He Died. He Is Alive.

Festus, Agrippa, and a Certain Jesus

(Acts 25:1-27, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 4, 2013)

[25:1] Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. [2] And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, [3] asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. [4] Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. [5] “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”Leaders among the Jews had a plan to kill Paul. What were they thinking of? The message that Paul proclaimed could not be stopped simply by killing the messenger. Both Judaism and Christianity exist to this day because of the purposes of God.

[6] After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. [7] When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. [8] Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” [9] But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” [10] But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. [11] If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” [12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

When Paul was given a hearing before his accusers they made charges against him that they could not prove. Meanwhile this ended up being the opportunity that God would use to fulfill the promise of Christ that Paul would go to Rome. The attacks of his enemies were once again used by God to accomplish the Lord's purposes.

[13] Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. [14] And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, [15] and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. [16] I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. [17] So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. [18] When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. [19] Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. [20] Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. [21] But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” [22] Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”Paul was a prisoner of the civil authorities of the Roman Empire, but the people bringing charges against Paul had religious disagreements with him. They had no credible accusations against him that the civil authorities could judge. When the governor attempted to seek advice from the religious courts in Jerusalem, Paul appealed to Rome. Now the last of the Herods, Agrippa II, and his sister Bernice requested to hear testimony from Paul directly.

[23] So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. [24] And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. [25] But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. [26] But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. [27] For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Great deference was shown to this man, Agrippa II, who though a Jew, was very well connected in Roman society. He was given the kind of honor that the world reserves for the important ones among them. God's ambassador, Paul, was a curiosity for the King. Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp, but the bearer of God's Word brings only his message and his chains.

Ignoring for a moment the parties to this case, Paul and his high-placed Jewish adversaries, we can give some profitable consideration to three other individuals that we hear of in this chapter: Festus, Agrippa, and the one who is called here, “a certain Jesus.” Of these three, most is said about Festus, then Agrippa, and finally there is just the briefest word about Jesus.

Festus: Porcius Festus was the Roman governor of Judea for about four years after Felix was called to Rome. We see in Acts 25 that Festus was not a man who was easily manipulated (3, 5). He wanted to do a favor for prominent Jews (9), but he would not simply turn Paul over to them. He insisted on following Roman customs and laws (16). When he was presented with a controversy that his predecessor had dragged his feet on for two years, Festus proved to be diligent and professional. Yet Festus was plainly unaware of important religious controversies among the people he governed (19). Finally, after listening to Paul, he came to the firm conclusion that Paul had done nothing deserving of death (25).

Agrippa: We know less about Agrippa than Festus from Acts 25. Marcus Julius Agrippa had been educated at the imperial court in Rome and later was granted some civil authority over certain cities and villages in Palestine. In addition he had the right, according to the Romans, of overseeing the temple in Jerusalem and appointing the High Priest. Agrippa had a reasonable interest in Paul's case since it involved a disturbance in the temple. Beyond Agrippa's interest in hearing Paul, the only other fact from Acts 25 worth mentioning is that he was hailed as the most important person in the room. He and his sister arrived with ceremony (23), and he received honor from all of the important people there that day, including Festus (26). More in Acts 26.

A Certain Jesus: Finally, and receiving the briefest mention, is a certain Jesus. His Name was common, and He lived His life with extraordinary humility and quietness. There is only one mention of Him in Acts 25 in verse 19. That one mention comes from the governor's summary of Paul's defense. It has two components. First, this Jesus had died. That fact is a very important one to us, but it is hardly remarkable. Everyone in this sad world dies. It is the second proposition that makes all the difference: Paul asserted this certain Jesus to be alive.

The Bible and history tell us very little about Festus and Agrippa. No one claims that they are still alive today. Regarding Jesus, billions believe that His death paid their debt to God and that His resurrection was the beginning of the fulfillment of the hope of the Scriptures, that there will be a resurrection from the dead. Jesus is King and Governor over all of creation. He is alive. Because of Him, we believe, we pray, we hope, and we forgive. 

Sermon Point: When it seems like there is no hope left, a certain Jesus, who was dead, is yet alive, and that makes all the difference.