Great Pomp

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

GREAT POMP

Acts 25:22-27

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." He replied, "Tomorrow you will hear him." 23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him."

NIV

It sounds like Governor Festus is a reasonable man, wanting to do the right thing in having something actually charged against Paul that he could write when he sends Paul to Rome to appeal before Caesar. King Agrippa wants to hear what Paul has to say, but we wonder whether he is really interested in Paul's message or whether he wants to find some point in the law to prove Paul's guilt.  However, what we find of interest is the next day when King Agrippa and Benice entered the audience room of Festus. They arrived with great pomp, accompanied by high-ranking officers and leading men of the city. Of course, Agrippa is the king over parts of Judea, and a king should have some pomp and ceremony surrounding his entrance into any room. But wouldn't that also mean he was puffed up with a sense of how important he was? The major leaders of nations today receive some, and in certain cases, a lot, of pomp and ceremony when they enter for a special event. Maybe they are due all that pomp, because they do occupy positions of presidents and kings. It is how we think of ourselves that is important in light of our position in the body of Christ. We have watched some who think more highly of themselves than they should, creating great edifices to represent their importance. That is also true in Christianity, with great and mighty churches built that should honor God, but that may instead exalt a man. We think of one who has built a great campus, claiming it is for the purpose of where he will rule and reign when Jesus comes for the thousand-year reign. What we should remember is to learn from Jesus, for he is gentle and humble in heart, and that he came to serve, not to be served. That would mean we would live gently and humbly among others, serving in whatever way God directs us. He is in authority or manages our lives, with the Spirit dispensing his gifts as he determines. All the gifts and his fruit are for the benefit of all, which means not just for the giftee or the tree bearing fruit. If anyone desires all the pomp and ceremony, it would be Jesus. Let us not forget to live humbly before our God and men. Let us forgo all pomp and ceremony, so we are not puffed up.