Who was Porcius Festus?

Procurator of Judaea, appointed by Nero to succeed Felix, A.D. 60. The Jews at once informed Festus against Paul, but he did not consent to their request that Paul should be fetched to Jerusalem; he said he should be tried at Caesarea. When Festus had come thither and the Jews from Jerusalem also, he, wishing to please the Jews, asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there. Paul, knowing the plots of the Jews to kill him, appealed to Caesar. Festus gave Paul a hearing before Agrippa, during which Festus called out, "Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad." Paul said no, he spoke the words of truth and soberness. Acts 15, Acts 16.

Festus had a dispute with the Jews: they had built up a high wall, that the courts of the temple should not be seen from the palace. The emperor was appealed to, who decided in favour of the Jews. Josephus implies that Festus was a just ruler.

PORCIUS FESTUS succeeded Felix as governor of Judea. Beyond the fact that Josephus mentions his name as succeeding Felix, and Scripture does the same, no other details are given of this man.

But avarice still possessed him. Their last meeting had not taken place. He sent for him often, and communed with him; not that he desired salvation, but he wished for money to be offered, "that he might loose him." We say this, because, though the words we have quoted from v.26 are not found in the oldest uncials, they are quite in accord with the governor's known character. But Paul, we may be sure, at the different interviews which followed, neither spoke honeyed words, nor sought to curry favour with Drusilla, in order to procure his liberty. And Felix never got the smallest encouragement to hope that a bribe would be forthcoming. Two full years passed. The governor and his prisoner were still in the same relative position to each other, when Felix was recalled. Now the time of retribution in this world might be for him at hand. To secure, then, the favour of the Jews he left Paul bound. Yet, like many another crafty plan, the object was defeated. Paul was left bound at Cæsarea. The Jews accused Felix at Rome. And it required all the influence of his brother Pallas with the Emperor Nero to shield the unrighteous governor from the consequences of his flagrant enormities.

Festus

The new procurator arrived, Porcius Festus by name, a better man than his predecessor, and one who seemed to wish to act aright. The post, however, was doubtless a difficult one to fill successfully and with credit to himself. Naturally he would desire to keep on good terms with the Jews on the one hand. Then Paul, on the other, still in bonds, the procurator must take up and deal with the case righteously. That was man's side of the matter. But there was another. The Lord had suffered Paul to be left in bonds by Felix because He had still work for His servant at Cæsarea. Paul's matter, however, would be no longer vexatiously delayed.

Festus was a different character, a typical Roman, materialistic and matter-of-fact, not a debased type, but skeptical as to anything spiritual. Only three days after taking office he visited Jerusalem, and the Jews took advantage of this to seek to influence him against Paul, urging him to bring Paul to Jerusalem for trial.

Porcius Festus succeeds Felix in the governorship, and finds Paul a prisoner at Caesarea. Information is given by the chief of the Jews, who desire that Paul should be sent to Jerusalem, in order that he may be killed on the way. To this desire, however, Festus does not yield, being prevented by the hand of God; but he goes down to Caesarea from Jerusalem, taking with him Paul’s accusers. To their “many and grievous complaints” Paul makes answer, admitting that, if he had committed anything worthy of death, he did not refuse to die; but otherwise he would exercise his right of appealing to Caesar rather than be delivered to them. This appeal Festus confirmed, and in so doing frustrated the unwearied malice of the Jews. Meantime, however, King Agrippa comes to salute Festus, who in due course lays before him the case of this remarkable prisoner. Why the Jews should have condemned him Festus could not understand, for they made no accusation of such things as he had supposed, only “certain questions of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Questions, nothing but questions! Just a speculation as to the life and death of “one Jesus”: That was all that Festus could say or see.

Porcius Festus succeeds Felix in the governorship, and finds Paul a prisoner at C Caesarea. Information is given by the chief of the Jews, who desire that Paul should be sent to Jerusalem, in order that he may be killed on the way. To this desire, however, Festus does not yield, being prevented by the hand of God; but he goes down to Caesarea from Jerusalem, taking with him Paul's accusers. To their "many and grievous complaints" Paul makes answer, admitting that, if he had committed anything worthy of death, he did not refuse to die; but otherwise he would exercise his right of appealing to Caesar rather than be delivered to them. This appeal Festus confirmed, and in so doing frustrated the unwearied malice of the Jews. Meantime, however, King Agrippa comes to salute Festus, who in due course lays before him the case of this remarkable prisoner. Why the Jews should have condemned him Festus could not understand, for they made no accusation of such things as he had supposed, only "certain questions of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Questions, nothing but questions! Just a speculation as to the life and death of "one Jesus": That was all that Festus could say or see.

Another governor appears in Festus, a name singularly akin to Felix and which means "festive, joyous." The world keeps holiday while the saints suffer. More respectable in character than Felix, he is yet not above desiring to do the Jews a favor at the expense of justice. The chief priests and elders would still get rid by foul means of one against whom they can establish nothing, and solicit Festus that he may be brought to Jerusalem for trial, intending to waylay and kill him on the road. But Festus, guided of God, whatever was his own motive, decides that having been taken to Caesarea, he shall remain there, and his accusers bring their charges against him there. The trial is a mere repetition of the former one, with the same utter lack of proof. But here the governor's anxiety to please the Jews is shown, even while he knows, as Paul declares, that he had done them no wrong. Paul therefore appeals, according to his right as a Roman citizen, to Caesar's own judgment and his appeal is admitted. The scene is to shift once more, and the Lord's words to him are to be fulfilled: he is to testify to Him at Rome.

The new governor, Festus, gave a fresh opportunity to the Jews. Morally more respectable than Felix, he knew not God and therefore could not be trusted for man. Faith to him was quite unintelligible, an enthusiasm. But he soon learnt enough of the Jews to make him guilty in his willingness to gratify them in the sacrifice of Paul. Policy is a sad destroyer of conscience.

'Festus, therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him, asking a favour that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait to kill him on the way. Howbeit Festus answered that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself was about to depart [there] shortly. Let them therefore saith he, that are of power [authority] among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him' (vers. 1-5).

Tacitus says Felix ruled the province in a mean, cruel, and profligate manner. The country was full of sedition, among which Josephus speaks of 'false messiahs' being put down. Eventually he was accused before Nero by the Jews, and only escaped punishment by the intercession of his brother Pallas. He was superseded by Porcius Festus, A.D. 60.

[2] Josephus as well as Tacitus mention Felix handing over his office to Festus (Acts 24:27).