Acts 25:23-27

Summary retelling of Acts 25:23-27

               

On the next day, Herod Agrippa and his wife Bernice came in with much fanfare and celebration.  Once Festus joined them, Paul was brought in for discussion.  Festus introduces Paul as the person over whom all the Jews were in an uproar and demanding that he be killed.  Festus couldn’t find anything about him deserving of death, so he was going to send him onto Rome.  But Festus confesses that he doesn’t have anything interesting to write to Rome about why he is sending Paul, so he is hoping that Herod Agrippa might be able to find some reason to send Paul on to Rome.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Herod comes in with an incredible amount of pomp and circumstance.  It’s all about the glory of their presence.  There is no humbleness, no genuine humility, and certainly no modesty.  The leaders of the world enjoy the power and wealth that they have in the world.  Surely, they have received their reward.

How could Herod and Bernice have acted that would have displayed some humbleness?

Second Thought:

Again we see Festus speaking honestly about the situation that he finds himself in.  He can’t find anything wrong with Paul.  The Jews do want him dead.  He knows that he’ll look like a fool if he sends Paul on to the Roman Emperor without a serious reason.  He is genuinely and honestly looking for help from Herod.

Does this portrayal of Festus increase or diminish your perspective of the governor?  In his honest portrayal of his situation, is it sad that he seems to completely miss that he might be able to learn something besides saving his own reputation?

Third Thought:

Festus gives no reason to be holding Paul in prison except that Paul had asked for his case to be officially heard in Rome.  In a sense, Paul is still in prison because he has asked to remain in custody until arriving in Rome.

Do you think Festus would have set Paul free if allowed?  Would this have been a good thing or a bad thing according to the plan that God has seemed to be telling Paul that he is to pursue?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 26:1-11