The Governor Tries to Cover his Corruption FEBRUARY 25, 2021 Pastor David Andersen / PO BoxBible 2020, Chesterfield, Study VA Title23832 / Da [email protected] Acts 25:13-22 Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at “BUT BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS, THEY WILL LAY THEIR Caesarea, and paid their respects to Festus. 14) HANDS ON YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, DELIVERING YOU UP And while they were spending many days there, TO THE SYNAGOGUES AND PRISONS. YOU WILL BE Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, BROUGHT BEFORE KINGS AND RULERS FOR MY NAME’S “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix; SAKE.” JESUS CHRIST (LUKE 21:12) 15) and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges Is king Agrippa the last Jewish king? How are King Agrippa and Bernice well known in Rome? Why does Festus wait until against him, asking for a sentence of the end of his introduction to mention Paul’s name? What had condemnation upon him. 16) And I answered Paul’s trial really been all about? How did Governor Festus them that it is not the custom of Romans to cover his favoring of the Jews against Paul at the trial? hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to FOCUS ON FUTURE SATELLITE BIBLE STUDIES: ➤ APRIL 7-9: ACTS 25:23-27 THE GOVERNOR IN A make his defense against the charges. 17) And QUANDARY so after they had assembled here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the ➤ APRIL 14-16: ACTS 26:1-11 PAUL’S WITNESS: HIS PRE-CHRISTIAN LIFE tribunal, and ordered the man to be brought. 18) And when the accusers stood up they began Governor Festus took only three days before he went up bringing charges against him not of such crimes to Jerusalem. Immediately, the Jewish leaders demanded a guilty verdict against Paul, then wanted a trial before as I was expecting; 19) but simply had some the Sanhedrin. Appalled by such reckless injustice, Festus points of disagreement with him about their own explained that Roman justice required that the accused be religion and about a certain dead man, Jesus, able to defend themselves. They were all invited to go whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20) And being at with him back to Caesarea where Paul would have an a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked immediate trial. They agreed and like a pack of wolves, surrounded Paul and bit at him with unceasing lies. Paul whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and prevailed by telling the truth and not allowing a single lie there stand trial on these matters. 21) But when to stand unproven. Favoring the Jews, Festus asked Paul Paul appealed to be held in custody for the if he was willing to go to Jerusalem for his trial. Paul Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in surprised the court by appealing his case to Caesar. custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22) And Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to SUDDENLY PAUL’S WORDS, … “I APPEAL TO CAESAR,” hear him myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB IN THE COURTROOM. shall hear him.” (NASB) JAMES FLOYD PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY THURSDAY @ 6:30AM –PRAYER MEETING – THE WYTESTONE PLAZA BUILDING, 801 E. MAIN STREET THURSDAY @ 7:00AM –BIBLE STUDY – THE WYTESTONE PLAZA BUILDING, 801 E. MAIN STREET V i r g i n i a The Governor Tries to Cover his Corruption I. THE COMING OF THE KING ACTS 25:13 freedom of protective custody, but instead in chains, The final ruler to be called “The King of the Jews” was which was unlawful regarding a Roman citizen who had Agrippa. He was given the authority to appoint the high not been convicted of any crime. Additionally, it revealed priest and had custody of the ephod and high priestly that the Jews had continually asked for Paul’s execution garments worn on the Day of Atonement. His full name, without a trial. It also reveals that Festus had expected Herod Agrippa II or “Marcus Julius Agrippa” was on his that Paul had committed some crime worthy of death. coins. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I, who killed the Instead he was surprised to discover that the dispute was Apostle James and tried to kill Peter (Acts 12). His Uncle actually over one climatic question. Jesus, they all agreed Herod had married his sister, Bernice, when she was had died, but Paul was constantly proclaiming He is alive. thirteen. A widow at twenty, Bernice the Queen lived If Jesus is alive, all the Jews knew, that meant Jesus is the with her brother, Agrippa (after being given his uncle’s Messiah, the Eternal Judge and the Coming King! kingdom) in an incestuous relationship, igniting gossip throughout the empire. To dodge the rumors, she married Polemon, king of Cilicia, but soon returned to “FESTUS’S WORDS THROW NEW LIGHT ON THE JEWS’ her brother. She would later be the mistress of Vespasian REQUEST (25:3). FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, THEY DID NOT and then his son, Titus, who conquered the Jews. Their WANT A FAIR TRIAL FOR PAUL BUT A SUMMARY JUDGMENT sister, Drusilla, was the wife of the former Governor OF CONDEMNATION.” JOHN MACARTHUR Felix. King Agrippa and Queen Bernice paid Festus a surprise visit to welcome him to his new Jewish territory. III. THE CORRUPTION CONCEALED ACTS 25:20-22 Instead of admitting that he was doing the Jews a favor “HE HAD TO SEND PAUL TO ROME, AND HE HAD TO SAY IN by asking Paul to be tried in Jerusalem, knowing that Paul THE FORMAL DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD HAVE TO would probably be executed, he acted like he did it ACCOMPANY PAUL WHY HE WAS SENDING HIM. WHAT WAS because he did not understand Jewish law. Festus well PAUL ACCUSED OF? WHY SHOULD FESTUS BE BOTHERING knew that Paul had not committed any crime worthy of THE EMPEROR WITH TRIVIALITIES THAT HE death, but if he let him be acquitted and go free, the Jews COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HIMSELF?” would have been furious with him. Thus, Festus joined JAMES MONTGOMERY BOICE the Jews as the judge and continually asked Paul if he was willing to return to Jerusalem for trial. When all the false II. THE CONFESSION OF THE CLIMAX ACTS 25:14-19 accusations had been disproven, Paul knew that the only Possibly feeling some guilt over what had happened to choice left was Rome. Agrippa wanted to hear his story. their brother-in-law, Felix and their sister, Drusilla, they chose to try to help Festus navigate his leadership over the Jews. Thus, they would need to build a relationship “THE WISH OF AGRIPPA GAVE OCCASION TO THE NOBLEST which primarily occurs by spending time together. So, DEFENSE WHICH WAS EVER MADE BEFORE ANY TRIBUNAL, after “spending many days,” Festus entrusted Agrippa with AND TO AS SPLENDED ELOQUENCE AS CAN BE his problem regarding Paul. This conversation reveals an FOUND IN ANY LANGUAGE.” intensification of difficulties regarding Paul. The word for ALBERT BARNES “prisoner” affirms that Felix had not left Paul in the Questions to Ponder: 1) Do you make sure as a legislator that you favor that which is right according to the Scriptures? 2) Have you ever received Jesus Christ the Risen Savior as your Lord for the forgiveness of your sins? 3) Are you sowing the seed of the resurrection and the Gospel, standing for the truth and disproving the lies? .