King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit Governor Festus.

Acts 25:13

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

[King Agrippa and Bernice were brother and sister, and their sister was the wife of Governor Festus, making Festus their brother-in-law].

“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 beast that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think. 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

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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, 3:1