DAILY STUDY OF ACTS
MESSAGE SIXTY-SIX
PRESENTED TO KING AGRIPPA
In Acts 25:13-27, Paul's case is presented to King Agrippa. In verse 13 we read: "After some days, King Agrippa and Berenice came to Caesarea to greet Festus." This Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II, who ruled over the northern and eastern regions of Galilee. He was the son of the Herod mentioned in chapter twelve, and Judaism was his religion.
Berenice, who came with Agrippa, was the sister of Drusilla, Felix's wife (24:24). She was also Agrippa’s sister, with whom she lived incestuously. This once again shows the corruption of politicians within the Roman political circle.
Agrippa's status was quite complicated. He had either a Jewish father or a Jewish mother. His sister Drusilla is called a Jewess in 24:24. Since Agrippa was of Jewish religion, Festus was cautious when speaking to him about Jewish matters. In 25:19, Festus said to Agrippa about Paul and the Jews: "They brought some charges against him concerning their own religion, and particularly about a certain dead man named Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive." Here we see that Festus was cautious when referring to Judaism.
Although Festus had presented Paul's case to Agrippa and consulted him on this matter, the case was actually not under Agrippa’s jurisdiction. Festus governed Judea, with Caesarea as his center, while Agrippa governed another region. But they were relatives and knew each other well, so when Agrippa came to Caesarea to visit Festus, the latter presented Paul's case to him.
By reading Acts 25:13-22, we see that Festus and Agrippa, Roman government authorities, were "playing" with Paul's case. When Festus told Agrippa that the Jews had issues with Paul "concerning their own religion and particularly about a certain dead man, named Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive" (v. 19), he was merely playing with words. His manner of speaking exposed the type of person he was.
After Festus told Agrippa that Paul had appealed to remain in custody for the emperor’s decision and that Festus had ordered him to remain in custody until being sent to Caesar (v. 21), Agrippa said to Festus: "I would also like to hear this man" (v. 22). Festus then replied that Agrippa would hear him the following day. The more we study the conversation between Festus and Agrippa, the more we realize that these Roman politicians were evil.
In Acts 25:23, we read: "So the next day, when Agrippa and Berenice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command, Paul was brought in." Luke’s description of how Agrippa and Berenice entered the audience indicates the type of people they were.
Again, no title is given to Berenice. It is not told whether she was a queen or not. Luke simply says that they entered the audience with great pomp. After Paul was brought in, Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all you who are present with us, you see this man, about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death; and when he had appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him; therefore, I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after the examination has taken place, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him" (vv. 24-27).
A WITNESS FOR CHRIST
In Acts chapter 25, we have a picture of the situation in which Paul found himself. As the one in the center of that situation, Paul was different from the Jewish people in their religion, the Roman politicians, and also the church in Jerusalem. This picture reveals that Paul was someone who lived Christ. Paul was a genuine witness for Christ.
It is no wonder, then, that the Lord Jesus considered him a witness when He said to Paul: "Take courage! For as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome" (23:11). According to 26:16, the Lord had appointed Paul as a minister and a witness. In fact, in all of his defenses, Paul did not say much about Christ. However, the Lord Jesus recognized that Paul was solemnly testifying about Him.
Paul could testify about the Lord because he lived Christ. As one who lived Christ and was a living testimony of Him, Paul was absolutely different from the Jewish religious leaders, the Roman politicians, and the believers in the church in Jerusalem. We need to be deeply impressed by the fact that, in these chapters of Acts, Paul was a true witness of Christ. We saw that these chapters describe three types of people: the Jewish religious leaders, the Roman politicians, and the believers in the church in Jerusalem who were weak and made compromises.
Now, in Paul, we have a fourth type. In this category, Paul stands alone as one who lived Christ. Paul not only preached the spreading of the risen Christ, but he lived that Christ. Paul had a life that was the propagation of the risen Christ. What glory! What victory! What gain for the Lord and what shame for the enemy, for Paul both preached and lived Christ! In the midst of the enemy's activities, there stood Paul, a person who lived Christ. The risen Christ had spread by entering into Paul and making him His living witness.
Enjoy more: Hymn 163
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