King Agrippa’s Intervention
Acts 25:13-27; 6/16/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
The new governor, Festus, succeeded Felix, and after a pretentious interrogation of Paul in Caesarea, he decided to send Paul to Rome to be judged by Caesar. At this time, Agrippa II, who was King Herod at the time, and his wife Bernice, who was also his biological sister, came to see Festus. Their arrival added color to Paul’s life during his stay in Caesarea. Let’s look at the first point:
Officials meet and ask the reason
Once history and culture enter the bureaucracy, they will definitely wear a crown of decay, hypocrisy but sanctimony. Judging from the design of the bureaucratic system of the province of Judea at that time, the Roman emperor should be well versed in governance and power and be more than proficient in it. First, the chaos of Herod. Since ancient times, the emperor’s family has been the most ruthless. Dangerous signs cause trouble, and there is a history of extravagance and immorality. The history of Herod’s family cannot be described in a single word “chaos”. Seven Herods, passed down through four generations. As King Agrippa mentioned in today’s scripture, Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, and Agrippa became the last Herod. Bernice is listed with Agrippa in the text, and as his wife. Bernice and Agrippa were siblings. She was married to her uncle and later became the mistress of Titus, the general who attacked Jerusalem. Agrippa died in AD 100, and the entire Herodian dynasty actually ended the rule of Herod, the Edomite, over the province of Judah because he had no heirs.
Secondly, the governor shared the facts of the case. Agrippa II came to visit Festus, which made Festus somewhat nervous. Because Felix married Agrippa II’s sister Drusilla, so he was related by marriage to Agrippa II. The former governor was the brother-in-law of King Herod. Does it feel like he was being attacked from both sides? In short, Festus did not dare to neglect, and almost told the details slowly and in detail, without omitting anything. It seems extremely unreasonable as if a lower-level official is reporting work to his superior. But there is one thing worth paying attention to, Festus said: “Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. ” Does it seem familiar?
Finally, Agrippa’s involvement. Through the mouth of Festus, the biblical writer showed regret of their passing by Jesus Christ. Be it Agrippa or Festus, aren’t they also all kinds of officials, big and small, in our world today? They thought they could bully Christians who seemed weak and chose to treat each other with love. Little did they know that what awaited them was exactly the end of Agrippa. When Agrippa expressed to Festus that he also wanted to hear Paul’s defense, Festus expressed some enthusiasm. Not only is it an immediate sign of agreement, the Bible says: “So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. ” Obviously, the Holy Spirit is leading people to listen to the gospel! Let’s look at the second point:
Find out the truth and seek peace of mind
This interrogation was different from the previous one. This time there were no chief priests or elders present, and it seemed to be a relatively pure Greek and Roman cultural environment. In today’s message, Paul has not yet spoken, and Festus is almost a one-man show. First, there is nothing to complain about. Now that the chief priests were no longer here, Festus spoke more frankly. Luke probably listened to Paul’s dictation and recorded the scene. He recorded: “And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.” The governor was drawing a line here, which meant that it was not me, Festus, who wanted to kill him, but the chief priests and other Jewish elders. And, forgive me for saying so: “But I found that he had done nothing deserving death.” I don’t know why the people in Jerusalem insisted on killing him?
Second, he could have been released. Festus said: “But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.” As a governor, he holds in his hands the power of life and death, as well as the power of pardoning people’s innocence. Therefore, Festus had the intention and ability to forgive and release Paul. In fact, what is more important is that Festus’s remaining, albeit incomplete, conscience is still functioning. True to his nature, Festus wanted to release Paul. But on the other hand, he was afraid that the chief priests would wait for the Jews to settle accounts and sue him to the Roman emperor in the future. But what should he do? Even so, he still has authority. However, Paul’s words made him embarrassed!
Finally, can we share the responsibility? Paul said in verse 11: “If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” In other words, if Paul had not been sent to Rome to meet the emperor, it would have become the governor’s mistake. I believe this was also the underlying motive behind Festus inviting King Agrippa to attend the trial. If King Agrippa had endorsed him, if Caesar asked questions in the future, Festus would not have to bear this burden alone! Therefore, the governor said to King Agrippa, “But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.” Let’s look at the third point:
Go to Rome instead of Jerusalem
In fact, Festus was also very frank. He said: “Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.” First, work together to see the vision. Do you still remember that when Paul returned to Jerusalem for the first time to bear witness, God said to Paul: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome. (Acts 23:11)” From this day forward, everything that happened around Paul revolved around the vision of going to Rome. According to common sense, it is reasonable to send Paul to Jerusalem for trial. They are all Jews. If it is left to the Jewish high priest to deal with it, the governor will be more relaxed. Why not? However, something unexpected appeared. One moment, Paul’s nephew reported that forty death squads wanted to kill Paul. The next moment, Paul claimed himself a Roman citizen and the governor couldn’t send him away.
Second, prepare Paul to speak his testimony. Starting from chapter 23, it seems that all the plots are moving in the direction of Paul’s testimony for God in front of people. It is not enough to speak once. He must speak and continue to speak. It is as if God allows us to see the priority of life, which is to bear witness for the Lord. All other things are unfolded to bear witness to God, do you agree? This is also a reminder for us, right? We can ask ourselves: When was the last time we testified for God? In other words, when do you plan to bear witness to God next time? Is it possible that the only time some of us bear witness to God in our lives is when we are baptized? If you really had the opportunity to testify for God, what would you say? Are you ready?
Finally, Hebrew and Greek cultures serve as vessels. There is no doubt that Paul is one of the few people in the world who is familiar with both Hebrew and Greek cultures. Judging from Paul’s letters, his gifts of scholarship, knowledge, wisdom, language, etc. can be said to be unprecedented and unprecedented. So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.” Why? How could a prisoner in custody or a criminal suspect attract civil and military officials, nobles and other rich and noble people from all over the city to come and listen to Paul’s testimony? This explains that what we study in daily life, the books we read with great effort, the books we write, the gains from our thinking, praying, meditating, etc. can all be vessels used by God.
Conclusion
Well, dear brothers and sisters, King Agrippa’s intervention is like throwing a stone to open up the sky under the water! A nuclear bomb-level gospel bomb was launched throughout the Roman Empire, shaking the foundation of the empire to let more people hear the gospel!
Let us pray……
Acts 25:13-27
13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix,
15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.
16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.
18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.
20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.”
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”
23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him.
26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.
27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”