Bible Dictionary: Porcius

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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.)

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

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

Acts 26:24-29. Portraits.
... have the favour of man, to care nothing for anything but the things seen, to please
"my lord" Augustus,"this was probably the whole religion of Porcius Festus ...
/.../chapter x acts 26 24-29 portraits.htm

Voluntary Suffering
... Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (95-46 BC), known as Cato the Younger, was
a politician and statesman in the late Roman Republic. ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xviii voluntary suffering.htm

Acts xxiv. 22, 23
... But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix's room: and Felix, willing to
show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." (v.24-27.) See how close to the ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily li acts xxiv 22.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

The Calamity which Befell the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of the ...
... Compare Wieseler, p. 67, note. Between 59 and 61 (according to Wieseler, in 60;
see chap. 22, note 1, below) he was succeeded by Porcius Festus. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xix the calamity which befell.htm

Chronology of the Apostolic Age.
... 60. Paul appears before Festus, appeals to Caesar, is sent to Italy (in autumn).
Shipwreck at Malta. Acts, chs.27 and 28. Porcius Festus Procurator. 60. 61. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 23 chronology of the.htm

After what Manner Upon the Death of Claudius, Nero Succeeded in ...
... 9. Now when Porcius Festus was sent as successor to Felix by Nero, the principal
of the Jewish inhabitants of Cesarea went up to Rome to accuse Felix; and he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 after what manner.htm

The Trial at Caesarea
... Jews. He was removed from office in disgrace, and Porcius Festus was
appointed to succeed him, with headquarters at Caesarea. A ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 39 the trial at.htm

Paul's Epistles; his Collection for the Poor Saints at Jerusalem ...
... Thus, "after two years," when "Porcius Festus came into Felix' room," the ex-Procurator,
"willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." [137:2]. ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ix pauls epistles his.htm

The Revelation of St. John the Divine
... John, 98 Felix, Antonius, procurator of Judaea, 115 Festus, Porcius, procurator
of Judaea, 115 Florinus, letter of Irenaeus to, 87. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxv the revelation of.htm

Thesaurus

Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Festus, Porcius. The successor of Felix (AD 60) as procurator
of Judea (Acts 24:27). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FESTUS; PORCIUS. ...
/p/porcius.htm - 11k

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Festus, Porcius. The successor of Felix (AD 60) as procurator
of Judea (Acts 24:27). ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FESTUS; PORCIUS. ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

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

Porches (13 Occurrences)

/p/porches.htm - 10k

Porcupine (3 Occurrences)

/p/porcupine.htm - 11k

Oblige (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 24:27 But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus
as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their ...
/o/oblige.htm - 7k

Lapse (9 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:27 But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius
Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in ...
/l/lapse.htm - 10k

Gratifying (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:27 But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius
Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in ...
/g/gratifying.htm - 7k

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

Imprisoned (19 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. ...
/i/imprisoned.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Porcius (1 Occurrence)

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)

Subtopics

Porcius

Porcius Festus

Related Terms

Festus (14 Occurrences)

Felix (11 Occurrences)

Porches (13 Occurrences)

Porcupine (3 Occurrences)

Oblige (1 Occurrence)

Lapse (9 Occurrences)

Gratifying (2 Occurrences)

Wishing (25 Occurrences)