Acts 25:13 kjv
And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
Acts 25:13 nkjv
And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
Acts 25:13 niv
A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Acts 25:13 esv
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
Acts 25:13 nlt
A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus.
Acts 25 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:15 | But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings... | Paul's mission to kings |
| Acts 26:1 | Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." | Paul's defense before Agrippa |
| Acts 24:10 | Paul, with the governor's permission, motioned with his hand and began his defense: "I know that for many years you have been a judge over this nation..." | Paul before Felix (previous governor) |
| Acts 25:1 | Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. | Festus's early actions in office |
| Acts 25:12 | Then Festus conferred with his council and declared, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!" | Paul's appeal to Emperor Nero |
| Luke 21:12 | They will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors... | Prophecy of disciples facing rulers |
| Matt 10:18 | On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. | Jesus's prophecy about witnessing |
| Rom 13:1 | Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. | God's sovereignty over rulers |
| 1 Tim 2:2 | for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. | Pray for rulers |
| Titus 3:1 | Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good. | Subjection to authorities |
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God controls leaders |
| Ezra 7:6 | This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses... The king granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him. | God using kings to help His people |
| Neh 2:6 | The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take... And since I had set a time for him, he granted my request." | God opening doors with kings |
| Esther 8:1 | That same day King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman... And Mordecai came before the king... | God's people in royal courts |
| Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. | God's sovereign control over kingdoms |
| Isa 45:1 | "This is what the LORD says to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him... | God uses pagan kings for His plans |
| Acts 12:1-23 | About that time King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church... and then he was eaten by worms and died. | Herod Agrippa I's persecution and death |
| Acts 23:33 | They delivered the letter to the governor and also presented Paul to him. | Paul's arrival in Caesarea to Felix |
| Jn 18:36 | "My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. | Contrast of earthly vs. spiritual kingdom |
| Phil 4:22 | All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. | Gospel reaches high places |
Acts 25 verses
Acts 25 13 Meaning
Acts 25:13 narrates the arrival of King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice in Caesarea. Their purpose was to greet Porcius Festus, the newly appointed Roman procurator of Judea, fulfilling a diplomatic courtesy visit between officials. This visit strategically sets the stage for Paul, a prisoner awaiting trial, to present his case and the gospel message before these influential Roman and Jewish figures.
Acts 25 13 Context
This verse occurs after Porcius Festus, the new Roman procurator, has taken office, succeeding Felix (Acts 24:27-25:1). Festus has heard the accusations against Paul from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (Acts 25:2-7) and attempted to address the case. When Festus proposed a trial in Jerusalem, Paul asserted his Roman citizenship and appealed directly to Caesar (Acts 25:10-12), halting Festus's immediate legal options. It is against this backdrop—Paul's appeal is pending, and Festus needs to prepare a report for the emperor but is unsure how to frame the charges due to their complex religious nature (Acts 25:20)—that King Agrippa II and Bernice arrive in Caesarea. Their visit is a customary, diplomatic formality extended to a new Roman governor in the province, but it proves providentially significant for Paul's ministry.
Acts 25 13 Word analysis
- And (Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction that connects the preceding events (Festus's arrival and initial handling of Paul's case) to this new development. It signals a continuity in Luke's narrative and marks a transition to the next phase of Paul's journey.
- after certain days (Ἡμερῶν τινων διαγενομένων - Hēmerōn tinōn diagenomenōn): Indicates an unspecified, relatively short period. Festus would have had time to settle into his governorship, become familiar with the province, and begin to grapple with the outstanding legal cases, including Paul's. The vagueness highlights the providential timing rather than precise chronology.
- king Agrippa (Βασιλεὺς Ἀγρίππας - Basileus Agrippas): This refers to Herod Agrippa II, the last in the Herodian line, appointed by Rome. He governed territories northeast of Judea and was an expert in Jewish customs and laws, and had a ceremonial oversight role concerning the Temple in Jerusalem. His understanding of Judaism makes him an ideal, God-appointed consultant for Festus concerning Paul's case, which revolved around Jewish legal and religious matters.
- and Bernice (Καὶ Βερνίκη - Kai Bernikē): Agrippa II's sister. They were notorious for their reported incestuous relationship, a scandal that offended both Roman and Jewish moral sensibilities, though not directly stated in the text. Her presence adds to the formality and high status of their visit.
- came to Caesarea (Ἦλθον εἰς Καισάρειαν - Ēlthon eis Kaisareian): Caesarea Maritima was the capital of the Roman province of Judea. It was a predominantly Gentile city where Paul was held. Their journey here indicates a formal, official visit to the seat of Roman power in Judea.
- to salute Festus (Ἀσπασάμενοι τὸν Φῆστον - Aspasamenoi ton Phēston): "Salute" here means to greet, pay respects, or offer congratulations to a newly appointed official. This was a common diplomatic protocol for client kings and allied rulers to establish good relations and demonstrate loyalty to new Roman governors. It was an essential political maneuver to ensure stability and cooperation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "king Agrippa and Bernice": The pairing of brother and sister, both with royal titles, underscores their combined influence and political standing. Their joint appearance elevates the significance of their visit beyond a mere individual courtesy. This alliance provided Festus with a unique opportunity for counsel.
- "came to Caesarea to salute Festus": This phrase details the journey's purpose and destination. Their travel to the Roman capital explicitly marks a formal diplomatic mission to the new governor, reinforcing the established political hierarchies of the time. The act of "saluting" signifies respect and alliance within the Roman imperial system.
Acts 25 13 Bonus section
The presence of King Agrippa II, an expert in Jewish affairs, was crucial for Festus. Festus confessed to Agrippa that he had "nothing definite to write to His Majesty about [Paul]" (Acts 25:26). Agrippa could clarify the nuances of the Jewish "controversies about their own religion, and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" (Acts 25:19). This highlights God's strategic timing, providing an informed listener who could appreciate Paul's arguments concerning the resurrection, which Roman officials often found baffling or irrelevant. The stage was set not just for a legal consultation but for a powerful gospel witness before royalty.
Acts 25 13 Commentary
Acts 25:13, though seemingly a brief historical note, acts as a crucial narrative hinge. It introduces King Agrippa II, an individual intimately familiar with Jewish law and customs, into the complex legal entanglement of Paul's case. Festus, a newcomer to Judea, found himself in a predicament, needing to send Paul to Caesar but without a clear indictment understandable by Roman imperial law, as the charges against Paul were religious (Acts 25:18-20). God sovereignly orchestrated this encounter, bringing a person of authority with unique insights directly into Paul's sphere of influence. This diplomatic visit between earthly rulers thus became a divine appointment, fulfilling the Lord's promise that Paul would bear His name before Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15), providing an unexpected platform for the Gospel to be proclaimed to the highest echelons of society.