Acts 26:24-32 

²⁴At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” ²⁵“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” ²⁹Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” ³⁰The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” ³²Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Aaron

Have you ever had an experience where you were tested of your leadership ability but failed? One Bible character, Aaron, was given a chance but instead of leading the Israelite to trust in the Lord, he gave in to their sinful desire. In Exodus 32:1-4, ¹When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

²Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

Why did Aaron fail to keep the Israelites from sinning against the Lord? Why did he give in to the decision of those loud and complaining Israelites? Did Aaron think that it was his chance to become their leader?

Indeed, when Moses was up in the mountain, Aaron was given a chance as leader. But instead of leading them, his decision was dictated by the Israelites. Church-goers are led astray because of church leaders and pastors lead and decide like Aaron.

Doing God’s will is very unpopular move and decision. Governor Festus became unpopular among the Jewish leaders. Festus governed Judea for more or less 3 years. According to gossips, he was assassinated because of his decision that favored Paul.

Face to face, King Agrippa agreed with Festus that the accusation of the Jewish leaders against Paul deserved no death after he heard Paul’s testimony. Moreover, Festus thought that Paul was just out of his mind.

 1.  Festus

²⁴At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

Festus cannot easily accept that a dead person would appear and give instruction to Paul. Many would still consider it as insanity or crazy to testify about personal experiences with the Lord because they are incomprehensible to others.

Have you not often heard before someone testifies about God’s goodness? Before that, there’s a disclaimer like: “This is not to brag about it,” why? Why use disclaimer of not bragging about what the Lord has done in one’s life? Is it because church-goers and non-Christians could not appreciate it if we talk about what God has done in our life? Those who think that we are bragging about our accomplishment and disregarding God’s part, they are like Festus who was not ready to accept the testimony of Paul as reality.

²⁵“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

Paul was not short of information. He had a good knowledge of who King Agrippa was. King Agrippa was familiar about Christianity and interested to hear from Paul. King Agrippa was given the authority to designate or assign chief priests. There are political influences involved in the selection of chief priests. A chosen chief priest could have some influence before Agrippa assigned him.

Without explicit support, some scholars suggest that the chief priests have pressured or used their influence to seek Agrippa’s decision favorable to them. Charges against Christianity might have been a regular menu in King Agrippa’s court. Agrippa however, had no basis of favoring them in Paul’s case. Agrippa wanted to save his name and reputation also. He did not want to make terrible mistake in his pronouncement.

Miss Universe 2015

The drama surrounding the pronouncement of the winner of Miss Universe 2015 became sensational or viral worldwide. Initially, Colombia was announced winner. She was given the crown and sash but few moments later, Philippines was also declared Miss Universe 2015 winner, and Colombia was declared as the 1^st-runner up.

How does it feel to make that terrible mistake of announcing the right winner?

What had happened if Festus and Agrippa decided in favor of Paul’s accusers?

How many judges have given right or terrible verdicts to criminal cases? How many criminals have been set free because of unwarranted decisions? How many innocent persons have been incarcerated or imprisoned because of questionable decision?

As Christians, let’s pray regularly for our government officials, law enforcers, including judges or people in authority.  The Bible teaches that all authorities have been established by the Lord. What was God’s plan for King Agrippa to hear Paul testified?

2.  Agrippa

²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” ²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” ²⁹Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

There’s no biblical record to claim that Agrippa became Christian. It’s actually implied that he was open and never denied the possibility of becoming Christian. Paul’s accuser, high ranking officials, and prominent men in Caesarea were observing him. If Agrippa says that he believed Paul’s testimony, his decision can easily be seen as biased.

³⁰The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” ³²Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

What has prompted Agrippa and Festus to agree that Paul deserved no death or imprisonment? Was it because they secretly believed in the Lord? Was it because the Lord touched their hearts not to release Paul so that he will be sent to Caesar? Did not the Lord tell Paul that he will testify even in Rome?

In Acts 23:11, ¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

The Lord has declared that Paul would go to Rome. Indeed Paul has been escorted and boarded a ship going to Rome for free. God in His mysterious ways made it into reality what He told Paul. This is another display of God’s grace in the life of Paul. It may not be done in the conventional way but still the plan of God for Paul to testify in Rome has been accomplished.

Whatever God allows us to experience, it is something to testify about His grace. If you were to testify about God’s grace, what is it that comes to your mind?

King David

King David was a singer, composer, and instrumentalist. David has many things to testify about God’s grace. His life experiences were recorded and David simplified it in Psalm 40:3, ³He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

David sang each experience of God’s grace. Who enabled David to win over Goliath in a very unconventional way? Who designed that a shepherd boy to become the greatest king of Israel? Who trained a lowly shepherd David to become a great warrior and military strategist? Who kept David safe and secure when King Saul tried to kill him? Who installed David back to his throne when Absalom grabbed his kingdom?

David’s life was action-filled drama and a testimony of God’s grace at work. Similarly, Paul’s challenging life testifies that God’s grace is sufficient.

When God allows difficult situations in our life, they are opportunities for us to cherish the reality of His grace at work. What struggle are you experiencing right now? The Lord Jesus invites us to come to Him and we can find rest.

In Matthew 11: 28-29, ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Rest in the Lord removes worrying about anything. Rest in Christ refreshes and sustains us with new strength and enthusiasm to keep on. When our soul is weary, tired and burdened, our physical body is tired, our mind won’t function properly, and our attitude is not pleasant to us and to others. Jesus promised and He certainly fulfills it if we rely upon Him. In John 10:10, ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Rest without worries of anything is an ideal life found in Christ Jesus alone.

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