Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 26:32

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar.

These Judges and great men do, by their opinion concerning Paul, condemn the Iews, whom they declare to have had no cause for the prosecuting of him; and so those Caitifs returned to Ierusalem, not only with their labour for their pains, but being branded by the Sentence of so many eminent personages, not to say tormented with the guilt of▪ so foul a fact in their own Conscience. Such honour have all persecutors. But, with all, these great men seem to be self-condemned, in that they own Paul's innocence, and yet dare not set him free for fear of the Iews: For as for this excuse from this Appealing to Cesar, It bound up them indeed from condemning Paul till Cesar had heard him; but they could not be bound by it from acquitting or freeing of him: for Paul might have withdrawn his Appeal, and enjoyed his liberty, if they had pleased, at any time▪ but what popularity, or self-ends put them upon, they are willing to varnish over with pretence of lawfulness and necessity.