Not much is known about the 11th Roman
prefect of Judea other than that he had a short
tenure. He was sent by Nero to replace Antonius
Felix (ca. 60
CE) & moved quickly to crush the Jewish bands of sicarii
who hoped to win freedom through political assassinations. He also
supported Agrippa II in a dispute with the
temple priests. Luke claims he arranged Paul's audience with Agrippa [Acts
25]; but the Lukan chronology cannot be coordinated with events mentioned
by Josephus.
Festus' sudden death (62 CE) left Judea
temporarily without a Roman governor. In the interim before the arrival of
his successor, Lucceius Albinus, the Sadducean
high priest [Hanan II] arranged the execution of Jesus' brother James
along with others on charges of Torah violations.
References: Josephus, Antiquities
20.182-188, 193-194, 197-200;
_____, War 2.271-272.
Acts 24;27; 25:1-27; 26:24-25, 32.
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