aul's accusers. When therefore
Festus asked Paul if he would go back to Jerusalem and
be there judged before the Sanhedrin, Paul recognizes the
hopelessness of his case and exercised his right as a
Roman citizen in taking an appeal to the judgment seat
of Caesar. This right of appeal was one of the most
important prerogatives of the Roman citizen; he had only
to say the word, "Appello" and proceedings must at once
be stopped; his case must go to the court of the emperor.
In exercising this appeal Paul very justly said that if he
had done anything worthy of death he was willing to die,
but if the charges made against him by the Jewish
high-priest and elders were not true he ought not to be
delivered up to them.

+Fourth Defense; before Festus and King Agrippa II.+--In
Acts 25:13-27 we have an account of the visit of
Jewish King Agrippa II. to Festus and the statement of
the latter in regard to the case of Paul. Festus is at a
loss what to write about the prisoner, to the imperial
court (Acts 25:25-27), the accusations of the Jews
having failed of proof. To send a prisoner to Caesar and
not be able to state clearly what his crime was might
involve Festus in difficulties. Agrippa, as a Jew, might
be able to give some light upon this matter. The
question seemed to be in regard to religious freedom. Rome
did not allow religious liberty. The Jewish religion,
however, was licensed as one of the forms under which men
were allowed to worship God in the Roman empire.
Agrippa might be able to solve this question as to whether
Paul was or was not within his legal rights and the
Christianity which he professed be as legal as Judaism.

Paul in his argument (Acts 26:1-29) before Festus
and King Agrippa II., took the ground that Christianity,
as an outgrowth of Judaism, had a legal status. Paul
said that he preached that the Messiah had come in the
person of Jesus Christ and this was the One whom Moses
and the prophets had foretold, (a) Paul's introduction
is very courteous. He recognizes King Agrippa as well
versed "in all customs and questions which are among
the Jews." (b) He declares his early life to be well known,
as a Jew, and, of the strictest sect, a Pharisee. (c) He
stands accused because he believes that the Messiah, whom
all Jews are praying may come, has come. (c) Here, as
Prof. Lindsay says, in his commentary on the Acts,
"Agrippa may by look, word, or gesture have suggested,
A crucified Messiah! an