Who Knows What

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

WHO KNOWS WHAT

Acts 25:13-22

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. He said: "There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned. 16 "I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over any man before he has faced his accusers and has had an opportunity to defend himself against their charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 When Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar." 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him."

NIV

This is a big chunk of scripture, but it really is only a conversation between Festus and King Agrippa. Basically, it is a conversation between two unbelievers about a believer. Neither of them truly understands exactly want the controversy is all about. From history, we can learn that Agrippa was educated in Rome and was actually not the king of Judea but merely had some territories with Caesar's permission. The interesting point of their discussion is the opposing views about Jesus being dead or alive. Most unbelievers would argue he is dead. If a person truly believes Jesus is alive then by all accounts that person would have to be considered a believer. How could someone who lived over two thousand years ago be alive unless he was God? Yet it seems we have people who say they believe in God and in Jesus but have absolutely no desire to follow the plan of salvation or the way of scripture or in fact the very words of Jesus who told us that in order to enter the kingdom of God we must be born again. How can someone who believes in God not believe in what God says? It appears neither Festus, a Roman, nor Agrippa, a Jew, had any thoughts of their own on the matter, as Festus has already heard Paul, and Agrippa wants to hear him at this point. We are going to see a well-laid-out plan of the Gospel in Paul’s speech to Agrippa but for now, all we have is this conversation between these two unbelievers. At least Agrippa did not refute what Festus said about the two points of view, yet it also seems strange that he spoke about the Jews religion as if Agrippa wasn’t a Jew. But the life lesson here is for us to recognize there are many people who know about religion and may know about God and Jesus but do not actually know about God’s plan for man, authentic faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. Here is where we are tasked to inform them. Go into all the world and tell them about Jesus, because many do not know the truth.