But when Paul appealed to be held over for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered that he be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
We have here the preparation that was made for another hearing of Paul before King Agrippa, not in order to his giving judgment upon him, but in order to his giving advice concerning him, or rather only to gratify his curiosity. Christ had said, concerning his followers, that they should be brought before governors and kings.
Commenting on Acts 25:13-27
But when Paul had appealed to be reserved,.... In custody at Caesarea: unto the hearing of Augustus; to have his cause heard, tried, and judged of, by the Roman Emperor Nero, here called Augustus; for as it was usual for a Roman emperor to be called Caesar, from Julius Caesar, the first of them, so to be called Augustus, from Octavius Augustus, the second emperor...
Verse 21. But when Paul had appealed. . To be reserved. To be kept; not to be tried at Jerusalem, but to be sent to Rome for trial. Unto the hearing. Margin, "the judgment." That Augustus might hear and decide the cause. Of Augustus. The reigning emperor a� this time was Nero. The name Augustus--σεβαστου--properly denotes that which is venerable, or worthy of honour and reverence.