Friday 29 May 2009

Background

The Roman troops in Jerusalem had rescued Paul from mob violenceinstigated by the Jewish leaders, and he had been escorted by nightto the Caesarea residence of Felix the Roman governor (23:23-30). For theremaining two years of his term of office, Felix failed to settlethe case, and the new governor, Porcius Festus, inherited thisprisoner who had actually remained on remand longer than Roman lawallowed. One of his first actions was to rehear the case, theoutcome being that Paul appealed to defend himself before theemperor's own court as he, a Roman citizen, had a right todo.

Before there is a ship to take Paul to Rome, Festus receives avisit from King Agrippa. Herod Agrippa II is the last of thedynasty - the great grandson of Herod the Great who features in thestory of the birth of Jesus, and the son of the Herod of Acts 12 whoseunpleasant death is recorded there.

At that time the young Agrippa was only 17 years old, and the Romanauthorities judged he did not have the experience to rule thehostile frontier province of Judea. They therefore made Herod theruler of a small kingdom to the north (in modern Lebanon), and theygoverned Judea directly by appointing a procurator, the post Festusnow fills.

After her husband's death Bernice lived with her older brotherAgrippa, an incestuous relationship according to rumour. In thepassage Festus explains from his own perspective the twists andturns of the tricky case of the prisoner Paul. He rightlyrecognises that Paul is not guilty of any breach of law, but thatit is a religious disagreement that the Jewish leaders have withhim, centring on Jesus and Paul's assertion that he is alive.

Agrippa's curiosity is aroused, and arrangements are made for himto hear Paul's case the next day, the outcome of which will be aconsensus verdict that he could have been set free, had he notalready appealed to the emperor (26:31-32).

To Ponder

Agrippa was intrigued to hear more because Paulasserted that Jesus was alive. What do you find intriguing aboutthe Christian message?

Do you think that people who've never consideredthe Christian message would be intrigued by the same aspects? Ifnot, what aspect of the gospel (good news about Jesus) do you thinkis most likely to arouse curiosity in today's world?

How might you feel if you had been two years inprison awaiting the resolution of a charge which you knew to haveno substance?