25:23 On the morrow, Paul was brought in before a large and distinguished audience (cf. 9:15; Luke 21:12). Besides the governor and his guests of honor, there were the high ranking officers, that is, the tribunes or prefects of the cohorts stationed at Caesarea (see note on 10:1) and the leading men of the city. These may have included Jews, but the majority at least would have been Gentiles. The occasion was one of great pomp. This translates the word phantasia (cf. our “fantasy”), which points to the transitory nature of this “show of dress and ceremonial, of decoration and grand titles” (Rackham, p. 461). In contrast, Paul stood before them chained and in humble garb.

25:24–27 In introducing Paul to his guests, Festus described him as the man concerning whom the whole Jewish community…