 Welcome back everyone. We saw how Paul is being interrogated. But before we go further, there will be more interrogation, more people coming into the picture. I want to ask you, is there any fulfilment of prophecy in what is going on right now? Do you recall any word over Paul's life that is being fulfilled right now? You can turn your pages and check. Ma'am, Agrabah's prophesied about Paul being found. Correct, okay. So Agrabah's prophesied. He said that the man whose belt this is rebounded showed that he will be bounded Jerusalem. Yes, that is one prophecy. Any other prophecy, prophetic word? Just think carefully, you can even turn your pages and look up some portions. Anyone, I just want to check whether we are in sync. I know a lot of things are unfolding but with the incidents, God's work, the leading of the Holy Spirit, the fulfilment of the prophetic word, many such things are also taking place, which we shouldn't miss. Yes, go ahead. Agrabah's prophesied. Yeah, Agrabah's, correct. That is there. In chapter 21, he was at Philip's place. Yeah, so that's true. So the daughters also, I mean he was at Philip's place, they were prophesied and there only Agrabah's came and he prophesied this matter regarding it being bound and you're right, this one matter was prophesied several times. First, he only had that impression, like chains await you, then the brothers entire, the brethren entire when he was journeying through, they also emotionally they told him don't go Paul. You know, so a lot of people told him about the same matter that he will be bound, but I'm asking you, apart from that, that he will be imprisoned if he goes to Jerusalem. So apart from this word, is there any other prophetic word which is being fulfilled right now? Okay, let me, all of you, you know, there will be too many names and places and also it's confusing sometimes. If you could recall, when we talked about Ananias, the person who came and prayed for Paul in Acts chapter 9, when Paul had the encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, we don't see the Lord Jesus say a lot of things to him about what he must do. When you know Paul, he asks Jesus, Lord, what do you want me to do? He has given one instruction, you go to the city and there you will be told what you must do. But to Ananias, it is revealed, so this is in verse 15, the God says about Paul to Ananias, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mind to bear my name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. Okay, and verse 16, for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. So can we reconcile with this word and see that it's being fulfilled now? Because Paul is that chosen vessel who is bearing the name of Jesus, he's standing before Gentiles, who is Felix, he's a Gentile and kings, kings, well, we could put the whole category of authorities. He has stood before the Sanhedrin, he's standing before the governor, he will stand before many others, you know, going forward. So he's being fulfilled, he also spoke about Jesus to the children of Israel, to so many Jews he's testifying, so prophecies are being fulfilled and he's undergoing a lot of sufferings for the name of Jesus. So the fulfillment of God's word is actually happening as you see Paul standing before these authorities. And he's not ashamed to proclaim the name of Jesus, even to these governors, so bold, isn't it? When he was being accused in Jerusalem, like the temple, when he got caught, he still preached about Jesus. He is under the governor Felix, he's still talking to him about Jesus so that even Felix and Brucella would accept Jesus Christ. Now there are questions, did these people accept Christ? We don't know, Luke doesn't mention anything about it and you know, I don't think there's any comment in the epistles of Paul later on. So did these people become Christians? We have to look at other comments only to see what exactly happened. But the point is he took every opportunity to proclaim Jesus Christ. So where were we now in chapter 24 under governor Felix, the whole argument of the case. You had Ananayas the High Priest coming with his gang and his speaker, Turtle is making the case, Paul defending himself, Felix noticing that there's actually nothing here to solve, but still dragging the case, maybe with an expectation of money. So two years fall is here and the governor finally changed. So there is a new governor by the name of Festus. So chapter 25 is about Festus. While he's interrogating the case of Paul, he will have a visitor, who is that visitor? There will be King Herod who will be visiting him, King Agrippa. He is part of that Herod family and Bernice, Bernice is his partner. But then we'll see that even this relationship is an incest relationship. Whereas, you know, it's not right in the sight of God that Bernice is his wife. So anyway, Paul will address, Paul will speak about Jesus Christ to even these people in authority. So that's what we are going to see. Now let's come to chapter 25. Excuse me. And here Festus, he has to take up Paul's matter, but then there's a little bit of traveling that he's involved in. So the chapter begins with now when Festus had come to the province after three days, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. So this person, his office is in Caesarea, but he goes up to Jerusalem. There the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul. So look at these people. It's been two years, but they are still trying their best to get Paul caught back in Jerusalem. So their plan is, if we put a word against Paul to Festus, Felix did not work for us. How about Festus? Maybe he will close the case in our favor. So they petition him. They ask him for a favor and, you know, they want to finish off Paul. But Festus answered that Paul should be kept in Caesarea. He's not allowing for Paul to be murdered. Now, obviously they also hinted that if Paul can be brought to Jerusalem, you know, he can be easily killed. But Festus says no, we will not move him out of Caesarea and that he would go back to Caesarea and deal with the case. So then finally Festus comes back to Caesarea and he wants to inquire with Paul what exactly is going on. So he checks with Paul and hears Paul's answer. We can look at it in verse 8 of chapter 25 where Paul says that neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I offended in anything at all. So he is again going by the earlier statements that he made, that he has done his best to live right. He's not giving offence to either, you know, like the religious authorities, which is the Jews, the religious authorities or the religious people. He's not giving any offence to the temple and neither is he giving any offence to the land or the law of the land. So he's quite clear about these matters. But then, no Paul is clarifying this matter somewhere Festus, right? What has happened to Festus? He was in Jerusalem where people tried to talk to him, the Jews over there tried to talk to him against Paul. So we understand regarding Festus that somewhere in his heart he wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he was trying to find a way to convict Paul and close off this case. So Paul is presenting a defense but Festus slowly he is trying to kind of check whether there is any opportunity. Of sending him back to Jerusalem so that once he goes there let the Jews do whatever they want to do. If they want to kill him, if they want to convict him up to them, at least he has done something in the favor of the Jews. And you know, he will be out of this situation. So that's where he is at. But by this point Paul is quite upset. He's like neither did Felix solve my problem for two years. Now Festus, he's playing the double king, listening a little bit to the Jews and though he has inputs from Paul not solving the case. So when Paul realizes that like this my situation is not going to get better. He plays that card of the Roman citizen once again. So he tells Festus, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat at verse 10. I stand at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be judged. So the Jews I have done no wrong as you very well know for I am an offender. If I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar. So this is something that a Roman citizen could do in, you know, it's like in our country in India, we have the lower courts and you know, then you have the state court, the high court that we could appeal to. But ultimately we have the central court, which is a supreme court. So when we take matters to the supreme court, it's like the ultimate authority that has to solve the problem. So Paul realizes that his life is at risk and these men are not doing anything to protect him or even resolve the matter. So he appeals to the highest court. So he says, I appeal to Caesar. Caesar is the ruler of the Roman Empire. And he says, because I'm a Roman citizen, I'm eligible. I can go straight away to the supreme court. That's, you know, in our understanding, that's what it means. So he wants to go up to Caesar and have his matter solved. So when he makes this statement to Festus, Festus is stuck. Now Festus thought that he will slowly do a favor to the Jews in Jerusalem by sending Paul back over there and dragging the case. But the moment Paul says, I appeal to Caesar, Festus has no other option. He has to take it up. So in verse 12, Festus says, you have appeal to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go. Ultimately, when this appeal is made, they're supposed to send them to Caesar. So now one decision is made. What is that decision? Paul has to go to Rome. That is the place where his problem, you know, this whole issue, the case will be resolved. So Festus also is no longer in charge of Paul's case. He has to go back, fall up now and send him to Rome. That is the conclusion, finally in chapter 25. Before sending him to Rome, there is a visitor who comes to Festus' sort of, what do you say? He was in the Pretorium, right? Eretz Pretorium. So over there, you have Agrippa visiting at that point. So we'll see what exactly happens when Agrippa comes back. Okay. So all this you just have to imagine. I don't know if you're able to imagine. Always imagine, you know, he went from Jerusalem, he's in Caesarea. It must have been, you know, something like a court or a place where he was kept and all these interrogations are taking place. And now you have Agrippa also coming to that particular place and visiting Festus. So it's like a movie. It should run in your mind about the events that are unfolding. In God's calendar, in God's sight, the prophetic words are being fulfilled. So the kings are coming, right? So Agrippa comes. Who is Agrippa? He is Herod Agrippa actually. So though over here it only says Agrippa, we would, his name is Herod Agrippa II. And he ruled one of the, you know, he, the client kingdom of the Roman Empire. And this Festus and his province came under Agrippa, which is why he could actually visit. So Agrippa was known for his Jewish customs and, you know, he had a, he had a love for Jewish customs and religions, traditions. So that is what he was known for. And he just came by to visit. And I'm sure, you know, he would be interested to hear directly from Paul because Paul was quite famous. So he may have wanted to hear from Paul, you know, about what this new faith of his is all about. But another interesting fact about this person, Agrippa Herod Agrippa II is, he was the great grandson of Herod, who was in the time when, you remember Jesus, when Jesus was born, the babies were being killed and so many things, you know. So his great grandfather was that wicked person who was killing the babies. So he comes from the tradition of very aggressive rulers who went against the purposes of God. So, yeah, we don't really, we're not really expecting for Herod to come in and solve this problem at all. Fine, let's see what happens when this Herod comes to visit. Okay, so I told you, he came, Agrippa, he came with Bernice. Bernice, she's actually meant to be his sister, but you know, he married her, which is actually not the way he was supposed to get married. But yeah, that's what happened. So they came to Caesarea to greet Festus. And there was something like, what do you say, visit is not the word, but like a day that is fixed and a ceremony actually, a ceremony where they are welcoming Agrippa in a very grand way. So they are hosting him over there. So let's probably just read through itself experimentally. I won't really need to explain it for us. So we could read from the place where he arrives. Okay, fine. I think we'll have to read from verse 13. Could somebody pick it up from verse 13 and you'll have to read it till 27. Act 75 verse 13. And after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to visit Festus. When they had been there many days, Festus laid off the case before they came saying, there's a certain man left a prisoner by Felix. But about whom the chief priest and elder of the duke told me when I was in Jerusalem, asking for a judgment against him. To them, I answered, it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused, neither accusers to face as opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge instead. Therefore, when they had come together without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. Until 25. When, okay, the accusers stood up and they brought no accusations against him of such thing as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, whom all of them to be alive. And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and may be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, commanded him to be kept until I could send him to Caesar. Then Agriba said to Festus, I also would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him. So the next day, then Agriba and Bernice had come, great pomp and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the men of the city at Festus. Paul was brought in and Festus said, King Agriba and all the men who are present with us, you see this man for whom the whole assembly of the Jesus petitioned me, both the gentleman and he are crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. When I found that he had committed nothing, this thing of death and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. I have not certain to write to my Lord concerning him. Therefore, I have sent him out especially before you King Agriba, so that after the examination as he can place, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him. So as I stated, it's quite self-explanatory. Festus shares about this matter to Agriba and then Agriba himself comes with great pomp in the presence of all the other leaders and he wants to hear Paul out. So now Paul is going to talk to Agriba and make his defense. Now why all this audio of trying to listen to Paul because you see Paul has appealed to Caesar and before sending to Caesar, they need to explain why they are sending to Caesar. They don't have an accusation against him. So funny, isn't it? That you have a prisoner for over two years and you are not able to specify what is the accusation against this man that you kept him over here. So this issue, Festus shares with Agriba and says like can you help me now? Because something I have to write down before I send him to Caesar. So Agriba says ok, come on, let's listen to this man and let's figure out what is that one point we can mention in the letter. So now we come to chapter 26 where Paul has the opportunity to go ahead and speak. So Paul speaks and he narrates regarding his own life. Again he talks about how he is part of the Jews and his upbringing. He was brought up under the strict sect of the religion and he lived as a Pharisee. So he is giving an explanation of his upbringing and later on he also talks regarding the hope that he has in Christ. He talks about the faith that he has. That is how he is not opposing the faith of the Jews. So then he puts a question to Agriba that look I am believing in these matters and just because I am believing in these matters what is it that I have done wrong? And Paul's faith is so strong that he says people are accusing those who believe for the miracles that take place and the healings that take place the resurrection from the dead that takes place. Why is it such a great thing for us that God even raises the dead? This is a wonderful statement that Paul makes in verse 8 if you notice he says that why should it be taught incredible to you that God raises the dead again coming back to that matter of resurrection which he told the council and he also told Felix and even now he says I am a Pharisee I believe in the resurrection of the dead why is it such a great matter for us? Can God not raise the dead? These are the things that I believe in. He also states how he was actually a persecutor of Jesus and his people but how God actually encountered him and his life changed so he gives a clarification and he recounts his experience of how he encountered Jesus so that whole narration is there it's like a repetition of Acts 9 where he saw that bright light and Jesus spoke to him it's really nice to listen to it all over again actually because you might find an insight or two again in the narration so just for that sake I am going to read it out what he is telling to Agrippa about that encounter on the road to Damascus so I will read from verse 12 where he says while thus occupied as a journey to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests at midday, okay along the road I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun shining around me and those who journeyed with me very interesting because we are talking about the Middle East so the Middle East sun we know that those places are so hot in around noon time the sun must be so bright but he is saying brighter than the sun midday so what kind of a light did he encounter something amazing isn't it so he saw very very bright light was 14 and when we all had fallen to the ground I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language Saul, Saul why have you why are you persecuting me it is hard for you to take against the gods so I said who are you Lord and he said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but rise and stand on your feet for I have appeared to you for this purpose to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you I will deliver you from as well as from the Gentiles to whom I now send you to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me so this is not a good incident and the most one of the scriptures that I want us to focus on is verse 18 very powerful very powerful scripture there what does it say it says here is the the function or the assignment of Paul but you know something it is not just his assignment it is all our assignment to bring people to Christ that is the great commotion actually but Jesus said go into all the world preach the gospel teach them everything that I have taught you baptizing them the King of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit you know I am with you to the end of the age so to proclaim the gospel what does the gospel do there are other aspects here it says open their eyes so they are able to see who God is how God loves them what is the great purpose for which God has called them now we know Paul also talks about this in other episodes where he says that those who don't know Christ those who are not born again they are spiritually dead and also in verse 14 he says that the God of this world he is blind in their eyes so the spiritual eyes are blind of those who are not born again but what does our mandate the great commission open the eyes open the eyes of the people so that they get no Christ so that is the responsibility which was given to Paul it's also given to us and see how beautiful it continues in order to turn them from darkness to light why did Jesus come that's why he came to lead people in that path of life he came to give us abundant life help us to walk in that abundant life same thing Paul is saying what is the gospel it is going to turn people from darkness to light that's what is going to happen when we preach the gospel and then he says from the power of Satan to God remember how to the Romans Paul writes he says that we are no longer slaves of sin that the power of sin over our lives is broken right now we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus so he teaches us here that what is salvation we are no longer slaves of Satan but we come under the power of God from the power of Satan to God that is what salvation is all about that they may receive forgiveness of sins ok that we understand salvation a part of salvation is forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are satisfied by faith in right so he is actually stating about the great commission and how God called him to that but we can see for ourselves that this is what we are also called to do so he talks about this to Agrippa that he talks a little bit about what happened to him after he gave his life to Christ so from verse 16 therefore King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision one thing is the calling second thing is responding to the calling so he says look I responded I responded I was not disobedient when God told me to do these things I did it and verse 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent turn to God and do works to fitting repentance but these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me therefore having obtained help from God to this day I stand witnessing both to small and great saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come that the Christ would suffer that he would be the first to rise from the dead and would proclaim life to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles so he is just saying that I have been doing the same work I have been talking about Jesus I have been talking about what he has done proclaiming it to everyone now let's see what would be the response of Agrippa what was Felix's response come at a communion time that is Felix's response Festus so far no response regarding the matter of salvation now Agrippa has heard the gospel that is going to be his response let's see verse 24 now as he does make his defense Festus said with a loud voice Paul you have beside yourself much learning is driving you mad so Festus is not able to receive this message and of course you know Paul gives a defense he says I am not mad I am convinced about whatever I say that he directly asks Agrippa verse 27 Agrippa do you believe the prophets I know that you do believe what did I share earlier Agrippa Herod Agrippa too he was interested in Jewish customs ok so Paul knew this and he is directly asking Agrippa do you believe the prophets do you believe I know that you believe in them so if Agrippa believes in the prophets he should believe that the prophets were the ones who prophesied about Jesus isn't it so now what is Agrippa going to say the ball is in Agrippa's coat Agrippa is saying you almost persuade me to become a Christian so what Agrippa is saying is Paul I am not finding anything wrong in what you are saying I am almost at the door now tell me for salvation being almost at salvation but not entering is it good enough when people come in it's like Felix only come at a convenient time but Agrippa is saying I am not his answer is not I believe he doesn't say that he says Paul you almost convince me to be a Christian but that's not going to help one experience salvation it's a definite decision that one looks to me whether we are born again or we are not born again even Agrippa sitting on the fence is not making the decision so Paul responds to him he says in verse 29 I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me today might become both almost and all together such as I am except for these slaves meaning you should become a believer Agrippa and everyone should so that's what he is telling Agrippa now so very boldly and verse 13 when he had said these things the king stood up as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them and when they had gone aside they talked among themselves saying this man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains then Agrippa said to Festus this man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar so according to Agrippa he has evaluated the case and he feels that he should actually be set free but unfortunately what has already happened Paul has appealed to Caesar so he has to go to Rome that matter is fixed okay but now let's come to the more important question about the salvation of Festus and Agrippa they don't accept Christ at that point now did they accept Christ later on for that we don't have a clear cut answer at least from the Bible we don't have so it's really sad that these great men they heard the gospel but they did not respond right and yeah it's just so sad that even when Paul himself preached to them they didn't say I believe or I dependent okay so what we'll do is we'll stop right here because the last two chapters are more about the voyage there will be a journey that Paul makes and it's again like a movie only like the ship will go and there'll be like a wreckage and all and then he will safely land on an island and eventually he'll go on to Rome he'll do some ministry in Rome so all that is going to happen so we can talk about it together and then talk a little bit about the timelines right because we need to know what the years are all about and what are some of the the epistles that Paul wrote even through his journey so all that we look into in the next class so hopefully the next Friday class is our last class and yeah so we could stop at this point here after looking at the defense that Paul makes for himself both in Jerusalem and in Sicily okay so before we close with the word of prayer any thoughts or any comments about what your words are about okay so I suppose okay basically I'd like to know that the information is helping you think about these things think about what Paul might have gone through really gives us a deeper understanding about what and all people have suffered to kind of pass on this mandate to us so let's pray and we get close for today okay let me just pray Heavenly Father thank you Lord for the records of the lives of your people especially Lord Apostle Paul and Lord the way today we read he says I was not obedient, disobedient to the heavenly vision came up with Agrippa Father God thank you Lord for men and women of God who have been obedient to what God has called them to do Lord today we stand Lord on their shoulders Father we thank you for their lives, their examples Lord that strengthen us Father help us Lord to also be obedient to the call of God on our lives Lord strengthen us Father God give us the grace anoint us Father and Lord we just pray that in our generation Father God that we too will be bold Lord and how beautiful to see that even though kings and Lord many authorities are examining him they are not finding any fault Lord with Paul not such a man of integrity and commitment Father God enable us Lord to pattern our lives Lord in these good ways Father that we are learning we commit ourselves into your hands Father God and we just pray God that will continue to speak to us from the book of Acts in Jesus make me pray Amen Amen thank you everyone God bless you you can look forward to your final assignment ok so all the best God bless and bye for now thank you thank you