The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-11-06
Paul Before Festus
and Agrippa

Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Actsf 25:s-2s:as Mem
DRY verses 27-29.
GOLDEN TEXT know whom
have believed. and am persuaded that HI
is able to keep that which 1 have com
mitted unto him against that day.;
Tim. f:12
TIME.-Autumn of A. d. 50 or in co.
PLACE.-Cesarea, the Roman capital OF
Palestine. Herod Agrippa H.. was king
OF the regions north of the Sea of Gall.
lee, with his capital at Cesarea Philippi
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. 30
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 Paul's
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 we're 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 thew
emphasized these ". y many and
grievous complaints" and asked Paul
II he were willing to go up to Jerusa-
lem for his trial.
Paul stood up -four square to all
the winds that blow" for his rights az
Roman citizen. His independent
manhood speaks out: 81 defy their
charges; will not go to Jerusalem to
be tried by my enemies; / appeal
unto Caesar
i. Paul's Discourse Before King
Agrippa; Revealing How He Treated
Jesus Christ and His Gospel.-Acts rs:
i3-26:23. The Royal Assemblage.-t
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 Agrfppa, who was a Jew, to
help him out of this dilemma.
Paul's strongest argument was the
fact that he ". 19) twas not disobe-
dent unto the heavenly vision" but
ne practiced what he believed. and
gave his whole life, amid labors and
periis and WEAKNESS. in hunger and
thirst, and cold and nakedness. perse-
;ution. stonings. stripes above meas
lre, shipwrecks and painfulness q
Cor. I'D, to urging Jews and Gentiles
% ". 20) repent and turn to God, and
10 works meet for repentance" as he
himself had done.
The charges against Paul were false.
FOR the Jews ". 21) were about To |
liif' him because he proclaimed the
'ery Messiah they were expecting. the
ulfillment of their hopes.
~. Having therefore obtained helm
II God" Help" in the Greek meant
originally an alliance against enemies.
uch aid as warrior receives from
or allied forces. God was
'auls powerful ally. witnessing both
0 small and great" referring to age.
ank, and position. Paul treated all
like. rich and poor, learned and un-
earned, obscure and famous, despised |
nd honored. Saying none other
hings," etc.
The Decision Of the Court.-vs. 80
z. The court decided that Paul was 5
lnocent, and might have been set at
berty had he not appealed to Caesar: 4
ut that the appeal must stand. THE 4
mole process OF two years and more, \
Jerusalem and Cesarea, ended in
nblic and decisive acquittal. CIaudius 4
ysias, Festus and Agrippa, had each 4