Felix’s successor was Porcius Festus. Nero appointed him as governor of Judea around AD 59–62. Josephus describes Festus as a careful and honest leader. However, he could not stop the growing unrest among the Jewish people, even though he took strong action against the Assassins (a violent group also called the Sicarii; Josephus, Antiquities 20.8.10; see also Acts 21:38).
Festus refused the Jewish leaders’ request to move Paul’s trial to Jerusalem, but he still felt their pressure (25:9).