Paul before agrripa

After Paul defended himself with intelligent speech and an appeal to Caesar, Festus told him “You appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you will go”. Therefore, because of Paul’s appeal, Governor Festus sent him to be tried in Rome instead of Jerusalem.

But before Paul was taken to Rome, the King of the Jews, King Agrippa, and his wife, Bernice, came to Caesarea Maritima to pay their respects to the new governor. King Agrippa was the Jewish leader approved by Rome so, again, Festus needed to impress him. Festus told them all about the prisoner (Paul) and how the former governor, Felix, had left him with this dilemma. Agrippa found this very interesting and wanted to meet Paul. Felix planned a large and ostentatious gathering with Agrippa, high-ranking officials and the important men of the city. During the gathering Paul was brought before the group. Paul did not waste this opportunity to share his testimony with all of these important people. He told about his formal education, strict adherence to Jewish law and his fanatical campaign against Christians before he eventually encountered Jesus. He described, in detail, what Jesus had told him to do. Agrippa and the others were impressed with what Paul had to say.

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ,Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’

Paul replied, ‘Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” Acts 26:28-29, NIV

Agrippa told Festus that Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar. He agreed that Festus now had no choice but to send Paul to Rome.

EVALUATION

1. Who was King Agrippa?
2. How did Paul defend himself before Agrippa?
3. What was Agrippa’s response to Paul?