A Study of Acts: Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus
Acts 25:13-22; 1 Corinthians 1:18 - Is the word and message of the cross and a “certain Jesus” foolishness or is it your hope and salvation?
“Now when several days had elapsed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. While they were spending many days there, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man who was left as a prisoner by Felix; and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought before me. When the accusers stood up, they began bringing charges against him not of such crimes as I was expecting, but they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these matters. But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he *said, “you shall hear him.””
Acts 25:13-22 NASB1995
King Agrippa and Bernice decide to pay a visit to Festus and pay their respects. So who is this King Agrippa and who is Bernice, who is allegedly his wife? Jack Arnold, quoted in Precept Austin, tells us the sordid tale of their lives:
King Agrippa and his wife paid a protocol visit to Festus, the new governor to Judea. Agrippa and Bernice were the scandal of Judea. They were blood brother and sister who had not married but were living together as man and wife. This Agrippa is Agrippa II who was the son of Herod Agrippa I, and grandson of Herod the Great. Agrippa was only seventeen when his father died the horrible death of being eaten by worms after putting James to death (Acts 12:1-23). He should have reigned, but Emperor Claudius thought him too young so placed his kingdom under the Roman governor until he came of age.
After the death of Claudius, the Emperor Nero gave him a large domain. Agrippa was a Jew who was reared in Rome and was strongly attached to the Romans. So loyal to the Romans was Agrippa II, that in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., he turned his troops on his own countrymen, uniting with the Romans in the destruction of this great city. History tells us that he was a very capable ruler and he died in 90 A.D. in Rome at the age of seventy.
Bernice was a very beautiful woman and was the blood sister to Agrippa II and to Drucilla [also spelled Drusilla], wife of Felix. Bernice made a fetish of incestuous relationships. She had been married to her uncle, Herod, King of Chalcis, but when he died she chose to live with her brother, committing the worst kind of incest. Later on, to avoid the scandal with Agrippa, Bernice left Agrippa and married Polemon, King of Pomins. She stayed married for only a brief time, and she divorced her husband. She then went back to Agrippa and together they went to Rome. Bernice then became the mistress to two successive Roman emperors, Vespasian and Titus, who were father and son. (Sermon)
This is a good overview, but I found a couple of errors. Apparently, this Agrippa was described by historians as a “capable ruler”, although he sold out his own countrymen; he was the son of Herod Agrippa I who ordered the apostle James to be put to death and was actually the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who ordered the murder of infant and toddler boys as described in the Gospel of Matthew. His great uncle was Herod Antipas, who put John the Baptist to death and oversaw the trial of Jesus. Bernice, his blood sister, was only interested in how she could use her beauty to commit grievous sins, like committing incest with her uncle and brother, so that she could live in luxury and be near those with power.
St. Paul by Peter Paul Reubens, circa 1611 - Museo Del Prado, Madrid, Spain
After Agrippa and Bernice had been there visiting Festus for a period of time, Festus brings up the case of Paul to the king. Festus is at a loss to figure out what to do with Paul, although he promised Paul that he would indeed be sent to Caesar as requested. Festus talks about how the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation. Festus describes the tribunal that he immediately convened because he believed the accused should have an opportunity to meet his accusers, but he was not prepared for the types of charges that were being brought against Paul. The accusers’ concerns were all matters of religious disagreement and the fact that Paul asserted that a “dead man” Jesus was alive. Because Festus was uncertain of what these accusations meant, he asked Paul to go to Jerusalem and stand trial in these matters (and also certainly be killed, either on his way to that trial or in the aftermath). Paul messes up the situation by demanding to be brought to Caesar. Agrippa now also wants to hear from Paul himself.
This commentary from Enduring Word on this passage is quite good on the “certain Jesus”:
They brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed: Festus was surprised, thinking that their accusations against Paul were unimportant. Their accusations focused on matters of their religion and a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
It is amusing to think of the religious leaders protesting to Festus that Paul won’t stop talking about the risen Jesus, and hoping that the governor would make Paul stop.
The words “a certain Jesus” show that Festus didn’t know much about Jesus. It is good to remember that the great and important people of Paul’s day didn’t know much about Jesus, and they had to be told. “Brethren, this is why we must keep on preaching Jesus Christ, because he is still so little known. The masses of this city are as ignorant of Jesus as Festus was.” (Charles Spurgeon)
A certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive: The limited knowledge Festus did have regarding Paul’s preaching shows that in his preaching, Paul emphasized the death and resurrection of Jesus.
By implication, it also shows that Paul emphasized the cross. It’s hard to believe that Festus knew that Paul preached that Jesus died, without also hearing about how Jesus died.
As we know from scripture (and Paul), the cross is foolishness to some, like Festus, who cannot understand the emphasis on a “certain Jesus” who died on the cross and was resurrected:
“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB1995
I love this list of ways that the word and message of the cross is foolishness to many as found in Gotquestions.org:
If the message of the cross is the power and wisdom of God, then why is the cross foolishness to some? Here are some reasons:
1. The cross is foolishness to some because in their wisdom they judge the Bible as an antiquated, mystical book. They see Scripture as irrelevant, silly, and valueless in a post-Christian era. They reject the teaching that they are wretched, poor, miserable, blind, and naked before a holy God (Revelation 3:15–19). “They knew God, [but] they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21–22, KJV).
2. The message of the cross is foolishness to some because it fails the “cleverness test” when compared to the philosophies of men (Colossians 2:8). Some mock, despise, and reject the message of the cross as meaningless and unimportant. Blinded by arrogance and lacking wisdom, they see no beauty in Christ and no value in the cross. God is not mocked by such as these: “For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?’” (1 Corinthians 1:19–20, NASB).
3. The message of the cross is foolishness to some because wealth and status can erase the felt need for God and the hope of glory. Though the world is their focus, “all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
4. The message of the cross is foolishness to some because in their pride they will not bend the knee at the foot of the cross. They do not allow their hearts to be broken from having sinned against a good, holy, and loving God. They have no godly sorrow driving them to seek forgiveness and restoration with God (Psalm 34:18; 51; Luke 18:13; 2 Corinthians 7:9–11; Romans 10:13).
5. The cross is foolishness to some because they love their sin and do not want to change. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24–25). This is a radical call to turn around and go in a new direction. This requires repentance, a change of mind about God and the things of God.
6. The cross is foolishness to some because they reject the idea that a loving God would crucify His own Son to appease His own wrath. They view the cross as slaughterhouse religion, declaring the wisdom of God objectionable. They are mistaken. They do not know the love and goodness of God that condescended to step out from glory (John 1:1–4) to take their place on the cross.
7. The cross is foolishness to some because they are deceived and misled “by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8, ESV). Church movements abandoning the message of the cross are misled by deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). The outcome is another gospel and a Jesus that cannot save. The apostle Paul warned of this eventuality: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8).
8. The cross is foolishness to some because they do not know the Scriptures. They lack a rudimentary understanding of the Bible, having no foundation. “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Timothy “from childhood” knew the Holy Scriptures, and they were able to make him “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Timothy knew the prophecies, promises, and doctrines of Scripture, and that knowledge was foundational to his faith in the Son of God, the Messiah.
Fantastic commentary! I am a joyful fool for the Lord!
My next commentary explores Acts 25:23-27 - Paul is brought before Agrippa and many others, as Festus is hoping that he can find a reason to send him to Caesar. Looking ahead, Acts 26 is composed almost entirely of Paul’s tremendous response to Agrippa and those gathered.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus - I used to think the cross was foolishness, but I now know that my eternal life with You is certain because of the cross and Your resurrection. Please help me to keep that message in front of me at all times. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Precept Austin was accessed on 1/29/2024 to review commentary for Acts 25:12-22.
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
Gotquestions.org was accessed on 1/29/2024 to answer the question, What does it mean that the message of the Cross is foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18)?