Bible Strands
Acts 25:9
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Festus addresses Paul, asking if he will travel to Jerusalem to face trial on the current charges. This proposal follows immediately after Paul’s defense before the Jewish authorities and Roman officials in Acts 25:8.
The words — The Greek θέλων (thelōn) literally means “wishing,” and χάριν (charin) denotes “a favor.” Festus uses these terms to describe his political motivation for proposing the Jerusalem trial.
The thread — The text records Festus’s appeal in Acts 25:20 and links it to Acts 24:27, where Felix leaves Paul imprisoned to do the Jews a favor, and Acts 12:3, where Herod seizes Peter to please them. These passages show a repeated pattern of Roman and Jewish leaders prioritizing political approval over legal procedure.
Why it lands — The text presents a Roman official choosing a politically expedient trial location over established jurisdiction. A reader must recognize how institutional compromise can delay justice and obscure the truth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Acts 24:27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
- Acts 12:3 And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- Acts 25:20 Since I was at a loss as to how to investigate these matters, I asked if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
- Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
- Acts 25:3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.