Acts 25

Posted on Jun 8, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Thursday   

Read: Acts 25
Paul must have really been intriguing to the Roman officials and Agrippa. They seem to have no idea what to do about him.

We are introduced today to two more characters in this great drama that is playing out before us. Festus, who has come to replace Felix and King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice.
So here’s a little background on Agrippa and Bernice, just in case you were interested. Agrippa is the Herod mentioned in Acts 12. He was appointed King of the Judean territory by the Emperor of Rome and he is also Jewish.  Agrippa and Bernice are brother and sister, yet they are involved in an incestuous relationship. Agrippa is the great-grandson of Herod the Great (remember him – he’s the one who had all the small children slaughtered in Matthew 2:16). King Agrippa II had supreme power in this area and he was even ruler over the Jewish religious life. He could appoint high priests and was the custodian of all the temple treasure. He was the last of the Herodian line. Bernice is a year younger than him and she had been engaged to someone else and instead married her uncle Herod, king of Chalcis. When he died she went back to live with her brother Agrippa II. Needless to say their relationship raised a few eyebrows. (Just to be clear though, this is not the same couple that John the Baptist called out for their incestuous relationship – although they were related. Honestly, I tried to figure out all the family connections and I got lost in all of it. – I only included this to show you what kind of people held Paul’s very life in their hands.)  Some of this information comes from Josephus, an early historian, who wrote Jewish Antiquities
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So, back to our story. Festus discusses Paul’s case with Agrippa and lays it all out before him in order to get his opinion on it.

So why don’t we do the same thing and recap what we know about the situation.

Paul was left as a prisoner. Even though he is innocent, he is treated like a criminal – but all of this was done in order to fulfill prophecy. (see Lk 21:12; Acts 20:23; 21:11, 13) We also know that even though Paul was opposed he was protected. Remember all the times he escaped from the hands of those who were trying to kill him (those ignorant and misguided vow-makers for one – ha).

Even though Paul was tried, there were no legitimate charges brought against him, nothing that warranted a death sentence, which was what the Jews were trying to get. (vs17-19) From Festus’ perspective, this “dead guy Jesus” didn’t seem to be cause for all this fuss and Paul hadn’t done anything against Caesar – which would have meant certain and immediate death to Paul.  Festus really finds him innocent, but what is he to do? Agrippa wants to hear Paul for himself and so the trial before Agrippa and Bernice will begin the next day.

Agrippa and Bernice and “high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city” enter into the court with great pomp and circumstance.  Festus has Paul brought before them. and says that Paul has made his appeal to be taken before the courts at Rome, but he really doesn’t know what to charge him with. He really finds him innocent. But in order to send him to Rome they need to come up with something. Tomorrow’s reading, we will hear Paul give his argument one more time.

So what lessons can we learn from our reading today?

Did you notice how the gospel message is being taken to some very high places? You can bet there is a lot of curiosity resulting from all this controversy. Can you see how God’s hand is working through this whole situation? Paul is not here before King Agrippa by accident. This story has been prophesied and is now being fulfilled.

It also occurred to me that even though these are people of great importance in the Roman world, the lone man standing in the middle of them is the one who has all the attention. He has been beaten, stoned, shackled, threatened… you name it and yet, he never wavers from his mission. He may get derailed or detained from time to time (we all do), but here he is standing before these people, ready to defend his beliefs. What an amazing opportunity for Paul to witness. We will never know the number of people on the fringes listening in, that are drawn to what Paul has to say. People who may very well be great leaders within the early church.

For me, I see that God is in control of all situations and I just need to continue on, to be ready at any moment to defend my beliefs. I am pretty sure I will never be taken before such an austere audience like Paul was, but I might be in a crowd of unbelievers… what will I say. Well, here’s some good news, God also has an answer for that. (Luke 12:11-12)

I am just so thrilled that I worship a God who is taking care of my every need, even if I don’t always know what is happening. Even when struggles and trials come along. You, O Lord, are my All – in – All. I hope He is yours as well.

Blessings on the Day

Pastor Kathy