DAY #221: Acts 25:13-26:11

King Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I, and a descendant of Herod the Great, the last of the Herod dynasty that ruled parts of Palestine from 40 b.c. to a.d. 100. Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son—Agrippa inherited the effects of generations of powerful men with flawed personalities. Each son followed his father in weaknesses, mistakes, and missed opportunities. Each generation had a confrontation with God, and each failed to realize the importance of his decision.

The relationship between the Herodian dynasty and the Roman governors had always been sticky (remember Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate, for example, sending Jesus back and forth). This state visit was an extended one, giving Festus an opportunity to discuss Paul’s case with the king. Agrippa, of Jewish descent, could help clarify Paul’s case for the Roman governor.

Quickly reviewing the facts, Festus explained that he had expected a different set of accusations. He did not anticipate that it would concern something about their religion and about someone called Jesus who died, but whom Paul was insisting was alive. Festus admitted that he didn’t know how to conduct an investigation. Particularly confusing seems to have been the part about the “dead man” being allegedly alive.

But because Paul had appealed to the emperor, so he was kept in custody until arrangements could be made to get him to Rome. Festus’s quick review of the facts had its desired result: Agrippa wanted to hear the man himself. Paul’s audience with Agrippa was set for the following day. It would be a golden opportunity for all those present—Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, the royal entourage, the high-ranking officials —to hear more from this ex-Pharisee about the “dead man named Jesus” who he claimed had come back to life!


Into the auditorium came Festus, Agrippa and Bernice, and a controversial prisoner. While they arrived with great pomp, the real royalty in the room was the prisoner, the born-again child of the King of kings.

Festus, as the Roman governor in charge of the court at Caesarea, opened the proceedings. Festus explained that the local Jewish leadership and those in Jerusalem were demanding Paul’s death. In his judgment of the case, however, Paul had done nothing worthy of death. That would be a significant check to those who were chasing, imprisoning, and prosecuting Christians around the Roman world. Because Paul had appealed his case to the emperor, he would be sent to Rome.
After hearing Festus’s opening remarks, Agrippa ordered Paul to speak in his own defense. What follows is an excellent example of Paul’s powerful oratory skills and the most complete statement of his defense. The thoroughness of the record of this speech and details like this hand motion indicate that Luke must have been present.

Paul aimed his remarks most directly at Agrippa, though other very important people were in the audience. Agrippa’s verdict, though not a formal judicial one in Paul’s case, would be important for Paul and, thus, for all of Christianity. Agrippa not only was an expert on Jewish customs and controversies, he was also a very influential government figure for Israel.

Paul began with his early life, which had been spent in thorough Jewish training. He then spoke of the rich heritage of God’s promise to his and Agrippa’s common ancestors as a connection to Agrippa and to the Jews (the twelve tribes of Israel). They all shared the same hope, that God would keep the promise he had made to his people, a hope that was inextricably tied up with the resurrection of the dead.

If any Jew—from Abraham forward—had any hope for the fulfillment of any promise that God had made, it must be tied to a belief that he would be resurrected in some form at some time, or the whole concept of God’s promises would be ludicrous. That was Paul’s point. The absurdity was that Paul was being attacked for holding to this hope that was shared so adamantly by his Jewish brothers.

Paul named himself as one who theoretically believed in the resurrection of the dead as a solidly educated Pharisee but who vigorously opposed the movement that believed in the resurrection of Jesus. He not only refused to believe that Jesus of Nazareth had been resurrected, he also thought he should do everything he could to oppose the movement.

With the authorization of the leading priests, Paul had captured believers in Jerusalem and sent them to prison. He even went so far as to cast his vote against Christians when they were condemned to death. Much of Paul’s work was done through the synagogues, where Paul found most of the Christians in the early days of the movement. This would remind Agrippa that the Christian movement had Jewish roots. In the synagogues Paul would have believers whipped in order to try to force them to curse Christ. Paul was so passionate, so violently opposed to those who knew Christ, that he hounded them in distant cities of foreign lands. He took his campaign of terror on the road, headed to Damascus.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

As Paul begins to share with King Agrippa about how God changed his life, I am reminded of how important it is remember who we are in Christ. Below is a list of some of those things - we need to remember.

Who am I? I am accepted because…

I am God’s child - John 1:12
I am Christ’s friend - John 15:15
I have been justified - Romans 5:1
I am united with the Lord, and one spirit with Him - 1 Corinthians 6:17

I have been bought with a price. I belong to God - 1Corinthians 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ’s body. 1 Corinthians12:27
I am a saint. Philippians 1:1
I have been adopted as God’s child - Ephesians 1:5
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 2:18
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins - Colossians 1:14
I am complete in Christ - Colossians 2:10

The next time you are beating yourself because you're not changing fast enough or you can't seem to overcome a sinful habit, remind yourself just who you are. A child of the King. Act like it.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Lord, draw people to Church of the Valley this morning. Change lives.