NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 71
A cts 2 5 : 2 6
2027
25:14
Acts 24:27
25:15
Acts 25:12
25:16
Acts 23:30
q apologia (0627)
Acts
26:1
25:1819
Acts 18:1415; 23:29
25:21
Acts 25:1112
25:22
Acts 9:15
25:24
Acts 22:22
25:25
Luke 23:4
Acts 23:9
13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived
with his sister, Bernice,* to pay their respects
to Festus. 14 During their stay of several days,
Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king.
“There is a prisoner here,” he told him,
“whose case was left for me by Felix. 15 When
I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and
Jewish elders pressed charges against him
and asked me to condemn him. 16 I pointed
out to them that Roman law does not convict
people without a trial. They must be given an
opportunity to confront their accusers and
q defend themselves.
17 “When his accusers came here for the
trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very
next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18 But
the accusations made against him weren’t
any of the crimes I expected. 19 Instead, it
was something about their religion and a
dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is
alive. 20 I was at a loss to know how to inves
tigate these things, so I asked him whether
he would be willing to stand trial on these
charges in Jerusalem. 21 But Paul appealed
to have his case decided by the emperor. So
I ordered that he be held in custody until I
could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22 “I’d like to hear the man myself,”
Agrippa said.
And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
Paul Speaks to Agrippa
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice ar
rived at the auditorium with great pomp,
accompanied by military officers and
prominent men of the city. Festus ordered
that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said,
“King Agrippa and all who are here, this is
the man whose death is demanded by all the
Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in
my opinion he has done nothing deserving
death. However, since he appealed his case
to the emperor, I have decided to send him
to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor?
For there is no clear charge against him. So I
25:13 Greek Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived.
PROFILE
HEROD AGRIPPA II Trusted Ally of Rome
Acts 25:13–26:32
Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I, succeeded his father as king and ruled in Palestine
ad 50–100, eventually controlling approximately the same area as his g
reat-grandfather,
Herod the Great. Agrippa II was in control of the Temple treasury and could appoint the high
priest. He was not popular among Jews on account of his incestuous relationship with his
sister Bernice. The Romans consulted him on religious matters, which is probably why Festus
invited him to hear the apostle Paul’s defense at Caesarea (ad 59, 25:13–26:32).
In May ad 66, the Jewish war against the Romans began (Josephus, War 2.14.4). When
Agrippa’s attempt to quell the revolt failed, he became a staunch ally of the Romans through
out the entire war (ad 66–70). During this time Nero committed suicide, the new emperor
Galba was murdered, and Vespasian became the emperor. After pledging his allegiance to the
new emperor, Agrippa remained with Titus, Vespasian’s son, who was the general in charge
of the war (Tacitus, History 5.81). After the fall of Jerusalem (Aug 6, ad 70), Agrippa was prob
ably present to celebrate the destruction of his own people.
In ad 79 Vespasian died and Titus became emperor. Little is known of Agrippa’s rule after
this, except that he wrote to the historian Josephus, praising him for The Jewish War, and he
purchased a copy of it (Josephus, Life 65; Against Apion 1.9.47–52).
Although the Talmud implies that Agrippa II had two wives (Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah
27a), Josephus gives no indication that he had any wives or children. He died around ad 100,
and his death marks the end of the dynasty of the Herods.
25:1322 Festus discussed Paul’s case
with Herod Agrippa II (ruled ad 50–100),
who had come to Caesarea to make a
courtesy call on the new governor.
25:16 It was a fundamental principle:
Roman law did not convict people
without a trial. They must be given an
opportunity to confront their accusers
and defend themselves (cp. 19:3839).
This put Roman judicial procedure in a
favorable light for readers of Acts.
PROPHETS OF ISRAEL
25:17 I didn’t delay: In contrast with
Felix, his predecessor (24:2227).
25:1820 These verses give Festus’s
official reasons for his actions; see also
25:9. There were no criminal accusa
tions against Paul; the objections were
about their religion and centered on
Paul’s claim that Jesus . . . is alive.
25:2327 Paul’s hearing before King
Agrippa was accompanied by all the
GOSPELS & ACTS
pomp and circumstance appropriate for
an official royal visit. The main purpose
of the hearing was for Agrippa to advise
Festus on what he should write in the
appeal to Caesar, for there was no clear
charge against Paul, and Festus himself
believed Paul had done nothing deserving death.
L E T T E R S O F PAU L
OTHER LET TERS
