Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 25:1

"Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea." — Acts 25:1 (ASV)

Porcius Festus had been appointed governor in place of Felix. Felix had left Paul a prisoner to please the Jews, although he would have been willing enough to release him if Paul or his friends had given him a sufficiently large bribe. He had trembled as Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, but his conscience had not been sufficiently stirred to make him act justly toward the apostle.

Yet Felix’s unrighteous conduct was made to serve the Lord's purpose: that Paul should testify before one earthly ruler after another until he should ultimately appear before the cruel Nero himself in Rome. Paul was in Caesarea but was not immediately brought before Festus; and when the governor went up to Jerusalem, the apostle’s enemies renewed their plotting against him.