Acts 25:13-27 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Acts 25:13-27. Let’s go!
Acts 25:13-27 (NIV)
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 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 any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their 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 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.”
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading 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 on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”
On verses 13-27: King Agrippa II was a Jewish ruler who came from a long line of kings (including his great grandfather King Herod the Great and his father Herod Agrippa I). Under Roman supervision, King Agrippa ruled over various territories in the region. Here we see King Agrippa accompanied by Bernice, who was King Agrippa’s sister and with whom King Agrippa was rumoured to be carrying on an incestuous relationship. King Agrippa appears here in a visit to Caesarea most likely because he wished to build diplomatic ties with the newly appointed Governor Festus. Festus had to give Caesar a report on Paul’s case before sending Paul to Caesar. Since Festus was lost about what to write, Festus takes this opportunity to consult King Agrippa regarding Paul’s case. After all, being Jewish, King Agrippa was more familiar with the religious and cultural questions surrounding Paul’s case than Festus was.
Festus can be commended for seeking the advice of King Agrippa on a matter that King Agrippa would be more familiar with. Excuse the play on words, but when Festus didn’t know what else to do, Festus decided to get “A-grip-pa” on himself.
What’s a lesson here? When you’re dealing with a matter that is outside your area of expertise, consult someone with the relevant expertise for advice on how to see that matter and what to do about it. As Proverbs 12:15 says, ‘The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” What is one matter where it would help for you to get some advice from some more experience or knowledgeable than you in that area?
While Festus can be commended for seeking advice, we should also note that in Festus’ version of the story to Agrippa, Festus seems to paint himself in a more noble and favourable light than what Luke says happened. For example, when recounting what happened to King Agrippa, Festus paints himself as being so concerned that Paul gets a fair trial, when according to Luke, Festus was really more interested in giving Paul over to the Jews. In fact, it was because Paul sensed some fishy alliance between Festus and the Jews that Paul decided to appeal to Caesar. But of course, before anyone, especially a king, Festus wants to paint himself in the most glowing terms.
What can we learn from this? Like Festus, we too may have a tendency to make ourselves look a lot better, more innocent and more blameless than we actually are. Festus did that with King Agrippa. Do we do that with the King of kings, God Himself?
Do you stretch, exaggerate and bend the truth to make yourself look better? Festus may have been able to get past King Agrippa, but we don’t have the same prospects when it comes to God.
As Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
When you stand before the King of kings, and even when you’re talking with others, let’s be careful not to mislead people with bent and exaggerated stories.
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me that when it comes to areas outside of my expertise, I should consult people with more experience than me for advice. Since nothing is hidden from Your sight, I pray that I would not exaggerate or bend the truth to make myself look better. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
