" (Acts 26:24). Yet the meeting was sufficient to convince both Agrippa and Festus that "this man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds" (Acts 26:31).

While Festus displayed a certain contempt for what he regarded as the empty delusions of a harmless maniac, his conduct throughout the whole proceeding was marked by a strict impartiality; and his straightforward dealing with Paul formed a marked contrast to the dilatoriness of Felix. The praise bestowed upon the latter by Tertullus (Acts 24:2) might with better reason have been bestowed on Festus, in that he freed the country from many robbers (Sicarii: Josephus, Ant, XX, viii-x; BJ, II, xiv, 1); but his procuratorship was too short to undo the harm wrought by his predecessor. The exact date of his accession to office is uncertain, and has been variously placed at 55-61 A.D.

(compare Knowling in Expositor's Greek Testament, II, 488-89; see also FELIX).

C.M. Kerr

PORCIUS FESTUS

por'-shus.

See FESTUS.

Greek

5347. Phestos -- Festus, a governor of Judea
... Festus, a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Phestos
Phonetic Spelling: (face'-tos) Short Definition: Festus Definition: Festus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5347.htm - 6k

4201. Porkios -- Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea
... Porcius (Festus), a governor of Judea. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Porkios Phonetic Spelling: (por'-kee-os) Short Definition: Porcius ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4201.htm - 6k

Library

Letter ccxciv. To Festus and Magnus.
... TOU AGIOU BAChILEIOU PERI TOU PNEUMATOCh BIBLION. Letter CCXCIV. To Festus
and Magnus. It is doubtless a father's duty to make provision ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ccxciv to festus and.htm

Festus Succeeds Felix who is Succeeded by Albinus as He is by ...
... CHAPTER 14. Festus Succeeds Felix Who Is Succeeded By Albinus As He Is By Florus;
Who By The Barbarity Of His Government Forces The Jews Into The War. ...
/.../chapter 14 festus succeeds felix.htm

Paul Before Festus and Agrippa.
... PAUL BEFORE FESTUS AND AGRIPPA. Chap. xxvi. ... Felix was succeeded by Festus, who a
few days after his arrival in the province, went up from Cesarea to Jerusalem. ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxviii paul before festus.htm

A Prisoner who Preached to his Judges
... But after two years had passed Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who,
wishing to win the favor of the Jews, left Paul in prison. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/a prisoner who preached to.htm

Paul Appeals to Caesar
... [This chapter is based on Acts 25:1-12.] "When Festus was come into the province,
after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 40 paul appeals to.htm

Paul Having Been Sent Bound from Judea to Rome, Made his Defense ...
... 1. Festus [469] was sent by Nero to be Felix's successor. Under him Paul, having
made his defense, was sent bound to Rome. ... Festus died while in office. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxii paul having been sent.htm

Acts XXV
... his destruction. (1) "Now when Festus had come into the province, after
three days he went up from Cæsarea to Jerusalem. (2) And ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxv.htm

"Almost Thou Persuadest Me"
... [This chapter is based on Acts 25:13-27; 26.] Paul had appealed to Caesar,
and Festus could not do otherwise than send him to Rome. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 41 almost thou persuadest.htm

'Before Governors and Kings'
... And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou
art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.25. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/before governors and kings.htm

Jerusalem to Rome
... come.". 5. The speech before Festus the Roman governor (Acts 25:7-11) in
which Paul appeals to Caesar. 6. The speech before Festus ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study vi jerusalem to rome.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Festus

festive, joyful

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Festus, Porcius

The successor of Felix (A.D. 60) as procurator of Judea (Acts 24:27). A few weeks after he had entered on his office the case of Paul, then a prisoner at Caesarea, was reported to him. The "next day," after he had gone down to Caesarea, he heard Paul defend himself in the presence of Herod Agrippa II. and his sister Bernice, and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds, would have set him free had he not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11, 12). In consequence of this appeal Paul was sent to Rome. Festus, after being in office less than two years, died in Judea. (see AGRIPPA.)

Thesaurus

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Festus, Porcius. ...Festus, after being in office less than
two years, died in Judea. (see AGRIPPA.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Festus, Porcius. ...Festus, after being in office less than
two years, died in Judea. (see AGRIPPA.). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/p/porcius.htm - 11k

Agrippa (12 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Agrippa (12 Occurrences). Acts 25:13 Now when some days
had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. ...
/a/agrippa.htm - 11k

Appeal (30 Occurrences)
... Under the Roman law the most remarkable case of appeal is that of Paul from the
tribunal of Festus at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome (Acts 25:11, 12 ...
/a/appeal.htm - 20k

Wishing (25 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,
and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds. ...
/w/wishing.htm - 13k

Bernice (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bernice (4 Occurrences). Acts 25:13 Now when some days
had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus. ...
/b/bernice.htm - 8k

Caesare'a (17 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Acts 25:1 Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after
three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea, (See RSV). ...
/c/caesare'a.htm - 10k

Appealed (19 Occurrences)
... city. (See NAS). Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the
council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar ...
/a/appealed.htm - 11k

Felix (11 Occurrences)
... At the end of a two years' term, Porcius Festus was appointed in the room of Felix
(AD 60), who proceeded to Rome, and was there accused of cruelty and ...
/f/felix.htm - 15k

Cesarea (17 Occurrences)
... him. (WBS). Acts 25:1 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three
days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. (WBS). Acts ...
/c/cesarea.htm - 13k

Bible Concordance

Festus (14 Occurrences)

Acts 24:27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:3 Requesting Festus to give effect to their design against him, and send him to Jerusalem, when they would be waiting to put him to death on the way.
(BBE NIV)

Acts 25:4 However Festus answered that Paul should be kept in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart shortly.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:9 But 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?"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:13 Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:14 As he stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:23 So 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 principal men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 25:24 Festus 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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 26:24 As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 26:25 But he said, "I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Festus

Festus: Also Called Porcius Festus, the Roman Governor of Judaea, and Successor to Governor Felix

Festus: Tries Paul

Portius Festus

Related Terms

Porcius (1 Occurrence)

Agrippa (12 Occurrences)

Appeal (30 Occurrences)

Wishing (25 Occurrences)

Bernice (4 Occurrences)

Caesare'a (17 Occurrences)