THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE KING

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on September 20, 2023 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: September 20, 2023 from Acts 25:13-26:32

Theme: God gives us a personal testimony of His saving grace so that we might share that testimony to others who need salvation.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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We come, in our study of Acts, to the story of a truly epic encounter. It’s the story of the apostle Paul’s testimony of his faith before King Agrippa II. It’s a fascinating story; and though it’s a long passage, it really seems best to take it in as a whole.

Before we begin, let’s consider something that Paul wrote about himself just three years or so after this encounter. In 1 Timothy 1:12-17, he wrote to young pastor Timothy and said;

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:12-17).

Paul was very conscious that the story of his conversion had a purpose beyond himself. It was meant to be proof, for all time, of the greatness of the power of the gospel to save anyone who believes—no matter how great a sinner they may be. If Jesus Christ could save Saul of Tarsus—and transform him into Paul the Apostle—then Jesus Christ can save anybody! And in this remarkable story, we see Paul standing before a very immoral king and appealing to him—through the telling of his testimony—to receive the grace of Jesus Christ.

One thing that this story helps to affirm to us is that the testimony of Paul was consistent. It’s told to us several times in the Bible; and each time, the facts are fundamentally the same. The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ truly met Paul along the road to Damascus and transformed him—giving him a remarkable testimony of grace. But more; this story illustrates that God gives us a personal testimony of His saving grace too; so that we—like Paul—can share it to others who need salvation. Our testimony—like Paul’s—is meant to have a purpose beyond ourselves.

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So then; let’s walk our way through this story of Paul’s amazing testimony. After Paul had appealed to Caesar in 25:11—making it necessary for the Roman governor Festus to send him to Rome for a decision—the story picks up in verse 13;

And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus (25:13).

These two individuals apparently came to give their greetings and respects to the new governor over their land. But in order to understand the power of Paul’s testimony to them, we need to know something about who they were. The king who is mentioned is Agrippa II. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I, who was mentioned in Acts 12 as the defiant king that God struck with a worm. This means that Agrippa II was the grandson of Herod the Great—the man who reigned as king at the time of the birth of Jesus. After the shocking death of Agrippa I, his son was considered too young to take his father’s place at the time; and the emperor Claudius appointed a man named Cuspius Fadus as procurator of the land. But as he grew older, Agrippa II eventually was given his throne; and he now reigns under the occupation of Rome.

But who is this woman Bernice who is mentioned throughout this passage as being with Agrippa? She happens to be one of the most scandalous women of her time. She was the elder sister of Agrippa II; and also the sister of Drusilla (who was the wife of Governor Felix who was mentioned in Chapters 23-24). The ancient historian Josephus wrote that Bernice was first married to a man named Marcus, and then later to her own uncle, Herod of Calchis. Then after her uncle/husband died, she married the king of Cilisa named Polemo; but she deserted Polemo shortly after their wedding and made her way to Jerusalem where she entered into a shocking incestuous relationship with her own brother Agrippa II. Nothing, it seems, was done to hide their immoral relationship. She later became the mistress of the Roman emperor Vespasian, then afterward, the mistress of Vespasian’s son Titus … who later besieged and conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Agrippa II and Bernice were wicked sinners. And we only focus on their backgrounds to emphasize to whom it was that—in the providence of God—Paul bore his testimony of saving grace. As sinful as they were, Paul still remained even a greater sinner … “the chief of sinners” … whom Jesus saved!

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Now; when it was decided to send Paul to Caesar, that didn’t bring an end to the problems Paul had presented to Festus. The governor had to account for why Paul was being sent to Rome to appear before the emperor. And that’s where Agrippa and Bernice come in:

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.’ 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. When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 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” (vv. 14-21).

Festus was hoping that Agrippa—who would have had a greater familiarity with the Jewish religion (although he wasn’t living a life that was faithful to it)—would be able to help give an accounting to Caesar for why Paul was being sent. And as Luke goes on to tell us;

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you shall hear him” (v. 22).

And so; it was arranged that Paul would explain himself to Agrippa. We’re told;

So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in. And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my lord 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” (vv. 23-27).

When Luke mentioned that Agrippa came “with Bernice”, it was intended to highlight the irony of the situation. And what a spectacle it must have been in the sight of heaven! There were these two immoral individuals in a position of power—coming out and sitting with “great pomp” (the word in the original language is “fantasia”; which suggests an honor and glory that was only outward); and before them was brought—in rags and chains—God’s appointed spokesman for the King of Glory. The remarkable providence of God is shown in what happened next at the beginning of Chapter 26:

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently” (26:1-3).

Note that, in Paul’s introduction, there was honor and respect shown to the king. But there was no flattery. The king thought he held power over Paul—and in a temporal sense, he did. But it was Paul who held the superior position, because he had a testimony of salvation that sinful King Agrippa truly needed to hear. And so; Paul went on to tell his testimony:

“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (vv. 4-8).

Notice in this that Paul testified that there was nothing that he believed or taught that was—in any way—contrary to what the Jewish religion believed and taught. Nor was there anything about him that was somehow secret or hidden. Those who were accusing him knew who he was and how devoted he had been to “the strictest sect of our religion”. And do you notice that he said, “Why should it be thought incredible to you that God raises the dead?” The word “you”, in the original language, is in the plural. He was—at that moment—turning to his accusers and fellow Jews, and affirming what they should already know and believe. God raises the dead; and He raised His Son Jesus. The followers of Jesus believed in what his Jewish accusers already said they believed—but what they now fought against and resisted.

“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities” (vv. 9-11).

When Paul said this, he was testifying that he himself had been a part of the ruling council of the Jewish people—among those who were now accusing him. So; what happened? What had changed him from Saul of Tarsus to Paul the apostle? He goes on to testify:

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me’” (vv. 12-18).

When the Lord Jesus had told Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads”, this was the Lord’s way of indicating what had really been in Paul’s heart all along. He had been acting as a strict Pharisee—a defender of the faith; but in reality, he had been resisting the testimony of the Lord to his heart that Jesus truly is the promised Messiah … and that he needed to repent and believe in the very same Jesus that the martyrs believed. Jesus confronted him, transformed his heart, and made him His ambassador of grace. And it was to this new calling that he was utterly committed and faithful. He told the king;

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (vv. 19-23).

Now; apparently, this all became too much for the pagan governor Festus. Festus didn’t have the advantage that Agrippa had. Festus didn’t understand the Jewish religion and customs; nor how it would be that they related to the Christian faith. Verse 24 tells us;

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” (v. 24).

Wouldn’t that be a wonderful ‘insult’ to receive?! Paul was a very learned man. But he was not insane. He went on to testify—first to Festus, and then back to Agrippa;

But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (vv. 25-28).

This statement may also be translated as, “In such a short time are you trying to make a Christian of me?” Some have interpreted it in that way; and have assumed that Agrippa was almost insulted—as if to say, “You’re trying to make a Christian out of me! And do you actually think you could persuade me to become a follower of Jesus in such a short amount of time?” But the response of Paul—and the official recognition of Paul’s innocence that followed—seems to suggest that Agrippa was impressed with Paul’s testimony. It would have been as if he was saying, “I don’t think you’ve been driven mad, Paul. In fact, if you keep this up, you’ll soon convert me!” Agrippa’s words—with Bernice sitting next to him—may have been intended to elicit a snicker from the crowd; but it had a hint of truth to it.

And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (v. 29).

You can almost hear Paul’s chains rattling to the glory of God as he said those words.

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And thus ended Paul’s testimony to King Agrippa II, to Bernice, to Governor Festus, to all the gathered officials and dignitaries, to his Jewish accusers, and to everyone who has ever read his testimony in all the centuries that followed. The chief of sinners bore witness to the multitude of fellow sinners before whom he stood; and together, they saw the life-transforming power of the resurrected Lord Jesus on display. Verses 30-32 go on to tell us;

When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (vv. 30-32).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ; God has given us a testimony of life-transformation in Christ too. We may not be the chief of sinners—as only Paul could be. But we are definitely sinners among sinners. And God can use our testimony of life transformation to reach others with His saving grace.

Let’s remember what the apostle Peter told us;

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed (1 Peter 3:15-16).

AE