Paul and Agrippa
July 10, 2009 (Thursday)
(On Fridays this blog is about the Apostle Paul). Paul was arrested in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, and was taken to the Roman governor, Felix, a bad man who was recalled to Rome for his misdeeds, but not until he had 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 explained about his conversion experience, confessing that he had persecuted Christians and cast his vote for their deaths before become one of them through faith in Jesus Christ. He related his experience on the road to Damascus, with 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.” Agrippa discerned that Paul was suggesting that he become a Christian, and told Paul as much. Paul’s reply was, “I wish everyone were as I, 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 Agrippa and Festus agreed that Paul was guilty of no crime, but his appeal to Rome could not be repealed.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. He would be tried and released, continuing to serve the Lord for years afterward.