From the Pulpit...

Paul uses the legal means at his disposal to save his life from persecutors. Although the new governor, Festus, initially seems more decisive than Felix before him, it becomes evident that all he wants to do is please the Jewish enemies of Paul. Paul is forced to appeal to Caesar. Otherwise, he would end up in Jerusalem in the hands of the San Hedrin council, who would undoubtedly kill him as they killed Jesus years earlier.