Acts 25:23-27
English Standard
Version (ESV)
23 So on the next day (A)Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the
audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city.
Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And
Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man
about whom (B)the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, (C)shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But
I found that (D)he had done nothing deserving death. And (E)as he himself appealed to (F)the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But
I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought
him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we
have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For
it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges
against him.”
Today, just a few
short verses but tomorrow we will look at the entire chapter of Acts 26. Today let’s look at the contrast between the
people at this meeting. First we have
King Agrippa and Bernice coming into the room with pomp and circumstance. The king entered the room much like the celebrities
walking on the red carpet with all the cameras flashing. There was probably a big announcement, music
playing, and people cheering as they entered. Then Paul come in with chains,
brought before the king by someone who can’t find any fault in him yet has him chained
and brought before the king anyway. He
can’t just have him visit with him but has to bring him in with chains in front
of a crowd of people. How humiliating do
you think this could be? Yet it wasn’t
humiliating to Paul, it was a chance to share with others his testimony.
Paul, in chains,
stands before King Agrippa and the others so much freer than they. He knew that even though he was in physical chains
he was free in Christ Jesus the Lord. He
knew that someday he would stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords and
he would be set free. He wanted nothing
more than for the people he stood before to have the same freedom.
Each of us needs to
examine our own lives and answer this question:
Are we living this
life a free person or are we a slave to this world, chained by its desires?
Paul even though in
chains was free and those who thought they were in control and of great
importance were really the ones who were in chains.
As you seek Him my
prayer is that you will find the freedom in Him and rid yourselves of any
chains that may be preventing you from that freedom. As I woke this morning the song on my heart
was “Victory in Jesus”. What a wonderful
thing to be reminded of this day and everyday.
Seeking Him with all
my heart,
Sheila
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