The Montgomery tribune., 1909-10-22
Paul Before Festus
and Agrippa
Specially Arranged for This Paper

have believed, and am persuaded that no |
is able to keep that which l have com |
mitted unto him against that day.'-2 |
Tim. 112
TIME-Autumn of A. d. SO or In 60.
PLACE-Cesarea, the Roman capital OF |
Palestine. Herod Agrlppa H., was king |
OF the regions north OF the Sea of Cali
lee, with his capital at Cesarea Phiippi. |
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Three ways of treating the gospel
Exemplified by three representative
men--the Apostle Paul; the Roman
Governor Festus; King Herod Agrippa
ii.
Preliminary Events. An Interesting
Story.--Acts 25:1-12. First. The new
governor. At the close of two years
in prison under Felix, there was a
change of governors. and Porcius Fes-
tus entered upon his duties.
We know nothing concerning him ex
cept from the Acts and Josephus. 90
sephus tells us that he governed his
stormy province with wise, firm rule,
putting down the Sicarii (assassins),
and other predatory companies, who
were then harassing Judea. He finds
no fault with Festus."
Second. The Plot to Take PauPs
Life.-The first thing the new govern.
or did after landing at Caesera was to
go up to Jerusalem, the Jewish capital,
where were centered the most difficult
persons and questions with which his
administration would have to do.
The Jewish rulers devised an inge
NOUS plot to obtain possession of Paul
They poured into the ears of the new
governor all the charges Tertullus had
brought against Paul, and these
charges were chiefly for breaking the
Jewish law. On the way from Caesera
to Jerusalem they proposed to assas.
sinate Paul, just as they had hoped to
do two years before, but now with
much better chances than before of
accomplishing their purpose.
Third. The Appeal to Caesar--On
returning to Cesarea, accompanied by
the Jewish rulers, Governor Festus
summoned Paul into court where they
emphasized these ". y many and
grievous complaints" and asked Paul
if he were willing to go up to Jerusa.
lem for his trial.
Paul strod up -four square to all
the winds that blow" for his rights as
a Roman citizen. His Independent
manhood speaks out: 81 defy their
charges; l will not go to Jerusalem to
be tried by my enemies; l appeal
unto Caesar"
l. Paul's Discourse Before King
Agrippa; Revealing How He Treated
Jesus Christ and His Gospel.-Acts 25:
13-26:23. The Royal Assemblage.-
King Herod Agrippa made a visit of
congratulation to Governor Festus.
With him came the beautiful and fas-
cinating Bernice, who was both his sis
ter and his illegal wife. She was also
the sister of Drusilla the wife of Felix,
and dissolute.
Festus was puzzled to know what
charges to send with Paul to Rome.
For Paul was no such criminal as
the Jews tried to make him out. He
had broken no Roman law. Hence he
asked Agrippa, who was Jew, to
help him out of this dilemma
Pauls strongest argument was the
fact that he ". 19) was not disobe
dent unto the heavenly vision," but
he practiced what he believed, and
gave his whole life, amid labors and
perils and WEAKNESS, in hunger and
thirst, and cold and nakedness, perse
cution, stonings, stripes above meas
ure, shipwrecks and painfulness {;
Cor. ~, to urging Jews and Gentiles
to w. 2O) repent and turn to God, ant
do works meet for repentance" as he
himself had done.
The charges against Paul were false
For the Jews ". 21) were about t.
kill" him because he proclaimed the
very Messiah they were expecting, the
fulfillment of their hopes.
o. Having therefore obtained hell
of God" Help" in the Greek mean
originally an alliance against enemies
such aid as warrior receives from
auxiliary or allied forces God wal
Paul's powerful ally. witnessing boil
to small and great" referring to age
rank, and position. Paul treated al
alike, rich and poor, learned and un
learned, obscure and famous, despise,
and honored. Saying none othe
things" etc.
The Decision of the Court.--vs. sc
32. The court decided that Paul wa
innocent. and might haye been set a
liberty had he not appealed to Caesar
but that the appeal must stand. 9TH
whole process Of two years and more
at Jerusalem and Cesarea, ended in
public and decisive acquittal. C.audu
Lysias, Festus and Agrippa, had eac
declared him innocent; three time
was it publicly announced of tn
apostle. as of his Lord. that he ha
done ". 81, nothing worthy 0
DEATH" But this decision was tn
means of bringing him safely to Romt
It made favorable impression O
the Roman officer who took him there
and upon the Roman authorities afte
his arrival.
Paul's Discourse.-Paul stretche
forth his hand, the common gestur
80 In, Ina &c oAJ