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Acts 25:13–22
“Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them” (v. 20).
Returning to the book of Acts today, we pick up our study in the midst of the Apostle Paul’s hearing before Festus, the Roman governor of Judea. Having been offered the chance to return to Jerusalem for a trial, Paul chose instead to appeal to Caesar. That was his right as a Roman citizen, and it offered him an opportunity for a meeting with the emperor, who at least at that point in church history was more likely to grant Paul a favorable hearing than the Jews (Acts 25:1–11). Festus, hearing Paul’s appeal, agreed to send Paul to Caesar (v. 12).
Yet as Luke tells us in today’s passage, Festus did not send Paul to Rome right away but kept him in custody a few more days. During that time, he received a visit from “Agrippa the king and [his wife] Bernice” (v. 13). This was Herod Agrippa II, the son of Herod Agrippa I (see 12:1–23) and the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who had been king of Judea when Jesus was born. Agrippa II was ruler over a territory that included parts of Galilee and areas east of the Jordan River. He and Bernice likely came to Caesarea to visit Festus as part of diplomatic efforts between the two regions that Festus and Agrippa II controlled. Since Agrippa II was Jewish, he could also possibly offer some insight into the matter for which Paul was on trial.
Summarizing the events that had led to Paul’s hearing before Festus, the governor stated that the Jews had “brought no charge in his case of such evils” as Festus had thought they would bring but rather a dispute about Jewish religious matters (25:14–18). Initially, of course, the Jews had accused Paul of stirring up riots among the Jews, a charge that the Romans would certainly have taken seriously because such riots could easily lead to uprisings against the imperial government (24:5). By the time that Festus met with Agrippa II and Bernice, however, Festus had discerned that the heart of the charges was not sedition against Rome but rather Jewish theological disagreements concerning the resurrection of Jesus (25:19).
Festus was no expert in Jewish religious disputes, so he confessed to Agrippa II and Bernice that he was at a loss for how to address the theological questions at hand (v. 20). This created a problem for Festus, for he would have to send some kind of report or charge along with Paul to Caesar in Rome. What should he say about the alleged crimes? Agrippa II could possibly help Festus with this, so the Jewish king agreed to speak to Paul himself.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Today’s passage demonstrates that it is unwise to involve secular authorities in theological disputes for which they are not prepared. When the Jews appealed to Festus to take their side in their theological disagreement with Paul, the only thing that resulted was Festus’ confusion. The church should settle its own doctrinal affairs and not invite the secular state to intervene in our theological debates.
For further study
- Deuteronomy 17:8–13
- Matthew 16:18–19
- Acts 15:1–35
- 1 Corinthians 6:1–8
The bible in a year
- Ezekiel 25–26
- James 3