Festus Consults Agrippa—Expert in Christian Affairs Called In

Acts 25:13-22

• King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit Governor Festus.
• Festus explains Paul’s case to Agrippa and Bernice.
• Festus explains that he found no guilt in Paul, but Paul appealed to Caesar.

King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit Governor Festus.
“And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.” Acts 25:13

“After some days...” refers to a few days after Paul appealed to be tried in a higher court and away from the lower courts of the Jewish leaders [Acts 25:12]. This is when King Agrippa and Bernice came to meet with Festus. There is something very interesting about King Agrippa and Bernice.

King Agrippa was considered to be an expert on the Jewish customs and their laws [laws of the Old Testament]. As Paul himself validated, “…especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews.” Acts 26:3 What King Agrippa was not an expert on was Jesus Christ and the born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart. Paul was about to be put on trial before Agrippa, judged by Agrippa’s knowledge of Judaism, and knowing zilch personally about the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

As followers of Jesus Christ, today’s culture judges us by the opinion of those who are experts on human affairs, as just another species of animal. Their “expert” opinions disregard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they have zero knowledge of a life-changing experience that happens by faith in Him. We are being judged by their standards of humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by the atheistic entity thar replaces the conscience and spirit while oppressing the presence of the Holy Spirit. Humanism is “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”.

King Agrippa was sent to hear Paul speak for one reason, and one reason only, to find a reason to charge him with a crime before sending him to the supreme court of Caesar. Festus said to Agrippa, “I have nothing certain to write to my lord [Caesar] concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” Acts 25:26-27 As followers of Jesus Christ, we follow the guidance of this verse, “…be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2 We do not commit any offenses against the people e of the community. Even so, the charge sought against us is that we do not bond with the family of the atheistic community culture.

King Agrippa [known as king Herod Agrippa 2] was the son of king Herod Agrippa 1, who persecuted Christians, and killed the Apostle James. When he saw how pleased the Jewish people were by that, he sought to kill Peter next, Acts 12:1-3. The Jewish people and the rulers within the Roman Empire were politically connected in that way. The Roman Emperor at that time, Nero, would have been very pleased with his political appointees at the persecution of Christians. Nero was brutal in the persecution and killing of Christians.

There is something interesting about Bernice as well. Bernice was the daughter of king Herod Agrippa 1 and sister of king Herod Agrippa 2, as well as the sister of the wife of Governor Festus. In other words, Agrippa 2 was the brother-in law of Governor Festus and Bernice the sister-in law of Festus. This was a family affair that was called to judge Paul, and that family had strong political connections with the Jewish culture. They were governing under the rule of the Roman Emperor Nero, who set out to persecute and kill Christians.

In today’s culture, the governing authorities and the masses of people are one family. They are a family bonded in every city around the world by the atheistic entity that gives them what to feel think, say, and do. They oppose Christians and despise the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by them we are judged. “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb…” Revelations 13:7-8 The “him” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast. Today’s family culture, which is global, welcomes the image of the beast to speak and live through them by the entity giving them what to say, think, do and feel. They are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we look forward to our resurrection from the dead, when we will meet the judge of all the world, “…those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:2-3

Festus explains Paul’s case to Agrippa and Bernice.
“When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix, about whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. To them I answered, ‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.’” Acts 25:14-16

After king Agrippa and Bernice were with Governor Festus, for many days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with them. As learned in the previous section on Acts 25:13, Agrippa was an expert in Jewish affairs [but not in the born-again experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ]. Bernice was the sister-in-law of Governor Festus, so Paul’s case stood little chance of true justice. He would be evaluated by the laws of Judaism among people who were closely related to one another. When the United Nations become the undisputed one world government, there will only be one judgment. That is the judgment of those who live and govern by the atheistic entity giving them what to think, say, do, and feel. A one world government means one political party, one standard of justice from the Global constitution to the national supreme courts to the lowest courts [and one community family, which is global]. Government and justice will be to serve the one world government and its global culture. Christianity has little earthly hope in this world’s brand of justice.

As Felix was transitioning his governorship to Festus, he left Paul in prison as a favor to the Jewish people [Acts 24:27], who wanted him to not only be imprisoned, but executed. Festus said the Jewish people asked for a judgment against Paul, but what they really asked for was a conspiracy against Paul to have him killed [Acts 25:1-2]. Today’s culture wants their governing authorities to create policies, laws, and judgments that keep Christians, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and all of Christianity locked out of their social network. The governing authorities and the people of the community culture are one in their purpose through the entity that gives them what to do, say, think, and feel. Click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births from Revelation 12.

Festus said that his answer to the Jewish people was that Paul was entitled to a trial, to face his accusers face-to-face. Actually, Festus tried to return Paul’s case to the lower Jewish courts and away from the higher state court, by manipulating Paul to agree to the change of venue, Acts 25:9. Festus knew that the Jewish leaders had already decided that Paul was guilty and deserving of death, and Festus was eager to give them what they wanted. Truth and justice are not what was happening in Paul’s court hearings.

Today, truth and justice are thrown to the ground by the masses of today’s culture, as quoted, “Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.” Daniel 8:12 The transgression is to not believe in God, to scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and to oppress the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because of that global transgression, the army of the world’s population are given to the “horn”. The “horn” is the entity that replaces truth, justice, the conscience, the spirit, and oppresses the Holy Spirit by giving people what to say, do, think, and feel. The global population and governing authorities live by that entity. They oppose service to God through Jesus Christ as the will of the army of people throws truth to the ground in their domination of cities around the world. They promote prosperity in the name of the entity giving them what to do, say, think, and feel.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32 Jesus opened my eyes to the bondage that I was in by conforming to the will of the community population. Their form of truth and justice is to protect the wolves and declare them innocent of devouring their prey. Their version of truth and law are of sin and death. I learned that “…the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

Festus explains that he found no guilt in Paul, but Paul appealed to Caesar.
 “Therefore when they had come together, without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in.” Acts 25:17

Festus went to Jerusalem and spent ten days with the Jewish leaders, who wanted Paul killed. The very next day, upon the return of Festus to Caesarea in Judea, all the Jewish leaders met Festus there, and Paul was brought in to begin his trial [Acts 25:6-7]. Today, the atheistic community culture, which is global, comes together in their judgment against Christians, Jesus Christ, and the entire Gospel of Christ. Those sitting on the earthly judgment seat, in the courtrooms, are also atheists. They are being governed by the atheistic entity that gives them what to say, do, think, and feel, and whose judgment is against all religions. This is the entity “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 The “he” in this verse is the “man of sin”. Click here for a post on the “man of sin”.

“When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed…” Acts 25:18

This verse explains the sole reason that Festus involved Agrippa into Paul’s case. There was no crime that Paul was guilty of, and he couldn’t send Paul to Caesar’s supreme court without specifying a charge against him. Therefore, the assistance of Agrippa was solicited, who was an expert in Jewish affairs, laws of Judaism, and customs of the Jewish culture. Festus needed Agrippa to find a crime Paul was guilty of so that a charge could be specified [Acts 25:26-27].

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not guilty of any crimes against the community culture nor against the government authorities. We live by the words of the Holy Spirit who says, “…to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.“ Titus 3:1-2 Even then, those of today’s culture will find something in our words or behaviors to accuse us of not being Christian. Especially when it comes to not integrating into the customs of their atheistic culture. Although they have a form of Godliness, they deny the existence of a living God, scoff at the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ and oppress the presence of the Holy Spirit.

About the worldly culture, Jesus said, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:9 As the followers of Jesus, we do not follow the humanistic doctrines of men because we believe the word of God. Jesus also said, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” John 5:44 In our words and behaviors, today’s culture will find a wrongdoing because we put the word of God above the teachings of human beings, and we do not exalt the praise of people above our praise for God through Jesus Christ. Today’s culture is those “…who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

“…but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Acts 25:19

The issue that the Jewish people had with Paul was about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Festus phrased it in a different way by saying the Jewish people said Jesus had died but Paul saying that He was alive. Festus could not put the death and resurrection of Jesus into a sentence. Festus made it sound like a debate of whether Jesus was alive or not, not whether He had been resurrected from the grave after three days. Likewise, those of today’s culture do not believe in anything beyond the grave, death is final. The resurrection is not in their vocabulary, and they would not be able to explain what the resurrection of Jesus Christ is.

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is what our faith is all about. The resurrection is all about our born-again experience, dying to the ways of this world and being resurrected to life in the Spirit. The resurrection power of God is also how we will be resurrected from the grave into eternal life in the New Jerusalem, in the new heaven and earth.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-19

“And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar.” Acts 25:20-21

Festus was holding his court in what would be the state level courts of today. Festus knew that the lower courts of the Jewish people had already condemned Paul and wanted him killed [Acts 25:1-3]. But he requested Paul to go to Jerusalem to be tried anyway. Of course Paul said he was not willing to put his life in the hands of the murderous Jewish leaders of the lower courts. In today’s culture, Christianity stands no chance in the lower courts of this world.

Paul appealed to the highest court of the land, he appealed to Caesar, who was also known as Augustus, who was Nero [the brutal Christian-killing Roman Emperor of that day]. The name of “Caesar” is like the name “Pope”, the name “Augustus” is like the name that the chosen Pope chooses to be known by, and the name “Nero” is like the actual name of the Pope. Paul appealed to Caesar in Acts 25:11-12

Today, if Christianity were to have any chance at all in America, it would be at the Supreme Court level. That’s because the Supreme Court decides cases based on constitutional law. The constitution used to be known as being founded on belief in God and rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why America is known as having a church built on every street corner, and Las Vegas is known as “sin city” because they have a gambling casino on every street corner, and every other fleshly vice as well. However, today’s Supreme Court seems to be governed more by “Nero” than being governed by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. The government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible into laws and policies. The governing authorities are focused on establishing the framework of the one world government through the goals of the United Nations.

“Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.” Acts 25:22

Festus wanted Agrippa to find a reason to charge Paul with a crime, as quoted, “I have nothing certain to write to my lord [Caesar] concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.” Acts 25:26-27 As a religious expert, Agrippa was on a dirt finding mission, he needed to incriminate Paul before Paul was sent to Caesar’s supreme court. That’s the only reason they wanted to hear Paul make a speech.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11