Acts 25:23

Paul before Agrippa

23 So, on the next day when 1Agrippa came together with 2Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

Acts 25:23 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 25:23

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come
Into the hall, or court of judicature:

and Bernice;
his sister, along with him:

with great pomp:
in rich dress, with the "regalia", or ensigns of royalty carried before them, and attended with a large train and retinue of servants:

and was entered into the place of hearing;
the causes that were tried in court, that particular part of the hall, which was assigned for that purpose; for as there were the proper places for the judge and council, and for the plaintiffs and defendants, so for those that came to hear:

with the chief captains;
or tribunes, who had the command of the Roman soldiers; and who had each of them a thousand men under them, as their title signifies:

and principal men of the city;
that is, of Caesarea; the magistrates, and chief inhabitants of the place:

at Festus's commandment Paul was brought forth;
and became a spectacle to a vast number of men, as he himself says; and which in part fulfilled what Christ had foretold to his disciples, that they should be brought before kings and governors for his sake; see ( 1 Corinthians 4:9 ) ( Matthew 10:18 ) .

Acts 25:23 In-Context

21 "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."
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you shall hear him."
23 So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
24 Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen here present with us, you see this man about whom all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both at Jerusalem and here, loudly declaring that he ought not to live any longer.
25 "But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Acts 25:13; Acts 26:30
  • 2. Acts 25:13; Acts 26:30

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Lit "and Bernice"
  • [b]. Lit "and with"
  • [c]. I.e. chiliarchs, in command of one thousand troops
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