13 Now when several days had elapsed , King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus . 14 While they were spending many days there , Festus laid Paul's case e before the king , saying , "There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix ; 15 and when I was at Jerusalem , the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 "I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges . 17 "So after they had assembled here , I did not delay , but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. 18 "When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting , 19 but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man , Jesus , whom Paul asserted to be alive . 20 " Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. 21 "But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision , I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar ." 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus , "I also would like to hear the man myself ." "Tomorrow ," he said , "you shall hear him." 23 So , on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp , and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city , at the command of Festus , Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said , "King Agrippa , and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here , loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer . 25 "But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death ; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor , I decided to send him. 26 "Yet I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord . Therefore I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa , so that after the investigation has taken place , I may have something to write . 27 "For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner , not to indicate also the charges against him."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 25:13-27
Commentary on Acts 25:13-27
(Read Acts 25:13-27)
Agrippa had the government of Galilee. How many unjust and hasty judgments the Roman maxim, verse 16, condemn! This heathen, guided only by the light of nature, followed law and custom exactly, yet how many Christians will not follow the rules of truth, justice, and charity, in judging their brethren! The questions about God's worship, the way of salvation, and the truths of the gospel, may appear doubtful and without interest, to worldly men and mere politicians. See how slightly this Roman speaks of Christ, and of the great controversy between the Jews and the Christians. But the day is at hand when Festus and the whole world will see, that all the concerns of the Roman empire were but trifles and of no consequence, compared with this question of Christ's resurrection. Those who have had means of instruction, and have despised them, will be awfully convinced of their sin and folly. Here was a noble assembly brought together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only meant to gratify their curiosity by attending to the defence of a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the word of God with "great pomp," and too often with no better motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand as prisoners to make a defence for their lives, yet numbers affect to sit in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders for a word, rather than to learn from them the truth and will of God, for the salvation of their souls But the pomp of this appearance was outshone by the real glory of the poor prisoner at the bar. What was the honour of their fine appearance, compared with that of Paul's wisdom, and grace, and holiness; his courage and constancy in suffering for Christ! It is no small mercy to have God clear up our righteousness as the light, and our just dealing as the noon-day; to have nothing certain laid to our charge. And God makes even the enemies of his people to do them right.