Lesson Forty-Eight: Paul Before Agrippa — The Setting

Acts 25:13-27

Key Verse

"For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him."

— Acts 25:27

Lesson Questions

Read Acts 25:13-27 carefully before answering these questions.

1. Who came to Caesarea? Why? 25:13

2. What did Festus tell Agrippa about Paul? 25:14-15

3. Then what did Festus say? 25:16

4. What did Festus think of the accusations against Paul? 25:17-19

5. What did Festus say he ask Paul? Why? 25:20

6. What had Festus done? Why? 25:21

7. What was Agrippa's reaction to the words of Festus? 25:22

8. Who assembled to hear Paul? 25:23

9. According to Festus, how did the Jews feel about Paul? 25:24

10. In Festus' eyes, was Paul worthy of death? 25:25

11. Why was Festus happy for Agrippa to hear Paul? 25:25-27

Thought Questions

A. In what ways were Festus, Felix, and Pontius Pilate alike?

B. Identify Agrippa and Bernice.

C. Did Festus understand the issues between the Jews and Christians?

Supplementary Materials

King Agrippa II and Bernice (25:13) The Herodian dynasty appears throughout the New Testament. Understanding Agrippa's background helps us appreciate this scene:

Person	Details
Full name	Herod Agrippa II (Marcus Julius Agrippa)
Father	Herod Agrippa I — who killed James and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-2); died eaten by worms (Acts 12:23)
Great-grandfather	Herod the Great — who tried to kill the infant Jesus (Matt. 2)
Great-uncle	Herod Antipas — who beheaded John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-12); mocked Jesus (Luke 23:6-12)
Sisters	Bernice (present here); Drusilla (wife of Felix — Acts 24:24); Mariamne
Title	"King" — though he ruled only small territories in northern Palestine; Rome gave him oversight of the temple and authority to appoint high priests
Jewish expertise	Raised in Rome but educated in Jewish affairs; "expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews" (26:3)
Later history	Sided with Rome during the Jewish War (AD 66-70); died around AD 100; last of the Herodian line

Bernice: A Scandalous History Aspect Details Identity Daughter of Herod Agrippa I; sister of Agrippa II and Drusilla First marriage Marcus (son of the alabarch of Alexandria) — died young Second marriage Herod of Chalcis (her uncle!) — widowed The scandal After being widowed, lived with her brother Agrippa; widespread rumors of incest Third marriage Polemo of Cilicia — to quiet the rumors; soon left him and returned to Agrippa Later history Became mistress of the Roman general (later emperor) Titus; nearly became empress of Rome

Note: Paul will speak to this audience about "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come" — topics as relevant to Agrippa and Bernice as they were to Felix and Drusilla!

The Herodian Dynasty and the Gospel Herod Encounter Response Herod the Great Birth of Jesus (Matt. 2) Tried to kill the Messiah

Herod Encounter Response Herod Antipas John the Baptist; Jesus Beheaded John; mocked Jesus Herod Agrippa I The church (Acts 12) Killed James; imprisoned Peter; eaten by worms Herod Agrippa II Paul (Acts 25-26) "Almost" persuaded (26:28)

Every generation of Herods encountered the gospel or its messengers — and every generation rejected it. Agrippa II was the last of the line.

Festus's Summary of the Case (25:14-21)

Verse	Festus's Statement
25:14-15	"There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix" — inherited problem; Jews in Jerusalem demanded judgment against him
25:16	"It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die" before

fair trial — Roman justice requires face-to-face accusation and defense 25:17-18 Festus held trial "without any delay"; Jews brought NO accusation "of such things as I supposed" — no real crimes 25:19 "Questions... of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" — dismissive summary of the resurrection! 25:20 "Because I doubted of such manner of questions" — Festus was confused; suggested Jerusalem trial (NOTE: this is a half-truth; he wanted to please the Jews — 25:9) 25:21 Paul appealed to "Augustus" (Sebastos = the emperor); Festus kept him until he could send him to Caesar

"One Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" — This dismissive summary captures the heart of Christianity from a pagan perspective. To Festus, this was mere "superstition" (deisidaimonia). But this question — Is Jesus alive? — is the most important question in history.

The Grand Assembly (25:23) "And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth." This was a spectacular scene:

Element	Significance
"With great pomp"	Greek: phantasia — pageantry, splendor, display; royal robes, attendants, ceremony
"Place of hearing"	Greek: akroaterion — the audience hall in the governor's palace; built by Herod the Great
"Chief captains"	Military tribunes — five cohorts were stationed in Caesarea; these were the commanders
"Principal men of the city"	Leading citizens, wealthy merchants, civic leaders — the elite of Caesarea
"Paul was brought forth"	A prisoner in chains — but he is the only one in the room with eternal life!

The contrast: All the earthly splendor — purple robes, military uniforms, wealth, and power — gathered to hear a chained prisoner. Yet Paul was an ambassador of the King of kings. Within a few years, Nero would be dead, Jerusalem would be

destroyed, and the Herodian dynasty would end. But Paul's message would spread throughout the world.

Festus's Dilemma (25:24-27) Festus explains his problem to the assembly:

"All the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me" (v. 24) — both in Jerusalem and Caesarea; intense pressure
"Crying that he ought not to live any longer" (v. 24) — they demanded death, but had no grounds
"I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death" (v. 25) — Festus's own verdict: Paul is innocent!
"He himself hath appealed to Augustus" (v. 25) — Paul's appeal is binding; must send him to Rome
"I have no certain thing to write" (v. 26) — THE PROBLEM: What charges to send with Paul?
"It seemeth to me unreasonable" (v. 27) — to send a prisoner without specifying crimes

The irony: Festus needs Agrippa's help to formulate charges against a man he has already declared innocent! This is why Paul gets another hearing — not for his benefit, but for theirs. Yet God uses it for His purposes: Paul will preach to the most distinguished audience of his career.

Three Roman Governors Compared Aspect Pilate Felix Festus Prisoner Jesus Paul Paul Verdict "No fault" (3x) "No decision" "Nothing worthy of death" Motivation Please the Jews Bribe + please Jews Please the Jews Result Condemned innocent Left innocent in Sent innocent to prison Caesar

Key Cross-References

Reference	Acts 25 Verse	Connection
Acts 9:15	25:23	"Bear my name before... kings" — fulfilled!
Acts 12:1-2	25:13	Agrippa's father killed James
Acts 24:24	25:13	Drusilla (Felix's wife) was Agrippa's sister
Phil. 3:20	25:11	Our citizenship is in heaven
Luke 23:4, 14, 22	25:25	Pilate also declared "no fault"

Lessons from Acts 25:13-27 1. God's prophecies are fulfilled — Paul stands before kings as Jesus predicted. 2. The resurrection of Jesus is the heart of Christianity — even pagans could see this was the central issue. 3. Earthly pomp is fleeting — all the splendor of that assembly has passed; Paul's message endures.

4. Political convenience often trumps justice — like Pilate, Festus and Felix failed to act on what they knew was right. 5. Family background does not determine destiny — Agrippa could have believed despite his family's history. 6. God turns obstacles into opportunities — Festus's dilemma became Paul's greatest preaching platform.