The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-23
THE suNDAY-sCBooL LESSON.
Acts sxvi, 19-29-May "a, 19o3-Paul
Before Agrippa.


There were holiday times in Caesarea. The
marble metropolis by the sea was in festive dress
TO welcome the descendants OF her founder.
There had been a succession Of fetes in the am
phitheater and banquets in the palace. But
after many days military, naval and gladia-
torial spectacles began to cloy upon the royal
guests Festus bethought himself Of an expedi-
ent. He would by way Of variety give Agrippa
and Bernice an intellectual tournament lie
would call the Nazarene enthusiast from prison
and the company Of his yellow parchments. and
have him give the King an exhibition of that
thrilling oratorical power of which he had him
self already had sample. He would by this
means kill two birds with one stone" enter
tain his guests and at the same time find the
means of extricatng himself from an awkward
plight. Agrippas familiarity with Jewish ques-
tons might serve him wei in the wording OF
communication to the Emperor in the case of this
prisoner. who, though so manifestly innocent,
had been compelled TO appeal his case through
the procurators failure TO acquit him.
Festus determined that the spectacle OF the
audience chamber should not be whit below
that OF the theater In scenic effectiveness. The
phantom sovereign should be tickled by being
made the presiding officer at a mock trial. 1t
a splendid assemblage. The chiefs. mill
tary. civil and social. there. Festus wore
the crimson robe OF office, Agrippa the insignia
of royalty. Bernice blazed in jewels.
Once more. and the same spot. the current
religions of the day appeared in triangular
tagonism. Heathenism had its representative in
Festus-a confessedly nobler character than
Felix-but before the interview ended displaying
by his rude exclamation the inveterate obtuse-
ness of the heather mind in spiritual matters.
To the procurator Paul's talk about a resurrec-
ton prima facie evidence that the mind OF
the prisoner was unhinged. He had no such
conception of the Deity. His power and love. as
to make the raising OF the dead credible TO him.
The syncism of the heather not only put him
out of touch with Paul, but left him powerless
to understand the self-oblivious spirit OF
the great missionary. To the Roman official the
great ideal of life to stir between the capri
cious anger Of the Emperor on the one hand and
that of the Heterogeneous population he gov
erned on the other.
Judaism had a representative on this occasion.
better known to history than the who stood
for it in the scene which transpred in the same
room two years before. Agrippa, the guardian
Of the temple. nominator of high priests. ''elab-
orately trained in all matters Of Jewish religion
and casuistry.'' was very incarnation of He
brewism.
Thoroughly versed though he was in the
prophets, he. with most Hebrews. had failed to
perceive that the Jewish seers pictured suffer-
ing as well a victorious Messiah. Agrippa
could not but the completeness with which
Paul freed himself from the charge Of apostasy;
he could not but the true identity between
Christianity and Judaism but while tacitly
admitting 1t, he lacked the moral courage to
avow IL; and Felix in the same place had
soothed his conscience with a poultice, so
Agrippa parted his with jest.
AZ the third angle, as glorious representative
Of Christianity. stood Paul, two years nearer his
coronation than when he last occupied such a
position. Paul might have sulked in his CELL
Agrippa had no Jurisdiction. The case was al
ready appealed. 1t could never be tried again
save in Caesars court. Paul might have shown
his piaue at Festuss hardness in acquitting
prisoner whose enemies had not been able to
gather any evidence against him in the two
years OF his illegal Imprisonment. Had Paul
taken this fact. in which he would have been
entirely justified under the circumstances the
snowy drawirg-room audience which Festus had
planned for the amusement of his royal guests
may have been Hamlet with Hamlet left ont
But Festus had counted not In vain upon the
ingenious character Of his captive. Paul prompt
ly appeared when summoned. He recognized this
as one Of the opportunities which the SANITY
Ananas had assured him he should have of
bearing the Lords name before kings He was
not for a moment dashed by his splendid and
numerous auditory the disadvs nta geous cir
cumstances under Which he appeared before H.
He saw in Agrippa, with all his regal state and
Bernice, whose charms neither Titus nor yespa-
sian could resist, the children of one who hard
by the very place where he stood. vas snitten of
God and eaten by worms. These ''pompous in
antics OF reflected power" were ell uncovered