introduction

1. introduction At the end of chapter 24 we found Paul under house arrest in the sea port city of Caesarea. The Roman governor, Felix, along with his wife Drusilla, called for Paul to hear what he had to say about Christianity.

2. introduction Paul jumped on the opportunity and spoke to them about Paul jumped on the opportunity and spoke to them about Righteousness Paul jumped on the opportunity and spoke to them about Righteousness Self-Control Paul jumped on the opportunity and spoke to them about Righteousness Self-Control The Coming Judgment

3. introduction The words of Paul left Felix and Drusilla “terrified.” They were informed about the truth, and their hearts were moved by fear - Yet they would not obey the truth.

4. introduction They sent Paul away and told him that they would send for him when it was a “more convenient time.”

5. introduction As we pick up this morning in chapter 25, there is a new Roman governor in Caesarea – His name was Festus. The Jews in Jerusalem are still bent on prosecuting their claims against Paul.

6. introduction Festus wants to gain favor with them and seeks to talk Paul into going to Jerusalem for another trial, but Paul appeals to Caesar, leaving Festus with no choice but to send Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar.

7. agrippa and bernice (Acts 25:13 NKJV) And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. (Acts 25:13 NKJV)

8. agrippa and bernice agrippa key insight Agrippa was the last of the Herods to rule. He was the great-grandson of the Herod the Great, who ordered every baby boy under 2 years old to be murdered in an attempt to kill Jesus.

9. agrippa and bernice agrippa key insight He was the son of the Herod who killed the Apostle James (Acts 12).

10. agrippa and bernice agrippa Agrippa was king of a very small part of that region, which included Galilee and Peraea. He was well aware of the fact that he held even that limited sphere of power by grace of the Romans.

11. agrippa and bernice bernice key insight Bernice was a sister of Drusilla, the wife of Felix. She was also a sister of Agrippa himself. The two of them were living together in an incestuous relationship.

12. agrippa and bernice bernice The fact that he was living with his sister created a great deal of hostility and opposition towards him by the Jewish people, because their Law clearly condemned incest (Lev. 18:1-18; 20:11-21).

13. agrippa and bernice (Acts 25:14-15 NKJV) (Acts 25:14-15 NKJV) When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying: "There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, {15} "about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him.

14. agrippa and bernice insight Agrippa and Bernice stayed there quite a long time. Luke calls it “many days” Festus brings up the subject of this prisoner named Paul. Perhaps it was because they ran out of things to talk about; or maybe Festus was waiting for the right time to bring up the subject

15. agrippa and bernice (Acts 25:16-19 NKJV) (Acts 25:16-19 NKJV) "To them I answered, 'It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.' {17} "Therefore when they had

16. agrippa and bernice come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. {18} "When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,

17. agrippa and bernice {19} "but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

18. agrippa and bernice key observation In VERSE 19 we find that Paul was declaring and defending the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see from this that Paul had so boldly and clearly testified of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that Festus knew about it.

19. agrippa and bernice key application The key emphasis for us today should be THE SAME as the Book of Acts. JESUS IS ALIVE! HE’S CHANGED MY LIFE!

20. before kings (Acts 25:20-22 NKJV) (Acts 25:20-22 NKJV) "And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. {21} "But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus,

21. before kings I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar." {22} Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."

22. before kings insight Festus was in a real jam. Festus was in a real jam. It was Roman law that if a man appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome there must be sent with him a written account of the case and of the charges against him.

23. before kings insight Festus' problem was that, as far as he could see, there was no charge to send. Festus was smart enough to understand that the Jewish case against Paul had nothing to do with civil law.

24. before kings insight It was purely a matter of “religious questions” (Acts 18:14-15; 23:29). Now Paul has appealed to Caesar. What are you going to do with a prisoner like that? So he asked Agrippa to help him out.

25. before kings note well It is amazing to see how this meeting was arranged by a king and a governor. Yet all the while they were actually fulfilling prophecy even though they were unaware of this.

26. agrippa and bernice (Acts 9:15 NKJV) (Acts 9:15 NKJV) But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

27. happy to speak (Acts 25:23-27 NKJV) (Acts 25:23-27 NKJV) So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought in. {24} And Festus said:

28. happy to speak "King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. {25} "But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death,

29. happy to speak and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. {26} "I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write.

30. happy to speak {27} "For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him."

31. happy to speak key observation It was with great pomp that Agrippa and Bernice had come. There is no scene with more pomp and circumstance in all the New Testament.

32. happy to speak key observation Festus decided to gratify the wish of Agrippa by making the "hearing" of Paul the prisoner an occasion for paying a compliment to Agrippa by a public gathering of the notables in Caesarea.

33. happy to speak key observation Entered into the auditorium Auditorium = the place of hearing In the Roman legal system it was the place set aside for hearing, and deciding cases. This was most likely at the Amphitheatre in Caesarea.

34. happy to speak key observation with the chief captains = Chiliarchs Each a leader of a thousand. There were five cohorts of soldiers stationed in Caesarea.

35. happy to speak key insight and the principal men of the city and the principal men of the city interesting: This is the only time this word is used in the NT. But it is found in ancient inscriptions used by medical writers to speak of swelling.

36. happy to speak key point You might say that these were the puffed up people of power in Caesarea.

37. happy to speak key observation Agrippa and Bernice would have entered wearing their purple robes of royalty and the gold circlet of the crown on their brows. Festus would no doubt have put on the scarlet robe which a governor wore on state occasions.

38. happy to speak quote: Barclay Close at hand there must have stood Agrippa's suite and also in attendance were the most influential figures of the Jews. Close by Festus there would stand the captains in command of the five cohorts which were stationed at Caesarea;

39. happy to speak quote: Barclay and in the background there would be a solid phalanx of the tall Roman legionaries on ceremonial guard.

40. happy to speak key observation It was into THIS scene that Paul was brought. Now the stage was set for Paul to not only plead his case, but to bear his witness before a king.

41. happy to speak remember Jesus had said Jesus had said (Matt 10:18) "You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake". That was a HEAVY prophecy from the lips of Jesus.

42. happy to speak remember He also made a precious promise to accompany it which, as we will see, would be fulfilled in a radical way. He also made a precious promise to accompany it which, as we will see, would be fulfilled in a radical way. (Mat 10:19 KJV) But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

43. happy to speak note well The little Jewish tent-maker, with his hands in chains; enters this incredible scene of power and position in the Roman Empire. Yet from the moment he speaks, it is Paul who holds the stage.

44. happy to speak quote: barclay There are some men who have an element of power. Julian Duguid tells how he once crossed the Atlantic in the same ship as Sir Wilfred Grenfell. Grenfell was not a particularly imposing figure to look at; but Duguid tells that, whenever Grenfell entered one of the ship's rooms,

45. happy to speak quote: barclay he could tell he was there without looking round, because a wave of power emanated from the man. When a man has Christ in his heart and God at his right hand he has the secret of power. Of whom then shall he be afraid?

46. happy to speak key observation What a scene this was! No preacher has ever had a greater audience than this one. The setting is dramatic with great pomp and ceremony. Paul appears in chains before this august company of rulers and kings.

47. happy to speak (Acts 26:1-3 NKJV) (Acts 26:1-3 NKJV) Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: {2} "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you

48. happy to speak concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, {3} "especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

49. happy to speak key observation Then Agrippa said unto Paul, you are permitted to speak for yourself Then Agrippa said unto Paul, you are permitted to speak for yourself Paul was silent until he was permitted to speak

50. happy to speak quote: m. henry Those that are best prepared to speak and speak best are not the most forward to speak.