What is the meaning of Acts 25:22? Then Agrippa said to Festus • The setting is Caesarea. Governor Festus has just outlined Paul’s case to King Agrippa and his sister Bernice (Acts 25:13–21). • Agrippa, as a Jewish king under Roman authority, understood Jewish law and prophecy. His interest sets the stage for Paul to witness “before kings” exactly as the Lord promised (Acts 9:15; 23:11). • God’s providence is evident: what seems like political curiosity is, in reality, the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, echoing Proverbs 21:1—“The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases.” “I would like to hear this man myself.” • Agrippa chooses firsthand hearing over secondhand reports, mirroring the Bereans’ noble practice of examining the message personally (Acts 17:11). • Personal exposure to the gospel often precedes decisive moments—compare Felix, who “listened to Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24), and Herod Antipas, who “had long wanted to see” Jesus (Luke 23:8). • Paul’s upcoming defense (Acts 26) will highlight the resurrection, fulfilling 1 Peter 3:15—being ready to give an answer to anyone who asks. “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared. • Festus commits to a prompt hearing, demonstrating God’s sovereign timing: “at the acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you” (2 Corinthians 6:2). • The gospel now advances to a formal royal audience, paralleling Jesus before Pilate (John 18:33–37) and foreshadowing Paul’s later defense in Rome (Acts 28:30–31). • Paul’s confidence in such moments reflects 2 Timothy 4:16–17, where the Lord “stood by me and strengthened me, so that the message might be fully proclaimed.” summary Acts 25:22 records more than a procedural detail; it showcases God directing rulers’ hearts to position His servant for maximum witness. Agrippa’s request and Festus’s swift consent open the door for Paul’s most comprehensive testimony yet, fulfilling Jesus’ promise that His followers would testify “before governors and kings” (Matthew 10:18). The verse reminds believers that God orchestrates every circumstance—political, judicial, or personal—to advance His unchanging truth. |
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