Both Agrippa and Festus Hear Paul

“ ‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.’ Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’..Then Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’ “ –Acts 26:27-28, 32. (NKJV. Reads Acts 26-13-27:32)

When Jesus was still on earth he told his disciples: “You shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake” (Matthew 10:18). And at Caesarea, Paul was testifying in a detailed and bold manner of how Christ had touched his life, how he had ‘followed the heavenly vision’. He also called on the two Roman rulers who were hearing him, Festus for the second time, Agrippa for the first time. Paul’s message was clear: repent and believe. Repent, turn from the direction you are going, your own sinful way, and make an about-face. And believe, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. And then came Agrippa’s answer, “Paul, you almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Again, the haunting words from the old hymn, “Almost Persuaded”: “Almost, but lost.”

Who was Agrippa? He was king of a small part of Palestine which included Galilee and Perea. He held his position in a limited region and in that precarious minor rulership role, any turn in political climate would find him without a job. Therefore, he and his wife Bernice (sister of Drusilla, Felix’s wife, and also sister of Agrippa himself!) had gone to Caesarea to celebrate the appointment of Festus as the new procurator. Agrippa and Bernice would have dressed in royal purple robes to hear Paul the prisoner. Festus was trying to find enough against Paul to write the necessary letter to the Roman Emperor giving the charges against the prisoner. Such a letter was required to be sent with the prisoner, and to this point Festus had not found adequate charges against Paul to write the letter to Caesar. He needed Agrippa and Bernice to hear Paul. Maybe they could help Festus with the necessary letter.

Both prophecy and real-life drama are occurring in Caesarea as the rulers hear Paul. Jesus’ prophecy for one of His spokesmen is coming true. And the gospel is being preached with power by one who, though in chains, is absolutely unafraid to proclaim Christ. What chains bind us to prevent us from giving testimony of Christ’s work in our lives? As in Paul’s case, the Holy Spirit stands ready to release the words to listening ears. Our faithfulness to act hinges on our own choice to tell what the Lord has done for us. May we, as Paul, be found faithful.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, May 12, 2010