Acts 25:23-27

Back in 2018, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Israel, and one of our stops was at Caesarea Maritima. Caesarea contains some of the most well-preserved ancient ruins, including the remnants of Herod’s palace extending out toward the sea, along with the hippodrome and theater. It was a wonder to behold.

I remember reading a plaque placed at the site discussing an underground T-shaped structure that originally served as a cistern and was later converted into a prison. The sign states that researchers believe this may have been associated with Paul’s imprisonment in approximately A.D. 57–59. There is also a plaque titled “I Appeal Unto Caesar” near a proposed audience-hall area. It quotes Acts 25 and explains Paul’s appearance before Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice. Archaeologists have suggested that a hall in this palace complex may have been the “place of hearing” (akroatērion) mentioned in Acts 25:23. I must say, it is one thing to read about these places and quite another to actually walk where these events happened.

So, Paul is brought into an official audience hall where King Agrippa and his sister Bernice enter with great pomp, accompanied by military commanders and prominent men of the city. Paul wasn’t merely preaching to whoever happened to be nearby. God had gathered some of the most powerful and influential people in Caesarea into one room to hear the testimony of a prisoner concerning Jesus Christ. God continued to give Paul incredible platforms before elite audiences to spread the Gospel.

Festus, however, had a dilemma. Paul was on trial and had appealed to Caesar, but Festus was at a loss as to exactly what charges to specify against him. It made no sense for him to send Paul to Rome without outlining the reason why he was being sent.

As we continue to read over the next few days, Paul gives an amazingly clear testimony before Festus and King Agrippa concerning his background as a Pharisee, his support and active involvement in persecuting the followers of Jesus, and then his encounter with the resurrected Lord on the road to Damascus. Paul makes it very clear that he was on trial for believing exactly what the prophets of old said would happen: “that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”(Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬) This was something King Agrippa, who was familiar with the Jewish Scriptures and their prophetic expectations, would have understood, while Festus, most likely, was hearing and considering it from an entirely different perspective.

Paul’s measured and clear testimony concerning himself and Jesus was about to give everyone in that audience hall plenty to consider as it related to their own lives. When you know what you have seen and experienced, there is a certain conviction that comes through in your voice and demeanor. No doubt, those gathered were about to witness that conviction in Paul as he testified about the risen Christ, leaving them to wrestle with their own thoughts and ultimately decide what they were going to believe.
More to come….