And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
This verse belongs to Paul's trial before Agrippa, coming after Festus had explained the case and Agrippa had asked to hear Paul. It marks the end of Paul's defense and testimony before the king, the governor, Bernice, and the others present with them. The hearing gave Paul an opportunity to explain the reasons for his faith to the principal men of Caesarea.
Paul's witness about Jesus and his conversion brought conviction to his royal and governing hearers, but most delayed deciding to follow what they heard, and by neglecting the opportunity while their hearts were softened they lost it and became hardened. Paul's speech before Agrippa is a model of dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence. The courtesy Paul showed in this setting springs from genuine kindness of heart, not merely from formal politeness, for true Christian courtesy comes from kindness of heart.
After rising to end the hearing, the assembly dispersed and then discussed Paul's case together, Agrippa rising with the other officials and those seated with them. The hearers agreed that Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment and had committed no crime deserving either. Agrippa said Paul could have been freed or released if he had not appealed to Caesar. Because the appeal to Caesar placed the case beyond the jurisdiction of Agrippa and Festus, they could no longer decide the case and their finding of innocence did not release him.
Their judgment of innocence nevertheless helped preserve Paul's life two years later, since Festus reported that no legal charge could be found and Nero did not put to death a prisoner whom the Roman officials and Agrippa had declared guiltless. Agrippa joined Lysias, Felix, and Festus in declaring Paul innocent, while Paul's enemies delayed bringing their accusations to Rome in hope of improving their chances there. The hearing brought the gospel for which Paul was imprisoned before rulers, princes, and nobles, just as the gospel was later proclaimed before the princes and nobles of the empire at Augsburg and before the rulers of the imperial city.
This verse belongs to Paul's trial before Agrippa, coming after Festus had explained the case and Agrippa had asked to hear Paul. It marks the end of Paul's defense and testimony before the king, the governor, Bernice, and the others present with them. The hearing gave Paul an opportunity to explain the reasons for his faith to the principal men of Caesarea.
Paul's witness about Jesus and his conversion brought conviction to his royal and governing hearers, but most delayed deciding to follow what they heard, and by neglecting the opportunity while their hearts were softened they lost it and became hardened. Paul's speech before Agrippa is a model of dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence. The courtesy Paul showed in this setting springs from genuine kindness of heart, not merely from formal politeness, for true Christian courtesy comes from kindness of heart.
After rising to end the hearing, the assembly dispersed and then discussed Paul's case together, Agrippa rising with the other officials and those seated with them. The hearers agreed that Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment and had committed no crime deserving either. Agrippa said Paul could have been freed or released if he had not appealed to Caesar. Because the appeal to Caesar placed the case beyond the jurisdiction of Agrippa and Festus, they could no longer decide the case and their finding of innocence did not release him.
Their judgment of innocence nevertheless helped preserve Paul's life two years later, since Festus reported that no legal charge could be found and Nero did not put to death a prisoner whom the Roman officials and Agrippa had declared guiltless. Agrippa joined Lysias, Felix, and Festus in declaring Paul innocent, while Paul's enemies delayed bringing their accusations to Rome in hope of improving their chances there. The hearing brought the gospel for which Paul was imprisoned before rulers, princes, and nobles, just as the gospel was later proclaimed before the princes and nobles of the empire at Augsburg and before the rulers of the imperial city.