Festus, Porcius

Fes´tuhs, pohr´shuhs

The Roman procurator over Judea who replaced Antonius Felix (ca. 59 CE). According to Acts 25:1-26:32, Festus encountered Paul, a prisoner in Caesarea. He was bewildered by Paul’s religious convictions and arranged for a hearing in the presence of the visiting King Agrippa II. Because Paul appealed to Caesar, Festus sent him to Rome (Acts 27-28).