And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cæsarea to salute Festus.
After some days had passed, King Agrippa II, the last of the Herods to bear the title of Jewish king, came with Bernice to Caesarea to greet Festus and pay their respects to him. Their arrival came after a delay in Paul's departure for Rome, during the interval before he was sent to Rome. The visit provided the setting and occasion for Festus to tell Agrippa about Paul's case, so that Agrippa heard about it. Agrippa was interested in Paul's case because he knew Jewish laws and customs. Agrippa asked to hear Paul himself, and an audience for Paul to speak before them was arranged for the next day.
Paul was to speak not before a new court but before a private gathering, where Festus presented him to the king and to the leading and prominent people of Caesarea, including prominent guests and citizens, both Jews and Gentiles. That time before Paul was sent to Rome gave him an opportunity to explain his faith before that audience. In this setting Paul, though in chains and facing a criminal's death, stood by faith against the power of Rome under Nero, showing that trust in God's word enables the helpless to withstand human power used in support of evil.
After some days had passed, King Agrippa II, the last of the Herods to bear the title of Jewish king, came with Bernice to Caesarea to greet Festus and pay their respects to him. Their arrival came after a delay in Paul's departure for Rome, during the interval before he was sent to Rome. The visit provided the setting and occasion for Festus to tell Agrippa about Paul's case, so that Agrippa heard about it. Agrippa was interested in Paul's case because he knew Jewish laws and customs. Agrippa asked to hear Paul himself, and an audience for Paul to speak before them was arranged for the next day.
Paul was to speak not before a new court but before a private gathering, where Festus presented him to the king and to the leading and prominent people of Caesarea, including prominent guests and citizens, both Jews and Gentiles. That time before Paul was sent to Rome gave him an opportunity to explain his faith before that audience. In this setting Paul, though in chains and facing a criminal's death, stood by faith against the power of Rome under Nero, showing that trust in God's word enables the helpless to withstand human power used in support of evil.