THE KING’S BUSINESS
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a sister of Drusilla, the wife of Felix; so Paul had the privilege of preaching the gospel to several members of this infamous but powerful family. Festus in relating the circumstances about Paul to Agrippa, puts the very best possible construction upon his own treatment of Paul. The curiosity of Agrippa is aroused "by the recital, and he expresses a desire to hear Paul. Before Paul got through, Agrippa regretted his curiosity, for he got an arrow in his heart. Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp to the hearing, but all their magnificence could not cover up their rottenness of character, nor could Paul’s chains hide his ability. He was the true king, and they the real malefactors. He made them feel that this was so before he got through. Festus was quite right in saying it was unreasonable to send a pris oner to Rome without specifying the charges against him. He had gotten him self into a bad box by his wretched tem porizing. Men who temporize are sure to get into an awkward box sooner or later.
(Paul) had done' no wrong. Doubtless this rebuke cut him to the quick. He had known perfectly well what the straight path of duty was, but had sought to take an indirect path to curry favor with men, and now found himself cowering before the piercing eye of his condemning pris oner. Paul was perfectly willing to take any punishment he deserved even unto death, but having a clear conscience he had no fear of Festus or any man. Paul’s appeal to Caesar was a most unexpected turn of affairs. It confused Festus and utterly baffled the Jews. The Lord’s own words, spoken to Paul on His midnight visit to him in prison, had suggested this appeal (cf. ch. 23:11). Festus can make but one decision, “Unto Caesar shalt thou go.” How Paul’s enemies must have fumed in their hearts. All their plottings were but carrying Paul on toward the city he had long desired to visit and to which he now goes at his enemies’ expense (cf. Rom. 1:16; 16:22-32). Paul had stood before two Roman gov ernors. He is now to stand before a king and queen and give his testimony for Jesus. Agrippa was a vile creature. His relations to his sister, Bernice, were of the basest. He was introducing the vices of Caligula, and of Rome, into Judea. Bernice was, if possible, viler than her brother. She was a woman of great beauty and dignity of appearance and extraordinary personal gifts, but an adventuress of the most unprincipled sort. The Roman emperor, Vespasian, was attracted by her, and his son Titus fell desperately into unhallowed devotion to her. After having lived in disgusting sin with her, it was said that he proposed to make her his wife. This the Roman senators would not stand, and Titus was forced by public opinion to dis miss her, though he did it with 'much reluctance and great grief. Bernice was Monday, April 30. Acts 25:13-27.
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