Sha’ul’s Appears Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa ~ Part 8

We continue in the Book of Acts. Sha’ul Appears to the Roman Authorities beginning in Acts 26:24.

Sha’ul Tells of His Mission ~ Part 3

Imagine a courtroom scene where Sha’ul is defending himself, and everyone is captivated by his story. This isn’t just any trial—it’s like a drama unfolding. Festus, the Roman governor, interrupts with disbelief, declaring that Sha’ul is out of his mind due to his vast knowledge! Meanwhile, King Agrippa, intrigued, is on the verge of believing. It’s almost comedic how Sha’ul‘s sincere yet complex testimony leaves them questioning whether he’s a madman or a prophet. Just like that, truth can divert us in unexpected ways, leaving us pondering our own beliefs.

Agrippa’s Response

26 ²⁴ But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, “Sha’ul, you’re out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!”

Festus could endure it no longer. Sha’ul was obviously a man of tremendous learning, but equally obviously, his knowledge was driving him mad. Otherwise, he could never talk so earnestly and at such length about things to which a sensible Roman could attach no meaning, and no man who retained his senses would have antagonized his whole nation for such insubstantial philosophizing. He thought Sha’ul was out of his mind!

²⁵ But Sha’ul said, “No, I am not ‘crazy,’ Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity. ²⁶ For the king understands these matters, so to him, I express myself freely because I am sure that none of these things have been hidden from him. After all, they didn’t happen in some back alley. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe!”

So, Sha’ul assured Festus and appealed for confirmation from Agrippa. The events that fulfilled the ancient promises were well known and public: this was no hole-and-corner esoteric mystery whose initiates were pledged to secrecy. The ministry and death of Yeshua were matters of common knowledge; His resurrection was amply attested; the gospel had been openly proclaimed in his name. Anyone who believed in the prophets and compared their predictions with the historical facts concerning Yeshua of Nazareth must acknowledge the truth of the Messianic. Agrippa, who might be expected to believe the prophets, could supply corroborating testimony and tell Festus that Sha’ul’s arguments were sane and well founded, that the gospel which he preached contained “nothing except what Moses and the prophets said would happen.”

²⁸ Agrippa said to Sha’ul, “In this short time, you’re trying to convince me to become Messianic?”

The king was embarrassed by Sha’ul’s appeal. He may have listened to him with interest enough, but Sha’ul obviously hoped that his apparent interest would grow into something more. The logic of the argument was so plain to Sha’ul that he could scarcely imagine that such an expert in the Jewish religion would fail to accept the obvious conclusion. But Agrippa was not disposed even to appear to lend support to Sha’ul’s case. What would Festus think if he expressed—or even seemed to express—agreement with a man whose head had been turned by his learning? Therefore, he could not admit that he did believe the prophets; on the other hand, he could not say that he did not believe them, for then his influence with the Jews and his standing with their religious leaders would be gone. So, he turned Sha’ul’s appeal aside with a smile: “In short,” he said, “you are trying to make me play the Messianic”—for that seems to be the meaning of his words. He was not going to be maneuvered into anything like that!

²⁹ Sha’ul replied, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you but also everyone hearing me today might become just like me except for these chains!”

Innocence Acknowledged

³⁰ Then the king got up, and with him, the governor and Bernice and the others sitting with them. ³¹ After they had left, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or prison.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “If he hadn’t appealed to the Emperor, he could have been released.” ^[1]

The audience was over, and the Governor, Agrippa, and Bernice, with their adjutants and entourages, discussed what Sha’ul had said. One thing at least was clear: even if Sha’ul was as mad as Festus thought, he had done nothing to incur a significant legal penalty. In the eyes of Roman law, indeed, he was completely innocent, and, as the king said, he might have been discharged there if he had not appealed to Caesar. His appeal, however, had decided out of the governor’s hands, and he had to be sent to Rome. Agrippa presumably had no difficulty in suggesting to Festus the lines along which he should frame his report.

In our next post, we will continue to learn about Sha’ul’s Voyage to Rome.

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^[1] Acts 24–32.