The beloved physician Luke wrote how Festus told King Agrippa, “when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, you shall hear him”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp” where we read:
And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
The verse begins, “And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, ...” Luke began with the words, “and on the morrow” which means “and upon the following day”, “when Agrippa was come” or “at the time and moment Agrippa, whose name means hero-like, arose and appeared”, “and Bernice” whose name means “bring victory and was the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa”, “with great pomp” or “with large, abundant and showy appearance and display”, “and was entered into the place” which means “and arose and came into the location” “of hearing” or “for listening to and deciding cases”. Luke shared how the following day “king Agrippa and Bernice” came into the audience room or place of hearing with a massive showy display and appearance.
The verse continues, “... with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.” Luke added the words, “with the chief captains” which means “alongside the chiliarchs or commanders of a thousand Roman soldiers”, “and principal men” or “and prominent, eminent, excellent and superior male human beings” “of the city” which means “belonging to the dwelling place, habitation and abode”, “at Festus' commandment” or “at the order of Festus whose name means festival and was the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea” “was Paul brought forth” which means “”. Luke shared how “king Agrippa and Bernice” were accompanied by “commanders of Roman soldiers” and “prominent men” within the “city” of “Caesarea”, and “Festus” summoned “Paul” to be brought before them all.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “king Agrippa” followed through on his desire to hear “Paul's” case. A “showy display” was made for his entrance into the judgment place, and he was accompanied by “Bernice, Roman commanders and prominent men” within the city of “Caesarea”. What an audience this was for “Paul” to be brought forth to share. It's as though God Himself assembled these people of status and influence, and soon they would all hear “Paul” share His gospel. God wants all people, renown and unknown, to hear His good news of salvation through His Son Jesus. God will forgive the sins of everyone who yields to Jesus, and He will grant them everlasting life when they submit to Him. People receive their “station” in life from the Lord, and regardless of whether they are presented with “showy display” or not, He desires to have a personal relationship with them through Jesus His Son.
Next time Luke shares how Festus said the Jewish people were “crying that he ought not to live any longer”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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