Festus and Agrippa
A. PAUL ARRESTED IN JERUSALEM, TAKEN TO CEASAREA.
B. HELD IN BONDS BY WICKED FELIX – WHO WANTED MONEY.
C. SHARP CONTRAST BETWEEN FESTUS AND FELIX.
1. His refusal to turn Paul over to the Sanhedrin( Acts 25:1-5 ).
2. However, he hears the Jews’ accusations and Paul’s answer( vs. 6-12 ).
3. When Agrippa and Bernice arrive they desire to hear Paul( vs. 13-22 ).
4. Festus explains Paul is still in chains because of his appeal to Caesar.
a. He found nothing wrong in him, no explanation for Caesar.
b. Maybe Agrippa could furnish him with an explanation.
A. vs. 2-3. PAUL EXPRESSES DELIGHT AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK BEFORE AGRIPPA.
B. vs. 4-8. PAUL’S EARLY POSITION OF A PHARISEE.
1. Explain the difference between Pharisees and Sadduccess.
2. Was imprisoned for preaching what Pharisees believed
– the hope of Fathers.
3. The resurrection was not a new idea.
C. vs. 9-11. HE DESCRIBES HIS PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS.
D. vs. 12-18. TELLS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS
AND THE COMMISSION OF JESUS.
E. vs. 19-21. PERSECUTED FOR CARRYING OUT THE COMMISSION.
F. vs. 22-23. APPEALS TO AGRIPPA’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPHETS
AND MOSES TO SUPPORT HIS TEACHING.
1. Agrippa dare not deny these things in the prophets.
2. Perhaps he recalled these prophecies( Isa. 53:4-9; Psa. 16:10-11 ).
G. vs. 24. PAUL IS INTERRUPTED BY AN INCREDULOUS FESTUS.
1. Paul insists that his words are too important to him to be other than serious.
2. It was through these words he hoped to save souls( Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21 ).
3. He was a debtor to all men because of the gift he had received( Rom. 1:14 ).
4. If any were lost is was not Paul’s fault( Acts 20:26-27; 2 Cor. 12:15 ).
H. vs. 26. AGRIPPA, AS COULD ALL THE JEWS, COULD BACK UP PAUL,
FOR THEY HAD WITNESSED THESE THINGS( Acts 2;22-24 ).
I. PAUL APPEALS TO AGRIPPA, NOTICE HIS ANSWER( vs. 27-28 ).
1. Paul brings the issue right home by asking Agrippa if he believed the prophets.
2. If he did he would have no choice but accept Jesus( Luke 24:44; John 5:39-40 ).
3. Agrippa passes of Paul’s question lightly. Would Paul convert him, too?
J. vs. 29. PAUL’S DESIRE IS THAT ALL MIGHT BE SAVED.
( Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1; 2 Cor. 12:15; Phil. 1:21-24 ).
A. PAUL’S EXAMPLE OF ZEAL AND LOVE FOR THE TRUTH AND SOULS.
1. Willing to preach under any circumstance.
2. Regardless of the consequence.
C. THE ONLY KNOWN OPPORTUNITY OF FESTUS AND AGRIPPA WAS REFUSED.
PERHAPS THIS IS YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY.