Acts 25:23 kjv
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.
Acts 25:23 nkjv
So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought in.
Acts 25:23 niv
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Acts 25:23 esv
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Acts 25:23 nlt
So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
Acts 25 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 25:1 | "Festus therefore went down to the city; and the next day he commanded Paul to be brought." | Contextual start |
| Acts 25:2 | "So the high priests and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul..." | Informing against Paul |
| Acts 25:4 | "Festus answered that he would keep Paul at Caesarea..." | Venue set at Caesarea |
| Acts 25:6 | "When he had stayed among them more than ten days..." | Festus's visit to Jerusalem |
| Acts 25:9 | "But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, 'Are you willing...'" | Festus's political maneuver |
| Acts 25:10 | "But if I am an offender or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die..." | Paul's appeal to Caesar |
| Acts 25:11 | "For if I am an offender or have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die..." | Paul's determination and conscience |
| Acts 25:12 | "Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered: 'Have you appealed to Caesar?...'" | Paul's appeal finalized |
| Acts 25:13 | "And after some days King Agrippa and Bernice came down to Caesarea to greet Festus." | Arrival of Agrippa and Bernice |
| Acts 25:14 | "And when they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king..." | Presenting Paul's case to Agrippa |
| Acts 25:18 | "They brought no accusation of any such things as I supposed..." | Festus's inability to find fault |
| Acts 25:20 | "And because I was uncertain of their nature and questions about this movement..." | Festus's confusion about Christianity |
| Acts 25:21 | "But when Paul appealed to be kept for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept..." | Reason for Agrippa's involvement |
| Acts 26:1 | "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You have permission to speak for yourself.'..." | Beginning of Paul's defense |
| Acts 26:2 | "I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I shall make my defense before you..." | Paul's respectful opening |
| Acts 26:3 | "Especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews..." | Agrippa's expertise acknowledged |
| Acts 26:4 | "'My manner of life from my youth, spent in my own nation, you yourself also know, all the Jews know..." | Paul's Jewish upbringing |
| Acts 26:5 | "They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." | Paul's Pharisaic past |
| Acts 26:6 | "And now I stand judged for hope in the promise made by God to our fathers," | Basis of his conviction |
| Acts 26:7 | "to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to come." | Continuity with Israel |
| Acts 26:8 | "Why is it thought incredible by you that God should raise the dead?" | Centrality of resurrection |
| Acts 27:1 | "And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners..." | Subsequent journey |
| 1 Cor 15:12 | "Now if Christ is proclaimed that he has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" | Doctrine of resurrection |
| Phil 3:5 | "circumcised on the eighth day, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;" | Paul's heritage |
| 1 Tim 6:13 | "I charge you in the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate," | Witness to Christ |
Acts 25 verses
Acts 25 23 Meaning
This verse describes the setting for Agrippa's public presentation of Paul. It highlights the formality and public nature of the occasion, with Agrippa and Bernice arriving with great pomp and ceremony, accompanied by high-ranking military officials and prominent citizens of Caesarea. The scene emphasizes the king's and queen's desire to hear Paul personally.
Acts 25 23 Context
Following Paul's imprisonment and unsuccessful attempts to gain his freedom through the Roman legal system, Governor Festus brought Paul before King Agrippa II. This meeting took place in Caesarea, the Roman administrative capital of Judea. Agrippa, a Jewish king who was a Roman client, had significant authority in religious matters and was considered an expert on Jewish customs and beliefs. Festus, a Gentile governor, presented Paul's case to Agrippa, as Paul had appealed to Caesar, but Festus was uncertain how to frame the charges. Agrippa, accompanied by his sister Bernice, arrived in Caesarea specifically to pay respects to Festus. The entire scenario is set within a framework of political maneuvering and judicial inquiry, aiming to ascertain the validity of charges against Paul, which ultimately revolved around his belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Christian movement.
Acts 25 23 Word Analysis
- King (βασιλεύς, basileus): Refers to royalty, specifically King Herod Agrippa II. It denotes his authority and high status.
- Agrippa (Ἀγρίππας, Agrippas): The specific name of the king, son of Herod Agrippa I. He was known for his knowledge of Jewish traditions.
- Bernice (Βερνίκη, Bernikē): Agrippa's sister. Her presence highlights the societal customs of the time, where royalty often appeared together publicly.
- With great pomp (μετὰ πολλῆς προφάσεως, meta pollēs prophaseōs): This phrase indicates a grand display, a considerable show of magnificence or a public exhibition. It suggests Agrippa and Bernice were not attending casually but making a notable entrance.
- Into the place of hearing (εἰς τὸ ἀκροατήριον, eis to akroatērion): The place designated for hearing. It implies a formal setting, likely a tribunal or assembly for public listening.
- Chief captains (τῶν χιλιάρχων, tōn chiliarchōn): Leaders of Roman cohorts (units of a few hundred men). Their presence underscores the Roman military presence and authority in the region, and the seriousness of the assembly.
- Principal men of the city (τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν κατ' ἐξοχήν, tōn andrōn tōn kat' exochēn): The leading citizens, the most distinguished or eminent individuals of Caesarea. Their attendance signifies the social and political importance of the occasion.
- A special show (προπεμφθέντων, propemphthentōn): This suggests they were escorted or conducted into the venue with honor and attention.
Group Analysis: The phrase "King Agrippa, and Bernice, and came into the place of hearing with great pomp, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city" paints a vivid picture of a formal, highly orchestrated event. The presence of military leaders and civic dignitaries, combined with the king and queen's ceremonial arrival, emphasizes the societal significance attributed to this hearing of Paul's case. It was not a private discussion but a public spectacle for the elite.
Acts 25 23 Bonus Section
This event in Acts 25 and 26 serves as a crucial juncture in Paul's missionary journey. His appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11) ultimately leads him to Rome, the ultimate destination of his apostleship. The detailed account of his appearance before Agrippa allows for a significant theological discourse on the resurrection of Jesus and the transformation of one's life, as articulated by Paul in Acts 26. This detailed exposition underscores the importance of understanding the Jewish context of early Christianity and how the message of Christ fulfilled ancient prophecies. The scene also exemplifies how individuals in positions of power can become unwitting instruments in God's redemptive plan, as Paul uses this opportunity to share the Gospel with royalty.
Acts 25 23 Commentary
The elaborate entrance of King Agrippa and Bernice, attended by military and civic dignitaries, emphasizes the public spectacle surrounding Paul's defense. Festus had presented Paul's case to the Jewish king, recognizing Agrippa's expertise in Jewish matters. This formal setting allowed Agrippa and the assembled authorities to hear directly from Paul, especially concerning the accusations of religious disturbance related to the resurrection. Paul’s own subsequent address (Acts 26) frames his testimony as a witness to the hope of Israel, connecting his faith in the resurrected Christ to the prophetic promises of the Old Testament. The grandeur of the occasion highlights the stakes of the hearing, both for Paul and for the Roman administration navigating Jewish sensitivities. It reveals a desire among the Roman and Jewish leadership to understand this new religious movement that was causing unrest.