5347. Phéstos

Lexicon

Phéstos: Festus

Original Word: Φῆστος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Phéstos
Pronunciation: FAYS-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (face'-tos)
Definition: Festus
Meaning: Festus.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Festus.

Of Latin derivation; festal; Phestus (i.e. Festus), a Roman -- Festus.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Latin origin
Definition
Festus, a governor of Judea
NASB Translation
Festus (13).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5347: Φῆστος

Φῆστος, Φήστου, ὁ (Porcius) Festus, a procurator of Judaea, the successor of Felix (c. A.D. 60) (see Φῆλιξ (and references, especially Schürer, p. 308f)): Acts 24:27; Acts 25:1, 4, 9, 12-14, 22-24; Acts 26:24f, 32. (Josephus, Antiquities 20, 8, 9 and 9, 1; b. j. 2, 14, 1.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Of Latin origin

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Hebrew equivalents for the name Φῆστος, as it is a Latin name transliterated into Greek. However, the role of a governor or ruler can be related to Hebrew terms such as שַׂר (sar, Strong's Hebrew 8269) meaning "prince" or "ruler," and פֶּחָה (pechah, Strong's Hebrew 6346) meaning "governor."

Usage: The name Φῆστος appears in the New Testament as the Roman governor who succeeded Felix and presided over the trial of the Apostle Paul.

Context: Festus (Φῆστος): Porcius Festus was the Roman procurator of Judea, succeeding Antonius Felix around AD 59. His tenure is noted for his involvement in the legal proceedings against the Apostle Paul, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. Festus is depicted as a fair-minded and pragmatic ruler, though he faced the complex political and religious tensions of Judea.

In Acts 24:27, Festus is introduced as the successor to Felix: "After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison." Festus inherited the unresolved case of Paul, who had been imprisoned by Felix.

Acts 25 details Festus's handling of Paul's case. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders presented their charges against Paul, seeking a trial in Jerusalem. Festus, however, invited them to Caesarea to present their case. In Acts 25:9, Festus, seeking to appease the Jewish leaders, asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem for trial. Paul, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen, appealed to Caesar, leading Festus to declare, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!" (Acts 25:12, BSB).

Festus's role is further highlighted in Acts 25:13-26:32, where he consults King Agrippa II regarding Paul's case. Festus admits his perplexity over the charges against Paul, which seemed to him to be religious disputes rather than criminal offenses. Agrippa's involvement provided Festus with a clearer understanding of the situation, though it ultimately confirmed Paul's appeal to Caesar.

Festus's administration was relatively short, and he died in office around AD 62. His governance is remembered for its attempt to balance Roman authority with the volatile dynamics of Judean society.

Forms and Transliterations

Φηστε Φῆστε Φηστον Φῆστον Φηστος Φῆστος Φηστου Φήστου Φηστω Φήστῳ Pheste Phêste Phēste Phē̂ste Phesto Phēstō Phḗstoi Phḗstōi Pheston Phêston Phēston Phē̂ston Phestos Phêstos Phēstos Phē̂stos Phestou Phēstou Phḗstou

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 24:27 N-AMS
GRK: Φῆλιξ Πόρκιον Φῆστον θέλων τε
NAS: by Porcius Festus, and wishing
KJV: Porcius Festus came
INT: Felix Porcius Festus wishing moreover

Acts 25:1 N-NMS
GRK: Φῆστος οὖν ἐπιβὰς
NAS: Festus then, having arrived
KJV: Now when Festus was come
INT: Festus therefore having arrived into

Acts 25:4 N-NMS
GRK: μὲν οὖν Φῆστος ἀπεκρίθη τηρεῖσθαι
NAS: Festus then answered
KJV: But Festus answered, that Paul
INT: indeed Therefore Festus answered should be kept

Acts 25:9 N-NMS
GRK: ὁ Φῆστος δὲ θέλων
NAS: But Festus, wishing to do
KJV: But Festus, willing to do
INT: Festus moreover wishing

Acts 25:12 N-NMS
GRK: τότε ὁ Φῆστος συλλαλήσας μετὰ
NAS: Then when Festus had conferred
KJV: Then Festus, when he had conferred
INT: Then Festus having conferred with

Acts 25:13 N-AMS
GRK: ἀσπασάμενοι τὸν Φῆστον
NAS: and paid their respects to Festus.
KJV: Caesarea to salute Festus.
INT: having saluted Festus

Acts 25:14 N-NMS
GRK: ἐκεῖ ὁ Φῆστος τῷ βασιλεῖ
NAS: days there, Festus laid Paul's
KJV: many days, Festus declared Paul's
INT: there Festus the king

Acts 25:22 N-AMS
GRK: πρὸς τὸν Φῆστον Ἐβουλόμην καὶ
NAS: Agrippa [said] to Festus, I also
KJV: said unto Festus, I would also
INT: [said] to Festus I was desiring also

Acts 25:23 N-GMS
GRK: κελεύσαντος τοῦ Φήστου ἤχθη ὁ
NAS: at the command of Festus, Paul
KJV: the city, at Festus' commandment Paul
INT: having commanded Festus was brought

Acts 25:24 N-NMS
GRK: φησιν ὁ Φῆστος Ἀγρίππα βασιλεῦ
NAS: Festus said, King
KJV: And Festus said, King
INT: says Festus Agrippa king

Acts 26:24 N-NMS
GRK: ἀπολογουμένου ὁ Φῆστος μεγάλῃ τῇ
NAS: in his defense, Festus said
KJV: spake for himself, Festus said
INT: uttering in his defense Festus with loud

Acts 26:25 N-VMS
GRK: φησίν κράτιστε Φῆστε ἀλλὰ ἀληθείας
NAS: most excellent Festus, but I utter
KJV: most noble Festus; but
INT: says most noble Festus but truth

Acts 26:32 N-DMS
GRK: δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη Ἀπολελύσθαι
NAS: And Agrippa said to Festus, This man
KJV: said Agrippa unto Festus, This man
INT: moreover to Festus said Have been let go

Strong's Greek 5347
13 Occurrences

Φῆστε — 1 Occ.
Φήστῳ — 1 Occ.
Φῆστον — 3 Occ.
Φῆστος — 7 Occ.
Φήστου — 1 Occ.