Porcius Festus (Procurator)

Porcius Festus was Governor of the Roman province of Judea after the recall of Antonius Felix to Rome.  The exact date is not certain but historians tend to place this between 58 C.E. and 62 C.E.  Three days after his arrival in Caesarea (the capitol) he journeyed to Jerusalem where he was met by a group of the principal men of the Jews.  They requested that the apostle Paul be brought down to Jerusalem.  Festus declined their request but ordered the accusers to come to Caesarea to lay charges against Paul.  After the trial Festus said to Agrippa II "I perceived he had committed nothing deserving of death" (Acts 25:25).  During the trial Festus asked Paul if he would volunteer to go to Jerusalem to which Paul replied "No man can hand me over to them as a favor.  I appeal to Caesar." (Acts 25:9-11).

Festus now had a prisoner to send to Rome with no charges.  Agrippa offered to hear Paul in order to resolve the issue.  Before both Festus and Agrippa II Paul made a defense moving Festus to say "You are going mad Paul! Great learning is driving you into madness!"  Paul then turned to Agrippa with a strong appeal.  Agrippa answered "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian!" (Acts 26:24-28).  The bible then records Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar." (Acts 26:32).

The administration of Festus appears to have been generally favorable to the Jews.  He suppressed the terrorist bandits known as the Assassins or Sicarii (dagger men) and he enforced and upheld Roman law and order.  At some point Agrippa II built his dining room overlooking the sacred temple area.  The Jews built a wall inorder to obstruct the view.  Festus ordered the wall be taken down on the grounds that it blocked the view of his soldiers in case of disturbance.  The Jews appealed this case to Rome and the wall was allowed to stand.  Festus died in office and was succeeded by Albinus.

Coinage

Æ Prutah

Obverse: KAICAPOC (Caesar) and date LC (year 5 = 58 CE), palm branch;
Reverse: NEP WNO C (Nero) in wreath tied at the bottom with an X;

Caesarea mint
59-62 CE

Reference: Hendin 653, SGIC 5627.