Paul was brought before King Agrippa to explain the charges against him after Festus struggled to find an accurate charge. Paul recounted his testimony to Agrippa, explaining how he persecuted Christians before his conversion experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul invited Agrippa to also become a Christian. Both Festus and Agrippa found that Paul had done nothing worthy of imprisonment.

1. Paul’s Three Testimonies
Sermon by Rodney Tan
Sunday 27/9/15
Melaka Gospel Chapel

2. Outline
• Recap
• Introduction
• 1 Paul Before Felix (23:25-24:27)
• 2 Paul Before Festus (25:1-12)
• 3 Paul Before Agrippa (25:13-26:32)
• Conclusion

3. Recap :
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

17. Declarations of Paul’s innocence:
• Claudius Lysius:
Act 23:29
“I found that the
accusation had to do with
questions about their law,
but there was no charge
against him that deserved
death or imprisonment.”

18. Declarations of Paul’s innocence:
• King Agrippa:
Act 26:32
Agrippa said to
Festus, "This man
could have been set
free if he had not
appealed to Caesar."

20. Declarations of Paul’s innocence:
• Festus (to Agrippa):
Act 25:25
“I found he had done
nothing deserving of
death, but because he
made his appeal to the
Emperor I decided to send
him to Rome.”

22. Paul’s Seven Speeches
• 1 Before the Jerusalem Mob (22:1-23)
• 2 Before the Chief Captain (22:24-30)
• 3 Before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10)
• 4 Before Felix (24:10-23)
• 5 Before Festus (25:8-12)
• 6 Before Agrippa (26:1-32)
• 7 Before Jewish Leaders in Rome (28:17-28)

23. Types of Speeches
• 1) One in a Synagogue (Acts 13:16-41)
• 2) Two are open-air sermons to pagan
Gentiles (Acts 14:8-20 @ Lystra & Acts 17:22-
34 @ Athens)
• 3) Two are personal autobiography (Acts
22:1-9 @ Jerusalem mob & Acts 26:1-32 @
King Agrippa)
• 4) Two brief addresses to individual Gentiles
in authority over him (Acts 16:25-34 @
Philippian jailer & Acts 24:10-25 @ Felix)

24. Introduction
• These 3 speeches seems heavy with legal
details.

26. 1 Paul Before Felix (23:25-24:27)
• Claudius’ Anxiousness (23:25-35)
• Tertullus’ Accusations (24:1-9)
• Paul’s Answer (24:10-21)
• Felix’s Apprehension (24:24-26)

27. Claudius’ Anxiousness (23:25-35)
• Situation got worse for Paul
• 40 Jews were determined to kill him! (23:12-14)
• Paul’s nephew got wind of the plot & informed
Claudius (23:16-22)
• Local Roman commander (chiliarch) Claudius
concludes Paul should not remain in Jerusalem
• The Plan: Bring Paul to Felix, the governor
(procurator) in Caesarea (23:24)
• Claudius prepared a contingent of 470 Roman
soldiers (23:23) & prepared a letter

28. Letter to Felix, the Governor
• Claudius mentioned Paul “had nothing
charged against him deserving death or
chains” (23:29)
• Notice how Claudius’ letter made him looked
good to his superior. (23:30)
• The contingent left in the night (9pm) (23:31)
• The 70 horsemen returned to Jerusalem from
Antipatris the next day (23:32)

29. Letter Received by Felix
• Governor (Procurator) Felix on receiving the
letter, asked Paul which province he was from
(23:34)
• Why? To check if Felix had jurisdiction over
the matter.
• Paul kept safe at Herod’s Praetorium (23:35)
• Wait for “accusers” to arrive & present their
case (23:35)

30. Marcus Antonius Felix
• Former slave
• Friendship with Emperor Claudius Caesar
• Was freed
• Became Governor of the Judean Province
• First born-slave to ascend to this high post
• Brutal & immoral (Tacitus)

31. Tertullus’ Accusations (24:1-9)
• After 5 days Ananias & the elders arrived (24:1)
• They brought an orator named Tertullus
• Tertullus is their prosecuting lawyer (24:2)

32. Tertullus’ Accusations
• First, he flattered Felix (24:2-3)
• Then, he quickly started his case against Paul
(24:4)
• FOUR accusations against Paul:
1) Nuisance / plague (v5a)
2) Treason (v5b)
3) Heresy (v5c)
4) Temple Desecration (v6)

33. Comments on Tertullus’ Accusation
• Fatal flaw in arguement – Tertullus had no
case at all!
• Paul had committed no crime that deserves
Roman punishment
• Tertullus had no evidence (24:13)
• But Tertullus was skillful – implied that Paul
was a threat to “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace)

35. Paul’s Answer (24:10-21)
• Paul did not flatter “Felix the Governor” (v10)
• Treason: Paul was only in Jerusalem for 12
days
• Could not have created all the alleged trouble
in that short time (v11-12)
• Heresy: Paul showed that he was more
orthodox than some members of the
Sanhedrin – who denied the OT Doctrine of
the Resurrection (v15)

36. • Paul now tackle the charge that he was not
obeying Roman laws (v14)
• Strategy: to separate Christianity from
Judaism
• Why? To show that Christianity is NOT part of
Judaism – a cult
• Nothing Paul did was illegal under Roman law
Paul’s Answer (24:10-21)

37. Felix’s Apprehension (24:22-26)
• Felix started to dodge making a judgement
(v22)
• Q: What did Felix gained from this hearing?
• A: He had “a more accurate knowledge of The
Way” (v22)
• Some days later, Felix & his wife, Drusilla
asked for Paul to testify before the couple
(v24)
• Paul appears the second time before Felix

38. Paul’s Speech to Felix & Drusilla
• Paul’s 3 Point outline: He reasoned about
1) righteousness
2) self-control
3) judgement to come
• Paul spoke hard-hitting truths to Felix the
Governor who held Paul’s fate in his hands
• Paul was bold to choose 3 unpopular topics!
• Q: Why?
• A: Felix had no power over his fate! Only God.

39. Felix’s Response
• Felix’s Responds in Two Ways to the Gospel:
• 1) He was afraid – rejects the truth
• 2) He answered – “go away for now”
(indifferent)

40. What Happened to Felix?
According to historians:
• He dealt brutally & greedily against the
inhabitants of the provinces under his care
• Was replaced by Festus
• Called back to Rome by
Emperor Nero
• Spared execution
• Banished
• Committed suicide

41. What Happened to Drusilla?
• Moved to Pompeii with her son
• Husband banished
• Met her tragic end when Mount Vesuvius
erupted on 24 August 79 AD
• Occurred about 20 years after hearing Paul
• Sadly, both Felix & Drusilla did not accept
Christ as their Saviour.

44. Application
• Q: What is keeping you from following Jesus?
• Q: Is it a lack of evidence?
• Q: Is it you’re waiting for a more convenient
time?
• Remember what happened to Felix and
Drusilla!
• Now is the acceptable time to be saved.

45. Background to Chapter 25
• Paul was under house arrest and his outlook
was daunting
• God promised that Paul will testify of Jesus in
Rome ….. And to bear His name before kings.
• Paul will have to put his trust in God
• Paul has been in Caesarea for 2 years
• Governor Felix was summoned back to Rome
because of his brutality & bad management
• Replaced by Festus

46. Background of Porcius Festus
• Little is known of Festus
• Two things implied about him in Acts:
1) Noble man - serious about his civic duties
- Rome charged him with cleaning up the
mess left by Felix
2) Ignorant - the Jewish faith & unaware of
what had occurred the last 30 years in
Judea – don’t know Jesus of Nazareth

49. 2 Paul Before Festus (25:1-12)
• Festus threatens to send Paul to Jerusalem
(25:1-9)
• Paul appeals to be sent to Caesar (25:10-12)

50. Festus threatened to send
Paul to Jerusalem (25:1-9)
• 3 days as the new governor, Festus went up to
Jerusalem to mend relations with the Jewish
leaders (v1-2)
• Jewish leaders viewed change in leadership as
a chance to move against Paul
• NB: Even after two years – Jewish leaders still
filled with hate for Paul
• They asked for a favour – summon Paul to
Jerusalem so that they can ambush him! (v3)

51. Festus’ Dilemma
• Festus knew the implications on his career if
he were to hand over a Roman citizen to the
Jews
• Festus wisely counters their request with his
proposal (v4-5)
• Way out: retrial to solve this issue.

52. Festus Back in Caesarea
• After 10 days in Jerusalem, he returned to
Caesarea & immediately call for a retrial (v6)
• Jewish leaders had many serious complaints
about Paul BUT had no proofs!
• Festus viewed Paul had committed no crime
under the law of the Jews, the temple or
Caesar.
• Festus probably understood why Felix did not
issue a judgement

53. • Paul = political hot-potato!
• Festus = messy situation with Paul’s case.
• Roman law = Paul must be released
immediately
• But Festus was ordered by Rome to improve
relations with the Jews.
• Sadly, Festus chose to join the conspiracy!
Festus’ Dilemma

54. Paul appeals to be sent to Caesar
(25:10-12)
• Sensing Festus would give in to the Jews &
send him to Jerusalem
• Paul appeals to Caesar - Emperor Nero (v11)
• Festus now had a way out of this mess!
• But Festus has to come up with a written
explanation:
- why Paul was not charged and
- a verdict to appeal to Caesar

55. Application
• Q: Why would Paul refuse to go to Jerusalem
& instead appeal his case to Caesar?
• Q: Is Paul impatient with God’s timing?
• A: Paul was not afraid of the plot to kill him
• He surrendered to his calling – acted
consistently with God’s directive
• Trusting God involves wisdom!
• Recognize another detour to Jerusalem at this
stage was not God’s will

57. 3 Paul Before Agrippa (25:13-26:32)
• Festus gives background of Paul’s case to
Agrippa (25:13-27)
• Paul gives information about himself (26:1-23)
• Paul gives an invitation about his Saviour
(26:24-32)

58. Festus gives background of Paul’s
case to Agrippa (25:13-27)
• King Agrippa II & Queen Bernice came to
Caesarea to visit Governor Festus & Drusilla
• Reason: to welcome Festus on his new posting
• Bernice was the sister of Drusilla & Agrippa II
• Festus hoped by sharing about Paul, King
Agrippa II & Queen Bernice will be able to
help him settle this case about Paul (v26-27)
• Then Festus has something to write to the
Emperor about Paul (v26)

60. Background of
King Herod Agrippa II

61. Background of
King Herod Agrippa II
• King Agrippa II – 7th & final king of the
Herodian dynasty
• His great-grandfather = Herod the Great at
Jesus’ birth murdered all the eldest new born
babies to ensure his rule.
• His great-granduncle = Herod Antipas who
beheaded John the Baptist
• His father = Herod Antipas I killed Apostle
James & later he was eaten by worms in
Caesarea

62. Background of
King Agrippa II
• Raised in Rome
• Educated in the palace of Claudius Caesar
• Agrippa II = outspoken supporter of the Jews
• Made king over a large portion of the area
• Given authority over temple & appointment
of High Priest
• On good terms with Roman political leaders

63. Background of
Queen Bernice
• a.k.a. Berenice of Cilicia or Julia Berenice
• Bernice = Agrippa’s half-sister (step-sister)
• Incestous relationship with Agrippa II
• Tumultuous love life – married 3 times
• Previously married to her uncle until his death
• Left Agrippa II for a pagan king & deserted him
• Mistress to Emperor Vespasian & his son Titus
(Titus Flavius destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD)

65. Paul gives information
about himself (26:1-23)
• Paul was likely brought in chains into the
hippodrome (25:14)
• Longest speech/sermon in the book of Acts
• Paul mentions FOUR things about himself:
- His early religious training in Tarsus (v1-8)
- His terrible persecution of Christians (v9-11)
- His conversion on the Damascus Road (v12-16)
- His call to the Gentiles (v17-23)

66. Application
• When Jesus saved Paul, TWO things happened
(v16):
• 1) Paul became a “minister” (called to aid )
• 2) Paul became a “witness” (martyr)
• When we encounter Jesus, our lives are
transformed – to be a minister & witness

67. Application
• Q: What kind of minister and witness are we
actually?
• We are to cause people “to open their eyes”
(v18)
• Everywhere Paul went, he caused a REVIVAL
or a RIOT

68. Paul gives an invitation about
his Saviour (26:24-32)
• Paul was rudely interrupted by Festus (v24)
• Paul accused by Festus of being mad (v24)
• Paul brushes off this outburst (v25-26)
• He pressed for a decision from Agrippa (v27)
• Agrippa answered: “You almost persuade me
to become a Christian.”(v28)
• A parody said by Agrippa? Sad words!
• King Agrippa did not want to become a
Christian

69. Paul Goes to Rome (26:30-32)
• After dismissing Paul, the three highest
officials discussed among themselves (v30)
• They decided that Paul did not deserve death
or to be put in chains (v31)
• Because of the official nature of this trial, the
legal process had to go through.
• They probably sent some kind of letter of
explanation to the emperor along with this
unusual prisoner named Paul.
• Paul is finally going to Rome!

70. Conclusion
Paul’s testimony can also be our testimony:
• 1) Blinded to the Gospel by his religious zeal
• 2) Changed by the Gospel by an encounter
with Jesus
• 3) Dedicated to sharing the Gospel as a
minister and witness

71. Conclusion
• Paul’s life is inspiring!
• Let’s testify of our faith even when the going
gets tough!