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Acts 25:13-26:32 NKJV– Paul Testifies Before Agrippa:

Know Your Audience to be Able to Effectively and Intentionally Witness to Them.

Being brand new to his position as Governor, being manipulated by the same Jewish leaders that got Felix disposed, and already having his first case get appealed to Caesar himself, Festus was nervous, disheveled, and unsure of himself. He needed help navigating this novel political situation. Fortunately, he found comfort in knowing he could consult with a very experienced political leader who just so happened (providentially) to be visiting Festus at the same time, King Agrippa.

In his attempt to put himself in the best light in the presence of his new boss, Agrippa, Festus framed the entire scenario in such a way as to make him look judicious while omitting details that would incriminate or embarrass him. Festus shared how he got stuck dealing with this situation from Felix (Acts 25:14). He described all the details surrounding the Jewish leaders’ motives, how their case against Paul had no legal merit, and how Paul defended himself (Acts 25:18-20). He conveniently left out the part where he learned the Jewish religious leaders told him that they wanted to ambush and kill Paul and asked if Festus would be an accomplice by requesting a change of venue and transferring Paul to Jerusalem so they could execute their plan (Acts 25:2-3). He simply told Agrippa that he asked Paul if he would agree to move the case to Jerusalem (Acts 25:20), and he said Paul appealed to “Augustus (i.e., Caesar/Emperor)” (Acts 25:21 NKJV). Once again, Festus conveniently omitted the detail that Paul had exposed the plan to kill Paul right there in open court (25:11).

After hearing this, Agrippa expressed his interest in hearing Paul (Acts 25:22), not the Jewish leaders. In fact, the phrase “I also would like to hear the man myself” (Acts 25:22b NKJV) actually conveys a more intense interest in the heart of Agrippa than how it reads in English. The Greek verb in this verse actually conveys intense personal interest, “I myself was wishing to hear the man” (original translation). Put this way, it conveys that Agrippa had developed a personal interest in hearing what Paul had to say in person. Whether because Paul was popular, or better, infamous among the Jewish community, or whether he wanted to learn more specific details of Paul’s message, Agrippa had a growing interest to hear Paul in person. And God providentially arranged for this to happen.

As Agrippa and his sister, Bernice, the woman with whom it was commonly known that he had an incestual relationship, entered the room, they entered “with great pomp/pageantry” (Acts 25:23 NKJV). Festus summarized the case for Agrippa (Acts 25:24-25). But in doing so, framed it in such a way as to place Paul’s fate on Agrippa, stating that after he received Agrippa’s thoughts on the matter, he would use Agrippa’s words to write to Caesar about the official charges against Paul (Acts 25:26-27).

Paul then eloquently shared his testimony of his former Jewish life and honorable adherence to the Jewish faith and practice (Acts 26:1-11). He then shared vivid details of his conversion and how he encountered the Risen Lord Jesus Christ himself (Acts 26:12-18). And then he shared how he was obedient to the directives that the Lord had given him (Acts 26:19-23). Then, after being interrupted by Festus, who declared Paul was crazy and no longer made sense and was out of touch based upon too much lofty learning (Acts 26:24), Paul commanded the moment and began to speak to and about King Agrippa right in front of everyone in the room (Acts 26:25-29). And in front of all the finely dressed dignitaries, Jewish leaders, and Roman leaders, Paul attempted to evangelize King Agrippa and encourage him to put his faith in Jesus Christ!

To understand what gave Paul the courage to evangelize King Agrippa and tell Agrippa that he knew Agrippa understood all that he was saying, it is helpful to understand why Agrippa is commonly referred to as “King.” Rome did not have a monarchy as we would know it today. The term “king” (“bahs-eh- LOOSE”) translates as “king” but refers to positions appointed by Rome that were filled by people who were from the local cultural and/or religious context throughout Rome. These ruling positions were assigned to these local communities so that Rome could have an educated ruler navigate the often-complex customs, traditions, and religions that were adopted by these pockets of people. They were born and raised in the local area, but they remained loyal to Rome. They were provided with the authority to rule on behalf of Rome. For example, Jerusalem and the Jewish areas were ruled by “kings” (or “client kings” as these individuals agreed to work for Rome to rule their own people) through most of the New Testament period for the purpose of assisting Rome in navigating what the Romans considered a very bizarre and complex set of traditions. “King Herod,” who was also referred to as Herod the Great, was a client king during the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2; Luke 1). And here in Acts chapters 25 and 26, Agrippa was a client king over the region Festus was over, along with other regions. Agrippa’s grandfather was King Herod, and his uncle was Herod Antipas, who was the Herod who held a trial of Jesus before His crucifixion. Thus, Agrippa knew the Jewish traditions and teachings very well. The question was whether Agrippa was going to put his faith in Jesus now that he had heard how Jesus fulfilled all of the Jewish Scriptures?!

Agrippa’s family members served as client kings over Jerusalem from the birth of Jesus to the birth of the church, up to this moment. The family of kings attempted to snuff out Jesus Christ at birth (Matthew 2), beheaded John the Baptist (Matthew 14), put Jesus on trial the night before his crucifixion (Luke 23), and persecuted the church and murdered James, the son of Zebedee (Acts 12). But here, Agrippa has the opportunity to engage Christianity and its messenger in a very peaceful, tranquil way, unlike any other family member. Still, he rejected the teaching about Jesus Christ. That is why Paul was comfortable in confidently saying, “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe” (Acts 26:26-27 NKJV). Paul knew he knew. And Paul had to wonder if this would be the King of Jerusalem who would break the chain of family rejection of Jesus and put his faith in Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, Agrippa was not close to becoming a Christian. Even though Acts 26:28 (NKJV) says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian’,” it initially sounds like Agrippa is on the brink of conversion and is gripped by guilt that he is not willing to make this vital decision. Unfortunately, Agrippa actually said this statement as a form of mockery of Paul and his naïve belief that he would become a Christian after hearing one presentation from Paul. In essence, Agrippa was committed to deliberating over the facts of the case but not to having a church nor to entertaining his spiritual conversion. Agrippa probably felt like he had to reject Paul’s attempt to demonstrate to all the people that he could not be manipulated. Agrippa was steeped in his sin, being in an incestual relationship with his sister, Bernice. The examples of how his family persecuted the Church from its founding forward made an indelible impact upon him, and he currently enjoys a revered life and the respect of Rome. Unfortunately, that favor ended as he learned that Agrippa was the very last one to rule from his family line. His family and his line fell out of favor with Rome.

Agrippa had expressed interest in seeing Jesus for some time, as the verse reads, “I myself was wishing to hear the man” (Acts 25:22b; original translation) and conveys he had developed an interest in hearing what Paul had to say in person. But for what reason, we will never know. But he did give a gift to Paul and Christianity on that day, something no king from his family had ever extolled upon a Christian, a declaration of innocence in any way/shape/form. “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains” (Acts 26:31b NKJV).

Ponder & Pray Today…

Reflect on your own spiritual life (or someone you know, if this doesn’t specifically apply to you) and ask yourself, how many times did you hear the Gospel and not accept it? What were the reasons you did not put faith in Christ in those moments? Reflect on what you thought about the people who were sharing the Gospel message with you. Did you appreciate them, but you just were not going to accept Christ that day? Or were you bitter towards them, wishing they would stop talking to you? Or somewhere in the middle? And now that you have accepted Christ, think back on those moments. How do you feel about them now? And how do you look at your decisions and reactions in those moments now?

Pray and thank God that He sent faithful messengers who cared enough for you to talk to you about the Gospel and how to follow the Lord in your life. Even thank God for those believers who were strangers to you, but you heard them preach a sermon or talk on a podcast, and you internalized everything they were saying, and it helped point you to faith in Christ. Take a moment to thank God for all of people who prayed for you as you were going through this season of your life. And tell the Lord you now want to be one of those people who make a significant spiritual impact on someone else’s life in the same way.