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Acts Chapter
Twenty-five
I.
Content of the Chapter
Paul’s Witness before Festus the Governor
I. Festus succeeded as the governor and the Jews
accused Paul before him (v.1-3).
II. Festus asked them to accuse Paul at
III. Festus heard the case at
A.
Festus sat at the judgment seat and brought Paul to trial (v.6).
B. The
Jews laid many serious complaints against Paul (v.7).
C.
Paul answered for himself that he was innocent (v.8).
D.
Paul appealed to Caesar
lest he be tried at
IV. King Agrippa came to greet Festus and he told him of the
case of Paul (v.13-21).
V. King Agrippa wanted to hear Paul himself and therefore
they tried Paul jointly (v.22-23).
VI. Festus declared to Festus that Paul was innocent
and Paul himself had appealed to Augustus
he had to send him to
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Acts. 25:1 “Now when Festus had come
to the province
after three days he went up from Caesarea to
YLT: “Festus
therefore
having come into the province
after three days went up to
Meaning of Words: “Festus”: festal.
Literal Meaning: “Now when Festus had come to
the province” Festus succeeded
Felix and became the governor of the
“After three days” shows that he did not dare to slight it
and eagerly dealt with the problem of the racial disorder which was left by the
past governor (See Acts. 24:27).
“He went up from Caesarea to
The aim of Festus to go to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “After three days” When believers living in the
world
we should work diligently. The lazy ones are of no use in the hands of
the Lord.
2) “From Caesarea to
Acts. 25:2 “Then the high priest and
the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him
”
YLT: “and the chief
priest and the principal men of the Jews made manifest to him [the things]
against Paul
and were calling on him
”
Literal Meaning: “the high priest and the
chief men of the Jews” “The high priest” is singular in some of the original
hand-written copies and it refers to the high priest. However
in the majority
of the hand-written copies it is the plural and it refers to the chief priests
(See v.15). “The
chief men of the Jews” refers to
Sadducees in the Jewish council. They were the leaders of the Jewish council.
They made use of the opportunity that the Roman governor took office newly and
held that it was a good opportunity and therefore they mentioned their
accusation against Paul again
hoping to accomplish their wish at a heat.
Enlightenment in the Word: the hatred of the people in Judaism did not fall
after two years. This condition shows that the conflict with those who hold
views different from their own in religion would become severer and it cannot
“coexist peacefully”.
Acts. 25:3 “asking a favor against
him
that he would summon him to
YLT: “asking favour
against him
that he may send for him to
Literal Meaning: “asking a favor” refers to asking him to do them a favor.
“While they lay in ambush along the road
to kill him” “They” should not
indicate that the leaders of the council would kill Paul by themselves and it
indicates that they ganged up with the extreme and zealous Jews to do it (Acts.
23:12-15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The leaders of Judaism even humble themselves
and ask a favor from the worldly political power in order to wholeheartedly
clear up those who hold view different from their own. It is a picture that the
religion utilizes the politics.
2) Those who are zealous to keep the religious
letters and regulations and neglect the spiritual reality will “harm men”
instead of “saving men” and “be hypocritical” instead of “being sincere in
truth”.
3) The religious ones always cover themselves up
with the legal appearance to achieve their inner illegal aims. They are more
terrible than the worldly ones.
4) If we Christians only pay attention to the
debate on religious doctrines and neglect the spiritual renewning and change
unavoidably we will recommit the same error of people in Judaism
e.g. a) they
say and do not do (Matt. 23:3); b) they teach men to abandon the vain glory of
the world and they themselves scramble for power and profit in the church
(Matt. 23:6); c) they are zealous to preach the gospel and ask men to win one
proselyte and make him be the son of hell (Matt. 23:15) and so on.
Acts. 25:4 “But Festus answered that
Paul should be kept at
YLT: “Then
indeed
Festus answered that Paul is kept in
The
Background: without the
permission of the person involved
it is not allowed to deliver a Roman citizen
to the Jewish council to deal with him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD
like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Prov. 21:1). Without
the permission of God
men’s tricks cannot be carried out.
2) When dealing with affairs
those who are on the
throne (e.g. the elders and so on) should stick to the principles and should
not yield to men’s favor.
Acts. 25:5 “‘Therefore
’ he said
‘let those who have
authority among you go down with me and accuse this man
to see if there is any
fault in him.’”
YLT: “`Therefore those
able among you -- saith he -- having come down together
if there be anything
in this man -- let them accuse him;'”
Meaning of Words: “those who have authority”: those able
those who have power; “any
fault”: awry
amiss.
Literal Meaning: “accuse this man
to see if
there is any fault in him” It shows that his
attitude of handling a case was to conduct justly.
Acts. 25:6 “And when he had remained
among them more than ten days
he went down to
YLT: “and having tarried
among them more than ten days
having gone down to Caesarea
on the morrow
having sat upon the tribunal
he commanded Paul to be brought;”
Literal Meaning: “when he had remained among
them more than ten days” “More than ten days” shows that he did not stay long in
“And the next day
sitting on the
judgment seat” “The next day”
shows that he paid much attention to this case and dealt with it immediately.
“Sitting on the judgment seat” shows that he judged the case formally and the
judgment made at court was the official judgment of the court.
Acts. 25:7 “When he had come
the
Jews who had come down from
YLT: “and he having come
there stood round about the Jews who have come down from
Literal Meaning: “laid many serious
complaints against Paul” “Serious complaints” describes that if the accusations were
true
they were enough to put the one involved to death. The Jews knew that if
they accused Paul with the different opinions in the religious theological
views
the Roman court would not accept them or condemn Paul. And therefore
they must fake up the serious political charge to accuse him such as destroying
the Roman law
disturbing the social peace
stirring up a revolution to rebel
against Caesar and etc.
“Which they could not prove” It means that the accusations that they
made lacked witnesses or proofs or the proofs were too weak to be trusted.
Acts. 25:8 “while he answered for
himself
‘Neither against the law of
the Jews
nor against the temple
nor against Caesar have I offended in
anything at all.’”
YLT: “he making defence
-- `Neither in regard to the law of the Jews
nor in regard to the temple
nor
in regard to Caesar -- did I commit any sin.'”
The
Background: the Jews made three
accusations against Paul: 1) offending the Law of the Jews and teaching all the
Jews which were among the Gentiles to forsake Moses
saying that they ought not
to circumcise their children
neither to walk after the customs (Acts. 21:21
28; 23:29); 2) profaning the holy temple and bringing the Greeks to the inner
court (Acts. 21:28; 24:6); 3) stirring up the Jews to rebel against the Roman
political power (Acts. 24:5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians are not under obligation to obey the
Law of Moses (Gal. 3:13; 5:1)
however
we are not against the Law (See Matt.
5:17-19) because the Law brings us unto Christ (Gal. 3:24;
2) The true God that we believe in does not dwell
in temples made with hands (Acts. 17:24)
however
He specially separates the
3) Christians respect the law of the national law
and the social order (
4) Christians should live a conscientious and
careful life and then we could boldly say that “I have not offended in anything
at all”. This way
if we are still persecuted
we are persecuted on account of
righteousness (Matt. 5:10) and “we do well and suffer for it” (1Pet. 2:20). It
is acceptable with God and blessed.
Acts. 25:9 “But Festus
wanting to do
the Jews a favor
answered Paul and said
‘Are
you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning
these things?’”
YLT: “And Festus willing
to lay on the Jews a favour
answering Paul
said
`Art thou willing
to
Literal Meaning: “But Festus
wanting to do the
Jews a favor” Please note that
both the previous and present governors held the attitude of “showing the Jews
a favor” in dealing with Paul’s case (See Acts. 24:27).
“Are you willing to go up to
“Go
up to
Please note that Festus purposely asked this
question before the Jews (See v.7). Probably he just wanted to explain it to
the Jews and he did not hope Paul to go up to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The principle of walking of the world is to “do
men a favor”
however
Christ’s servants should please God (Gal. 1:10; Eph.
6:6; Col. 3:22).
2) Believers should neither play politics nor seek
the compromise under the threat of the evil power.
3) When we Christians live among the world
we
should be guileless as doves and wise as serpents (Matt. 10:16). When listening
to others’ words
we should understand not only the apparent meaning but also
the implied meaning.
Acts. 25:10 “So Paul said
‘I stand at Caesar's judgment seat
where I ought to be
judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong
as you very well know.”
YLT: “and Paul said
`At
the tribunal of Caesar I am standing
where it behoveth me to be judged; to
Jews I did no unrighteousness
as thou dost also very well know;”
Literal Meaning: “I stand at Caesar's
judgment seat” “Caesar” was the
title of the Roman Emperor; the governor was the representative of the emperor
and he was authorized by the emperor to judge the judicial cases. “Caesar's judgment seat” refers to the court of the Roman Emperor
where cases were judged according to the Roman law.
“Where I ought to be judged” In other words
Paul refused to be judged
in
“To the Jews I have done no wrong” “Wrong” refers to crimes that were against
the Roman law.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians should not bully others
however
we
should not let others bully us randomly. We should use the legal rights well to
protect us.
2) Though the majority of Christians are unwilling
to dabble in the affairs in the political circle
we should understand the
national political system and we could use it to work for us when necessary.
Acts. 25:11 “For if I am an offender
or have committed anything deserving of death
I do not object to dying; but if
there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me
no one can
deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.’”
YLT: “for if indeed I am
unrighteous
and anything worthy of death have done
I deprecate not to die;
and if there is none of the things of which these accuse me
no one is able to
make a favour of me to them; to Caesar I appeal!'”
The
Background: The Roman citizens
have the right to be judged justly. If anyone holds that he has not been judged
justly in the provincial court
he could appeal to Caesar and be judged by the
emperor himself. Only the murderers or the robbers who are seized on the spot
cannot appeal to the emperor.
Literal Meaning: “I appeal to Caesar” It indicates that he asked to be judged in
the supreme court in the
The reasons that Paul
insisted on appealing to Caesar were as follows: 1) if his case was given to
the Jewish council for judgment
he couldn’t receive the just judgment (See
Acts. 23:2-3; 24:1); 2) there was a scheme to kill him in ambush along the road
to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord accomplished His will of guiding Paul
to Roman by Paul’s appeal to Caesar
showing that all things are in the hand of
God and work for His will and for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28).
2) Paul’s “appeal to Caesar” may be greatly related
to the revelation that the Lord Jesus had given him (Acts. 23:11). The heavenly
revelation is the principle of Christians’ walking. We should be careful and
should not be disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts. 26:19).
3) Paul did not feel desperate when he was
ill-treated by the authorities for such a long time and he was still full of
ambition. Christians should not lose heart in welling doing for the unjust
treatment (Gal. 6:9).
Acts. 25:12 “Then Festus
when he had
conferred with the council
answered
‘You have appealed to
Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!’”
YLT: “then Festus
having
communed with the council
answered
`To Caesar thou hast appealed; to Caesar
thou shalt go.'”
Literal Meaning: “Then Festus
when he had
conferred with the council” “The council” was
the institution of counseling that was made up of administrative officials and
the specialists in law.
“To
Caesar you shall go!” Some Bible
exegetes held that Paul’s appeal to Caesar met the desire of Festus because: 1)
Festus asked Paul whether he was willing to be judged in Jerusalem in order to
pacify Sadducees (See v.3
9) and actually he had other misgivings (See v.20);
2) he should have known the reason why Paul was sent to Caesarea (Acts.
23:25-30) and therefore if he sends Paul back to Jerusalem to be judged
the
similar accident may happen; 3) if Paul truly went to Jerusalem
he offended
the Pharisees and Christians; 4) if Paul did not go to Jerusalem
his honor as
a governor was also kept; 5) if Paul appealed to Caesar
it indeed helped him
to leave behind the troublesome problem and he could still have the good
relationship with all the social circles of the Jews. To sum up
it is
beneficial to Festus to allow Paul to go to Caesar. He would be only too glad
to do it!
Acts. 25:13 “And after some days King
Agrippa and Bernice came to
YLT: “And certain days
having passed
Agrippa the king
and Bernice
came down to
Meaning of Words: “King Agrippa”: born because of difficulty; “Bernice”: make men be successful
successful.
Literal Meaning: “King Agrippa and Bernice
came to
“To greet Festus” It is a convention in the official circles. The
neighboring official came to greet the one who became the official newly. They
made friends and got along with each other kindly and it was good to both of
them.
Acts. 25:14 “When they had been there
many days
Festus laid Paul's case before the king
saying: ‘There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix
”
YLT: “and as they were
continuing there more days
Festus submitted to the king the things concerning
Paul
saying
`There is a certain man
left by Felix
a prisoner
”
The
Background: King Agrippa was the
famous specialist in the Jewish religious problems. Besides other powers
King
Agrippa had the right to appoint the Jewish high priests and was responsible
for taking care of the ceremonial dress that the high priest wore in the annual
Day of Atonement. And therefore sometimes he was called “the senior officer in
the Jewish church”.
Literal Meaning: “Festus laid Paul's case
before the king” There were at
least two motives that Festus took the initiative to state Paul’s case before
King Agrippa: 1) he was harassed with how to submit Paul’s case to the emperor
(See v.26-27); 2) King Agrippa was the specialist in the Jewish religious
problems and he could afford help in this aspect.
Enlightenment in the Word: “Festus
laid Paul's case before the king”
Concerning the things that we do not know how to deal with
we should have the
humbleness and boldness to turn to others for advice.
Acts. 25:15 “about whom the chief
priests and the elders of the Jews informed me
when I was in
YLT: “about whom
in my
being at
Literal Meaning: “about whom the chief priests and the
elders of the Jews informed me” Here the plural
number “the chief priests and the elders” refer to the leaders of the Jewish
council (See v.2).
Acts. 25:16 “To them I answered
‘It is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to
destruction before the accused meets the accusers face to face
and has
opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him.'”
YLT: “unto whom I
answered
that it is not a custom of Romans to make a favour of any man to die
before that he who is accused may have the accusers face to face
and may
receive place of defence in regard to the charge laid against [him].”
Literal Meaning: “It is not the custom of the
Romans” The Roman Empire
at that time had already had the complete legal system and the officials of all
levels all judge according to the regulations. The Roman legal Digest marked
out that a case cannot be decided without the procedure of the defense of the
accused.
Acts. 25:17 “Therefore when they had
come together
without any delay
the next day I sat on the judgment seat and
commanded the man to be brought in.”
YLT: “`They
therefore
having come together -- I
making no delay
on the succeeding [day] having sat
upon the tribunal
did command the man to be brought
”
Literal Meaning: “Therefore when they had
come together” If the Jewish
leaders had not walked together with the governor
they must have arrived at
Acts. 25:18 “When the accusers stood
up
they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed
”
YLT: “concerning whom the
accusers
having stood up
were bringing against [him] no accusation of the
things I was thinking of
”
Literal Meaning: “they brought no accusation
against him of such things as I supposed” Festus the governor claimed again and again that
Paul did not commit the sin that was against the Roman law (See v.25; Acts.
26:31). Here it was the first claim.
Acts. 25:19 “but had some questions
against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus
who had died
whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
YLT: “but certain
questions concerning their own religion they had against him
and concerning a
certain Jesus who was dead
whom Paul affirmed to be alive;”
Literal Meaning: “about their own religion” “Religion” is also translated as
“superstitious” (See Acts. 17:22).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) All the people said that Jesus was dead
however
“Paul
affirmed Him to be alive”. It is the persistence in the faith of
Christians which makes us be unwilling to echo the opinions of all the people a
little. If our faith is not of the spiritual sight
we cannot hold fast to it.
2) A Christian who has the revelation will not
change his statement even if men have imprisoned him. He still insists on it
when men fake up many accusations to accuse him. If we value the truth of God
we would not be afraid of any trial.
3) The Lord Jesus that we believe in is “alive” and
He is the living and true God (1Thess. 1:9) and therefore we should have the
living faith towards Him.
4) Christ died and rose and lived again
that He
might be Lord of both the dead and the living (
5) Christ is not only the living one but also is
alive for evermore (Rev. 1:18). We
have “been saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10) and He could save us to the uttermost
because He always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25).
6) The Lord said that
“because I live
you will
live also” (John. 14:19). We should reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin
but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:11).
Acts. 25:20 “And because I was uncertain of such
questions
I asked whether he was willing to go to
YLT: “and I
doubting in
regard to the question concerning this
said
If he would wish to go on to
Literal Meaning: “I was uncertain of”
It indicates that he felt confused because he did not know how to deal with it.
Though Festus knew that Paul did not sin against any regulation of the law and
he should be released
the Jews insisted on condemning him. And Festus was in a
dilemma.
Acts. 25:21 “But when Paul appealed to
be reserved for the decision of Augustus
I commanded him to be kept till I
could send him to Caesar.’”
YLT: “but Paul having
appealed to be kept to the hearing of Sebastus
I did command him to be kept
till I might send him unto Caesar.'”
Literal Meaning: “But when Paul appealed to
be reserved” The words show
that Paul asked to be “watched” under the Roman government until he arrived in
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Though believers do not belong to the world
we
live by the system in the world just like the common citizens and we are also
kept by the policemen and others for the public security to avoid the harm from
robbers.
2)
Christians should make supplications
prayers
intercessions
and giving of thanks for all men so that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (1Tim. 2:1-2).
Acts. 25:22 “Then Agrippa said to
Festus
‘I also would like to hear
the man myself.’ ‘Tomorrow
’ he said
‘you shall hear him.’”
YLT: “And Agrippa said
unto Festus
`I was wishing also myself to hear the man;' and he said
`To-morrow thou shalt hear him;'”
Literal Meaning: “I also would like to hear
the man myself.” King Agrippa
just
like his uncle Antipas Herod
was interested in finding out what actually
happened on the legendary ones (Luke. 23:8). He wanted to listen to Paul’s
witness by himself and this produced the opportunity to fulfill the Lord’s
words to Ananias for the first time that “for he is a chosen vessel unto me
to
bear my name before…kings…” (Acts. 9:15).
Enlightenment in the Word: we should not think all the authorities do not like
to listen to the gospel. If the Lord gives us a chance and we have the boldness
to preach the gospel to the high officials
probably some of them are willing
to listen to us just like King Agrippa.
Acts. 25:23 “So the next day
when
Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp
and had entered the auditorium
with the commanders and the prominent men of the city
at Festus' command Paul
was brought in.”
YLT: “on the morrow
therefore
-- on the coming of Agrippa and Bernice with much display
and they having
entered into the audience chamber
with the chief captains also
and the
principal men of the city
and Festus having ordered -- Paul was brought
forth.”
Literal Meaning: “when Agrippa and Bernice
had come with great pomp” “With great pomp”
describes the arrangement of the lineup which shows the power and influence.
“With the commanders” At that time there were five barracks
encamped in
“And had entered the auditorium” “The auditorium” does not refer to the
court for judgment (See v.6) because they did not formerly hold a court to
judge the case. It was only the hearing that they held in order to assess the
case and have something to write (See v.26-27). It was a hall to receive
visitors which was suitable to hold the grand meeting and the political
important ones could be there as observers.
Enlightenment in the Word: the world stresses on ostentation and extravagance
however
what’s important to Christians is to manifest Christ (Pill. 1:20) and
make manifest the favor of Christ (2Cor. 2:14-15).
Acts. 25:24 “And Festus said: ‘King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with
us
you see this man about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me
both at Jerusalem and here
crying out that he was not fit to live any longer.”
YLT: “And Festus said
`King Agrippa
and all men who are present with us
ye see this one
about whom
all the multitude of the Jews did deal with me
both in Jerusalem and here
crying out
He ought not to live any longer;”
Literal Meaning: “the whole assembly of the
Jews” Strictly speaking
those who “asked a
favor” from Festus were merely the leaders of Judaism who represented the
multitudes who brought about the riot in the temple (Acts. 21:27-30) to speak
instead of “the whole” of the Jews in the city of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “You see this man”
The true servant of Christ becomes a spectacle to all the people (1Cor. 4:9;
Heb. 10:33). The world also watches us and therefore we should be careful of
our words and deeds and then we are able to be good witness of Christ.
2) “You see this man” Men said so upon Paul just as
what they did upon the Lord Jesus who was about to be crucified (John. 19:5)
showing that Paul at that time had been conformed to the image of Christ’s
suffering (Rom. 8:29; 2Pet. 2:21). May we be like Paul: “I bear in my body the
marks of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:17) and in this way
“Christ will be magnified
in my body
whether by life or by death” (Pill. 1:20).
Acts. 25:25 “But when I found that he
had committed nothing deserving of death
and that he himself had appealed to
Augustus
I decided to send him.”
YLT: “and I
having found
him to have done nothing worthy of death
and he also himself having appealed
to Sebastus
I decided to send him
”
Literal Meaning: “But when I found that he
had committed nothing deserving of death” It is the second time that Festus claimed that
Paul did not commit any sin that was against the Roman law (See v.18).
Acts. 25:26 “I have nothing certain to
write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you
and especially before you
King Agrippa
so that after the examination has
taken place I may have something to write.”
YLT: “concerning whom I
have no certain thing to write to [my] lord
wherefore I brought him forth
before you
and specially before thee
king Agrippa
that the examination
having been made
I may have something to write;”
The
Background: according to the
Roman law
concerning all the cases that were presented to Caesar
all the
provincial officials would not only send the one involved to
Literal Meaning: “I have nothing certain to
write to my lord concerning him” “My lord” refers
to the emperor (Caesar); the emperor at that time was Nero (A.D. 54-68).
“And especially before you
King Agrippa” He brought Paul to King Agrippa to satisfy
his curiosity and hope to listen to his suggestion because King Agrippa was
familiar with the different views between the Pharisees and Sadducees
the
differences between Judaism and the faith of Christianity
the customs and
conventions of the Jews and etc.
Acts. 25:27 “For it seems to me
unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.’”
YLT: “for it doth seem to
me irrational
sending a prisoner
not also to signify the charges against
him.'”
Meaning of Words: “specify”: signify
indicate
show; “unreasonable”: irrational
brute.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Learn the Way to Behave and Deal with Things
from Chap.25
I. The positive
example:
A. “Had come to the province
after
three days…” (v.1a)------he was diligent in the government affairs.
B. “He went up from Caesarea to
C. “Asking a favor against him…but
Festus answered…” (v.3-4)------he did not yield to the favor of men.
D. “Neither against…nor…nor…have I
offended” (v.8)------he did not disobey the justice and the law.
E. “I have done no wrong” (v.10)------he
did not do evil.
F. “No one can deliver me to them. I
appeal to Caesar” (v.11)------he knew how to use the legal rights.
G. “Before the accused has opportunity
to answer for himself”…it is illegal to “deliver him to destruction”
(v.16)------he judged justly.
H. “Without any delay
the next day”
(v.17)------he did not hold things up.
II. The negative
teachings:
A. “Wanting to do the Jews a favor”
(v.9)------he regarded the favor of men.
B. “They brought no accusation against
him of such things as I supposed” (v.18
10
25) and he did not set him
free------he knew the law but did not keep the law.
C. “Had come with great pomp”
(v.23)------he stressed on the ostentation and extravagance.
The Looks of the Political and Religious Men
I. Festus (the political men):
A. Apparently he was diligent in the
government affairs and loved the people and dealt with things justly (v.1
4-5).
B. Actually he was negligent in doing
his work and was all for keeping himself (v.9
12
16
25-27).
C. He was ignorant of the spiritual
things (v.19).
II. The high priest
and the leaders of the Jews (the religious men):
A. They did unscrupulously in order to
get rid of those who hold views different from their own (v.2-3).
B. They made the influence by numerical
strength (v.7b “stood about”).
C. They lied and fabricated the facts
(v.7b “many serious complaints…which they could not prove”).
III. King Agrippa
and Bernice (men who are both in the religion and the politics):
A. He thought that he cared about the
religious things (v.22 “I also would like to hear the man myself”).
B. Actually he showed his power and
influence (v.23 “had come with great pomp”).
Paul’s Three “not Offending” (v.8)
I. He did not offend
against the law of the Jews------he obeyed the Bible.
II. He did not
offend against the temple------he obeyed the spiritual principle.
III. He did not
offend against Caesar------he obeyed the worldly law.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren