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Commentaries
English
Acts
  
24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.26For 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.27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”29And 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.”30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”32Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”


The proud governor recognized that Paul, by his previous words, had declared all the gods of the Romans and the Greeks to be darkness, and had presented Christ as the only Light of the world. That was a difficult message for the haughty governor to bear, for the prisoner before him had said that a dead man had become the Savior of the world, and that this Savior was stronger than Caesar, and brighter than all the gods of this world. Festus, therefore, shouted at him before the audience, saying: “You are out of your mind, Paul. You have gone out of your mind. Your legalistic meditations and continuous prayers have darkened your eyes.”
Paul knew that that the governor could not understand him, for no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. So he answered the proud governor: “I am not mad. I am speaking carefully the sober truth. I am neither overwhelmed with enthusiasm, nor in a trance. I am presenting the truth of Christ, who is both living and glorious. Suddenly, Paul motioned towards King Agrippa, and spoke to him as a witness who knew all these things. Every Jew knew that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified, and the Christians testified joyfully to His resurrection.
Paul, the prisoner, spoke personally to the haughty king before his retinue, and asked him rightly: “Do you believe in the Gospel which is spoken of in the Prophets? Do you confess that Christ was tortured, and raised from the dead according to the Law?” Paul saw how the king’s heart trembled. He did not want to put himself in the wrong toward the truth revealed in the Old Testament. So he did not answer. The apostle responded for him: “I know, King Agrippa, that you believe.” Paul was a prophet. He could read the inward thoughts of the king, and wanted to draw him to confess his faith. But this king would only slowly respond. Ashamed of the crowd he muttered: “Perhaps I have become a believer. If you complete your message you may convince me, filling my head with your thoughts. I will then become a prey to your Christ.”
Paul rejoiced in his heart. Seeing the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the king of his nation he cried out: “I am not the prisoner. You are slaves in your sins. Come to Jesus the Savior and he will set you free. I am free in spite of my chains. I would to God that you were granted the filling with the Holy Spirit, together with your sister Bernice, the Roman governor, and all the officers, officials, and prominent men of Caesarea.
Paul confronted them all with his love. Out of his mouth came words like a raging fire, and out of his eyes came rays of mercy. He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
The king subsequently stood up, answering Paul nothing. The power of the Gospel had hit him and moved his conscience. All the audience had perceived that Paul was an upright man, and they all testified that he was innocent. All those who left the court were impressed with this strange defense, one in which the prisoner condemned the examiners, whose message had hit all hearts with the word of God. At last, affected by the atmosphere and proceedings, the king said: “This man could have been released. But since he himself appealed to the emperor we have to send him to Rome.” This royal answer did not signify that Paul would have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar, for the highest council of the Jews did not agree to his release at all, and Festus, the governor, was compelled to cooperate with the representatives of the people. Consequently, Paul remained imprisoned in Rome, according to the will of his living Father.

Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You, for You are living, and You have redeemed all men. Help us to communicate Your righteousness and Your truth to every nation, that many may be saved from their sins, and delivered from the violent power of Satan. Fill us with the patience and determination of your Holy Spirit, that we may go forth boldly and humbly, professing Your great Gospel.