🙏🏽 Dear Heavenly Father – We return to Your Word as we follow Paul into the next stage of his witnessing among hostile audiences and difficult circumstances. We ask for Your wisdom and guidance, in the mighty name of our Lord, Jesus. Amen.
Paul’s Trial Before Festus
25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”
6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
Points to Ponder: The unique role of the Jewish leaders is interesting. As with the unjust trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, we now see that this Roman politician, Festus, is also hoping to keep the Jewish leaders in his favor. Paul will have none of this – he will not be a pawn in the political game. As a citizen of Rome… familiar with both Jewish and Roman legalities, he can refuse to return to Jerusalem where he knows they have already plotted before to kill him. He knows he must go to Rome.
Festus Consults King Agrippa
13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.
16 “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”
He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”
Points to Ponder: Enter another layer of authority… Festus the governor… Agrippa the King of Israel… Caesar over the Roman empire… and the Jewish leaders that had some autonomy since the Jewish population answered to their religious authorities.
Division within the church is most disruptive to the mission of introducing non-believers to Jesus and welcoming others into God’s Kingdom. Paul had written extensively about this very issue to the Corinthian church. (See 1 Corinthians 1:10) Here we see Festus admit that he has little understanding of their dispute.
Paul Before Agrippa
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”
Points to Ponder: Paul may not have been an original disciple, but his apostolic authority is hard to question. In Matthew 10:18 Jesus told His disciples this scenario would happen.
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Points to Ponder: Now Paul tells his conversion story… even the ugly parts. There is no shame in admitting what you once were, when you are now something completely different. Paul shares the Gospel message by repeating Jesus’ words spoken to Paul on that road to Damascus.
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
Points to Ponder: Some will listen… some will reject… nothing new here. Certainly, this is not new for Paul and he responds to Festus with grace.
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Points to Ponder: Paul never used the term Christian, but King Agrippa does. The kings responds in a way that makes the reader agree with Paul… the king IS familiar with these things!
Paul’s response, full of grace and truth, sounds like an intercessory prayer… he prays that the king and all who are listening, would become like him… without the shackles, of course! This is a great story for us to remember… when times are difficult and we are accused of insanity for our faith… don’t get defensive… don’t become offensive… allow the Spirit to guide your response in truth and in grace.
And nothing short of the grace of God would permit this discourse. After all, this King Agrippa… aka Herod Agrippa II… is the last in the line of the Herod dynasty to rule over the Jews. This is the same family line that tried to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16)… killed John the Baptist (Matthew 14:9-10)… killed James and tried to kill Peter… (Acts 12:1-3)
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Points to Ponder: Paul knew he had to go to Rome. First, his fellow believers prophesied about his troubles and tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem, where he was arrested. Now, even the Gentile rulers are saying that Paul could have been released if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.
Personally, I’m not sure if they would have released Paul if he had left the decision to them. Before, Festus seemed willing to send him to Jerusalem to please the Jewish leaders, now it just seems that they can talk a good game about Paul’s innocence since the decision is out of their hands. People have a tendency to appear magnanimous when difficult situations are out of their control.
Summary: In these chapters, we read how a Christian, led by the Spirit, can still choose to put the salvation of others ahead of their own lives. This is an incredible time in human history. I am thankful for the opportunity to read this account and to walk alongside Paul, in my imagination. I am thankful for the author Luke, who records the account.
John Stott has reflected on Paul in Acts and has written: Paul’s perspective was adjusted… his horizon extended… his vision clarified… and his witness enriched. Paul tells a Roman governor, king, and queen that what they have, they cannot keep, but what he has, he cannot lose. Paul wishes they could become like him – a sinner saved by grace – an heir to eternal life. He does not want them to share his chains, but he’d love for them to share his faith.
🙏🏼 Heavenly Father – Thank You for Your Word. I am humbled by the strength displayed in Paul. I am inspired to watch him in action. We know that in a few short years after this trial, Paul will write to the Philippians, from a Roman prison, about the source of his strength. (Phil 4:13) Let this event sink into our hearts so that we too have the courage to stand strong and speak truth in the presence of our enemies – by yielding our wills to Yours and allowing Your Spirit to guide and strengthen us. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.