John Calvin Commentary Acts 25:7

"And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;" — Acts 25:7 (ASV)

Many and grievous crimes. As long as Paul lived under the law, his integrity was well known and famous. Again, when he was converted to Christ, he was an exceptional pattern of innocence. Yet we see how he is subject to many slanders, cruel and false accusations. And this is almost always the condition of the servants of Christ, therefore they must be the more courageous, to pass valiantly through evil report and good report; nor should they think it strange to be spoken ill of when they have done good.

Meanwhile, they must endeavor, not only to have a clear conscience before God, but also to be well able to defend themselves before men, when they have time and place. For Paul does not fail in his cause, but courageously sets forth the defense of his innocence against their false crimes.

Furthermore, let us note that the wicked can never be restrained, but they will speak evil of good men, and will impudently slander them; for they resemble the nature of Satan, by whose spirit they are led. Therefore, although we are commanded to stop the mouths of the wicked, this must not be understood to mean that anyone who behaves uprightly will be free from all slander, but rather that our life may answer for us, and may wipe away all stains of false infamy.

So we see Paul's adversaries, though they had a favorable judge, yet their slanders were all in vain, since he defended and affirmed his innocence by his deeds. And yet it is likely that they did not lack false witnesses, nor were they slack in suborning them; but because the Lord gives His servants invincible strength, so that the brightness of honesty drives away their vain clouds, they are ashamed, and finally they depart from the judgment-seat with the infamy of being false accusers.

But Paul's defense shows what things the Jews principally charged him with. The first crime was ungodliness against God—that he overthrew the law and polluted the temple; the other, rebellion against Caesar and the Roman Empire, because he raised tumults everywhere. He was helped by the exceptional grace of God to answer and refute both charges, for God makes his innocence as bright as the morning.