Proclaiming Jesus to Gentiles and Kings - Acts 25:1-22

If the opponents of Paul are one thing, they are persistent. They request that Paul be brought back to Jerusalem (so that they can carry out the ambush and murder strategy). Paul smartly refuses to go to Jerusalem to be tried by appealing to Caesar, a right he has as a Roman citizen. His accusers will continue to play without a “home field” advantage.

The appeal leads to encounter with King Herod Agrippa II, the last of the Hasmonean family that ruled Palestine with an iron fist and became incredibly rich. Agrippa was known for his strong relationship with the governors and the Roman leadership hierarchy. By the time of Paul’s appeal, Agrippa would have been in power for 15 years. Festus had little regard for the Jews or the Christians and really just wanted to dispose of the case. Agrippa, on the other hand is intrigued and wishes to hear Paul for himself. What an opportunity – to present his witness and his case to the governor and the puppet king in Palestine at the same time. He is indeed fulfilling the words God spoke to Ananias in Damascus,

“This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

Who would have thought the path to fulfilling those words would have happened this way?