August 19, 2015 (Wednesday)
Paul was arrested in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, and was taken to the Roman governor, Felix, a corrupt official who was later recalled to Rome for his misdeeds. Hoping for a bribe, he kept Paul in custody for more than two years without finding him guilty of a crime. Felix was replaced by Festus, a good man but completely uninformed about the Jewish people and their religion. He received King Agrippa II in a state visit, and asked his help in determining Paul’s case. Paul had already appealed to Caesar, but Festus wanted Agrippa to give him suggestions about criminal charges against Paul, since Agrippa was quite well informed about the Jews and their faith.
When Paul appeared before Agrippa and Festus, he carefully related his conversion 
experience, confessing that he had persecuted Christians and cast his vote for their deaths before becoming one of them through faith in Jesus Christ. He described his experience on the road to Damascus, including descriptions of the bright light and the voice from on high commissioning him to preach the gospel. Festus interrupted, “Paul, your great learning has made you insane!” Paul then turned to Agrippa, and appealed, “King Agrippa, you believe the Law and the Prophets, don’t you? I know you believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Agrippa and Festus agreed that Paul was guilty of no crime, but his appeal to Rome could not be repealed.
Paul was about to travel to Rome, where he would spend time under house arrest, continuing to share his testimony. Two years later he would be tried and released, and would keep on serving the Lord for several more years.
(Edited reprint of July 10, 2009 Blog)