1Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense: 2“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 3especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
Finishing his introduction, King Agrippa turns the floor over to the apostle Paul. With a dramatic flair, Paul proceeds like a classical orator. He was certainly well-trained in the finest Jewish learning under the famed and well-respected rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3, also Acts 5:34). Though he had been born a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28) and had rights as a citizen, Paul did not use a defense attorney, for his task was not primarily to defend himself but to witness for Jesus Christ. This is one of those times of which Jesus said,
“So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” (Luke 21:14–15)
This is not a trial, per se, because Agrippa’s purpose is to establish the charge against Paul in order to advise Governor Festus about Paul’s appeal to Rome. But through all of this, God is sovereignly protecting Paul from the clutches of his Jewish accusers. From a human perspective, his appeal to Rome reflects his distrust of a fair trial by the Jewish Sanhedrin. He can see clearly their subterfuge, having once been on that side of the persecution himself. So rather than defend himself, he launches into his testimony about Jesus Christ.
His audience is not just the Jews present, but also those in the highest echelon of Roman authority in that part of the empire: the king and his wife, and Governor Festus. So Paul begins his address with Agrippa. Wanting to make the best possible opening for his speech, he begins by complimenting Agrippa and his knowledge of the Jewish culture and ways (his wife, Bernice, was Jewish). The charge has nothing to do with Roman law, only Jewish theology. So Agrippa is in a good position to understand, at least to some degree, the issue at hand.
The apostle Paul appeals to the king’s patience as he begins, recognizing that Agrippa genuinely desires to understand the situation. We can imagine the room going quiet with all eyes alternating between Paul first and then on Agrippa for his reaction.
Lord, I want to live my life walking by the Holy Spirit, so that when opportunities arise to share my testimony, I will have the right words to say.
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