Porcius Festus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Porcius Festus was procurator of Judea from about 58 to 62 AD, succeeding Antonius Felix. His exact time in office is not known. He inherited all of the problems of his predecessor in regard to the Roman practice of creating civic privileges for Jews. Only one other issue bedeviled his administration, the controversy between Agrippa II and the priests in Jerusalem regarding the wall erected at the temple to break the view of the new wing of Agrippa's palace.

During his administration, Jewish hostility to Rome was greatly inflamed by the civic privileges issue. Feelings were aroused which played an important part in the closely following Jewish War of 66 AD

It was before Festus that Paul had his final hearing. Festus sought to induce Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial; Paul appealed to the Emperor. The appeal resulted in Paul being deported to Rome in the autumn of 58 AD (Acts 25-26). Paul was executed in 64 or 67 AD.