Second opinions are plentiful in our day. We do this when we question a surgeon’s opinion. We do this when we are disappointed with the results of an examination we wrote. We do this when we are unhappy when the preacher’s doctrines are not in agreement with our persuasion. As a pastor I sought the opinion of trustworthy senior clergy regularly. You see, you might make the correct decision, but at times there is doubt and bouncing the matter off another respected person would be helpful before further action is taken. We see this sort of thing happening with Festus when he received a visit from king Agrippa. Please read:
Ac 25:13 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.”
1) King Agrippa and Bernice.
(i) Agrippa. There we five kings in the Herodian Dynasty. It is easy to be confused who is who when reading the Bible. We shall do a brief survey of these men.
(1) Herod the Great was king of Judea. He was the Herod of the Christmas narrative who tried to kill Jesus as a baby by killing all boy babies around Bethlehem. See Matthew 2:1-12.
(2) Herod Archelaus, the eldest son of Herod the Great, was the Ethnarch of Judea, Samaria and Idumea. There is one reference to him in Matthew 2:22.
(3) Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea He was another son of Herod the Great. He killed John the Baptist because John criticized him for marrying Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Jesus called him a fox. He tried to interview Jesus before His death. See Matthew 6:17 and Luke 23:9.
(4) Herod Agrippa I was king of Judea. He was the grandson of Herod the Great. He killed James and had Peter put in prison. He was struck down by an angel and eaten by worms. See Acts 12:1-23.
(5) Herod Agrippa II was king of Chalcis and later became tetrarch of Batanae and Trachonitis. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I and grandson of Herod the Great. It’s this Agrippa we meet up with in Acts 25.
(ii) Bernice is Berenice of Cilicia. She was also known as Julia Berenice. Sometimes the spelling of her name changed to Bernice. She was the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and Cypros, sister to Drusilla and Herod Agrippa II. She is known as one of the shameless women of the Bible. After her first husband’s death, she married her uncle Herod. When he died she lived with her brother Agrippa. There were rumors that they were into an incestuous relationship, so for a short period she was married to someone else, but seemingly return to her brother. According to the “Jewish standpoint”, she was incestuous. Wherever Agrippa went, she joined him.
2) The purpose of their visit.
Ac 25:13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
There have been many suggestions as to why this official visit took place, but the best reason seems to be nothing other than “a welcoming to the area” and a recognition of the sovereignty of Roman Rule.
3) Discussing Paul with Agrippa. To send Paul to the emperor for trial meant that Festus would be required to write a letter of explanation for him passing when this case to him. Caesar would not be pleased with a case passed on without a reason.
(a) Felix left Paul a prisoner. When he says … There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner … to Agrippa, he might be saying that Felix did not conclude the case. We know Paul would not give Felix a bribe payment and in return he left Paul in prison as a favor to the Jews.
(b) The chief priest and elders wanted Paul condemned. There was no question about the Religious Leaders intention. They wanted Paul dead like they had Jesus killed. Even though the Jews as a nation remained numerically strong, thousands converted to Christianity. To them, losing one member was too much. Their feelings for Paul and Christianity were murderous!
(c) The Roman custom. Roman courts were rigid on procedures. They applied the law correctly, especially where it involved a Roman Citizen. Festus would not give into the Jews without Paul having a proper trial.
(d) The unexpected charges against Paul. As the chief priests and elders brought their charges against Paul, Festus says he was surprised.
Ac 25:18 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.
There were no criminal charges that Rome could find Paul guilty of. All charges against Paul related to what Festus saw as “differences” between the Jews and Paul regarding the way the Jewish faith was interpreted. Coupled to this was a claim that a man called Jesus had risen from the dead. Maybe Agrippa was too young or did not know the history of the Lord Jesus. His Grandfather, Herod the Great tried to kill baby Jesus. His uncle Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist and tried to interview Jesus before His death. His father Herod Agrippa II killed James and imprisoned Peter … now he, Herod Agrippa II heard about Paul whom the Jews want dead.
(e) Paul’s appeal. Festus informs Agrippa that Paul as a Roman Citizen appealed to be heard by Caesar and was being held for that reason.
4) Agrippa wanting to hear Paul. Naturally the case intrigued Agrippa as it broadly affected his domain. He wanted to hear Paul’s defense the following day.
To me, the take away for today is not so much what flows from the text, but the Herodian Dynasty. They were a power hungry people who lived their lives filled with luxury and sexual debauchery. As God’s people, these are three of the main sins to avoid … power, luxury and sexual debauchery. The one tends to lead to the other. As the people who follow Jesus we need to live under His reign, enjoy what He provides us with and obey the rules He lays before us.
Our Father, mercifully help us as Your children to willingly live for You and Your glory, ignoring the tempting offerings of the world. Amen.