Paul and Agrippa

Herod Agrippa and Bernice come to Caesarea. 25:13-21

Agrippa is the great grandson of Herod the Great.

He is a friend of Rome and the ruler of areas North East of Palestine.

He has the authority to appoint and remove the High Priest.

Bernice is his sister.

She was formerly married to her uncle at the age of 13.

When he died she became the wife of the king of Cilicia but was also the mistress of two other men.

By this point, she is in an open, incestuous relationship with Agrippa her brother.

The couple has come to meet with Festus the new governor. 13

As they are visiting, Festus tells Agrippa about this puzzling prisoner he had inherited from Felix, named Paul. 14

Festus, no doubt, wants to get a non-murderous Jewish mind on the issue.

So he tells Agrippa the whole story of what had been going on with Paul. 15-20

The Jewish leaders wanted a transfer so they could kill him. 15

Festus denies their request and initiates a new trial. 16-17

The Jews only seem upset about some issue regarding their superstitions and this man named Jesus (who was or is dead). 18-19

Festus couldn’t really figure it out, so he asks Paul if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem for a trial. 20

Paul refuses and appeals to Caesar. 21

So, Festus has been holding him until he can arrange for Paul to make the trip to Rome.

Agrippa decides that he would like to hear what Paul has to say for himself. 22-27

He is curious about Paul and his devotion to this Jesus character.

Herod would have no doubt heard of Jesus.

But, perhaps, this was his first opportunity to meet a Jesus-follower.

Festus tells him that the following day, Paul would be brought out to speak with the king. 22

Luke records some information that is supposed to paint a picture in our minds.

verse 23 is meant to illustrate the difference between two individuals that are in extreme opposite conditions.

The next morning Agrippa and Bernice enter the hearing room together and with great pomp.

An incestuous Jewish couple.

They are powerful.

They are rich.

Their presence is accompanied by pageantry and excess.

They are a sight to behold.

They are the picture of secular hedonism

After they are situated, Paul is called up to complete the picture. 23

A Jewish outcast.

Powerless over his own life.

Poor.

His presence is commanded by others.

He too is a sight to behold after 2+ years in prison.

He is the picture of Christianity.

Festus explains Paul’s situation to the people that are present.

There were obviously more people than just the governor and the king.

Festus has found nothing worthy of writing to Caesar about regarding Paul’s alleged crimes. 26

He hopes that Agrippa will be able to examine him and find something that he can write in explanation for Paul’s arrest.

Paul is given permission and begins to speak before the high profile council. 26:1-23

Paul knows that Agrippa is well versed in the customs of the Jews. 2-3

This makes him happy to be able to address him so directly.

He knows that the two of them have more in common than the gentile governors that he has faced.

Paul rehearses some of the things that we have seen before. 4-11

He is being accused for holding to the common belief of almost all Jews: that God has the power to resurrect the dead. 5-9

He did experience a change however that transformed him from a persecutor of the followers of Jesus, to a believer. 10-11

Paul tells Agrippa about his interaction with Jesus on the Damascus road. 13-18

He tells him about the light that nocked him to the ground.

He tells Agrippa about the question that shook his whole life, “Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

He tells them about the infusion of true meaning and purpose into his life.

We may grow weary of seeing Paul’s testimony over and over again, but you can be certain that Paul never grew tired of sharing it with people.

He had been changed by the risen Jesus.

He knew that if Jesus could take what he was and transform him, He could do that for anyone.

Paul immediately began living out the purpose that had been given to him.

He told the people of Damascus about Jesus.

He told the people of Jerusalem about Jesus.

When he been through all of Judea he went to the gentiles to tell them that must repent and turn to God.

That’s all his message has ever been.

Repent of sin; turn to God.

What Jew would have a problem with that message?

That’s exactly why he was arrested in the Temple.

It’s why he is in the condition that he is.

But, he gets to keep fulfilling his purpose, even from prison.

Just like he is doing on this particular day.

He gets to share the gospel with many people, great and small.

At the end of his defense, Festus and Agrippa respond. 24-32

Festus accuses Paul of being crazy.

Paul politely replies that he is not mad.

He is simply sharing the truth that he has received.

He does so with complete sobriety.

Paul is not hysterical or out of his mind despite being in less than ideal conditions.

Paul tells Festus that King Agrippa is aware of all that he has spoken of.

Nothing that Paul is saying is new information to Agrippa.

Neither Jesus not Paul had lived their lives in a corer.

They had both been very open in their teaching and ministry.

Paul then directs his attention to Agrippa and addresses him directly.

Do you believe the prophets?

I know you believe them.

Agrippa responds to Paul with one of the saddest responses in the Bible.

Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Almost...

Agrippa is almost convinced to be a Christian.

He knew the facts and players surrounding the gospel.

Having heard it clearly delivered to him, he now has a choice to make.

He can see the difference that it has made in Paul’s life.

There is, I believe, one small hangup.

It’s this matter of repentance.

Agrippa isn’t willing to turn from his sin.

Maybe especially the sin that accompanied him and sat next to him in the room of hearing, Bernice.

So close, and yet so far.

Agrippa had everything that Paul didn’t.

Paul had everything that Agrippa didn’t.

The dichotomy of this passage is seen in the varying conditions of Agrippa and Paul.

Paul speaks up in response to Agrippa’s words.

Except for his bonds, Paul wishes that everyone was almost and altogether persuaded to be a Christian just as he was.

This is a really powerful statement.

To look at and compare Paul and Agrippa, a carnal observance would not lead someone to choose Paul as the one to envy.

And yet, that is exactly who we should emulate.

Agrippa seemed to have everything.

He was royal.

He was rich.

He had a beautiful woman.

He had prestige.

But, he did not have Jesus.

Paul wasn’t any of the things that Agrippa was.

But Paul had something that Agrippa didn’t.

Paul had Jesus.

Could we all be really super honest with ourselves and admit which man we really would like to be more like?

I’m not impressed by the empty words of a nominal Christian who says, “oh yeah I want to be like Paul.”

I want Jesus.

Jesus is all I need.

If I have Jesus that’s enough.

These are all empty statements if every time there is a choice between Jesus and money, you choose money.

Every time there is a choice between Jesus and pleasure, you choose pleasure.

Every time there is a choice between Jesus and acceptance, you choose acceptance.

What if we were incapable of expressing such feigned allegiance to God and people could only know what was valuable to us by our deeds, many of us would identify a lot more with Agrippa than with Paul.

Almost.

Almost, I am persuaded to really “be” a Christian.

We look at Christianity and we hesitate to commit because of what we are afraid we will have to give up.

If we repent and turn from our sins, vices, and addictions, where will that leave us?

Can God really do a better job of orchestrating our lives than we can?

People, the answer is yes.

Paul knew it.

That’s why he was desirous of every person he met becoming a believer in Jesus, just like he was.

Yeah, you might say, but look at Paul…he is in prison.

What does that tell you about the difference between Paul and Agrippa.

Paul knew that it was better to be in prison with Jesus than on the throne without Jesus.