Paul before King Agrippa
TRANSLATION
(13) A few days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. (14) Since they stayed on for a time, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said, “There is a man here whom Felix left in prison. (15) When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and Jewish elders brought charges against him asking me to condemn him. (16) I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to sentence anyone before the accused person can meet his accusers face to face and offer a defense regarding the charges against him. (17) When they came here with me, I did not delay. I convened the court the next day and ordered the man to appear before me. (18) However, his accusers did not charge him with the crimes I anticipated. (19) Instead, they raised certain points of dispute regarding their own religion, specifically about a dead man named Jesus whom Paul claimed was alive. (20) I had no idea how to pursue an investigation into these matters, so I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there. (21) When he made his appeal to be kept in custody until the emperor could decide, I ordered him to be imprisoned until I could send him to Caesar.” (22) Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man for myself.” Festus responded, “Tomorrow, you will hear him.”
(23) So the next day, King Agrippa came with Bernice with great pomp and entered the tribunal with the high-ranking military officers and principal 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, this is the man about whom all the Jews, both in Jerusalem and in this place, petitioned me, shouting that he should not be permitted to live. (25) However, I did not find that he had committed any crime deserving death. Since he himself appealed to the emperor, I determined to send him to Rome. (26) But I have nothing definite to write to my Lord about him. For this reason, I have brought him here and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we examine him, I may have something definite to write, (27) for I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner without specifying the charges made against him.”
OBSERVATIONS
The events described in this segment resulted from a royal visit. King Agrippa, grandson of Herod the great and the ruler of Judea, came with his sister, Bernice, to pay his respects to Festus, the Roman procurator. Festus took advantage of the king’s presence to consult with him regarding a problem he faced, namely, what to do about the serious accusations which the Jews had made against Paul. Repetitions in this passage included the following proper names: “Agrippa” (vss. 13, 22, 23, 24, & 26), “Bernice” (vss. 13 & 23), “Festus” (vss. 13, 14, 22, 23, & 24), “Paul” (vss. 14, 19, 21, & 23), “Jews/Jewish” (vss. 15 & 24), and “Jerusalem” (vss. 15, 20, & 24). Other repeated words help us discern its message: “king” (vss. 13, 14, 24, & 26), “case” (vss. 14, 15, & 18), “accused/accusers” (vss. 16 & 18), “charge(s)” (vss. 16, 18, & 27), “emperor” (vss. 21 & 25), “hear” (twice in vs. 22), and “nothing/something definite to write” (twice in vs. 26).
OUTLINE
I. When King Agrippa and Bernice visited Caesarea, Festus asked for his advice in determining what to do about the charges made by the Jews against Paul. (13-22)
II. Learning that Agrippa personally wanted to hear Paul speak, Festus brought him before the king. (23-27)
IDEA STATEMENT
Because of his confinement in a Roman prison in Caesarea, Paul had the opportunity to proclaim the truth of Christ to the rulers of the region.
APPLICATION
My grandfather who had served as a pastor for many years in several small churches in Ohio loved to cite certain passages of Scripture to anyone who would listen. One of his favorites was Proverbs 22:29 (KJV). I can still hear his voice intone the following words: “Seest thou a man diligent about his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” He would then add an example such as Moses standing before Pharaoh or Paul standing before King Agrippa.
Paul was likely not a very impressive person physically. In 2 Corinthians 10 we have a few clues regarding his appearance. In the first verse he described himself in these words: “I who am humble when face to face with you…” In verse 10 he wrote, “For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.’” The many physical abuses he had endured according to 2 Corinthians 11:24 & 25 may have left his body scarred and deformed. No matter how impaired he may have been physically, his spiritual authority was never diminished. He remained a powerful force for the Gospel throughout his life, even while being held as a prisoner by the Romans in Caesarea. It is no wonder that King Agrippa told Festus, “I would like to hear this man for myself.” Most believers in the generations since have wished that they could have been present to witness the moment when the apostle to the Gentiles stood before these two rulers.