²⁷”King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” ²⁸Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” ²⁹And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” ³⁰The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, ³¹and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” ³²And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Following Governor Festus’ interruption, Paul returns attention to Agrippa. That the king is familiar with Jewish Scripture is a given. How much he believed in the Jewish teachings is uncertain, but Paul appeals to any modicum there is in him. If one believes what the prophets wrote, Paul goes on, then one should consequentially believe in Jesus. And if Paul is, indeed, obeying the God of the Jews, then his testimony is not that of a madman.

The king’s response contrasts with that of the governor’s. Agrippa concedes the logical coherence of Paul’s reasoning—enough so to admit to its persuasiveness. We have no historical record that he ever became a follower of Jesus, and it is probable that he did not—otherwise, Luke would have recorded it for us. But Paul accepts Agrippa’s reluctant concession and lays his cards fully out on the table; the apostle would very much desire all present at this hearing to be convinced and become followers of Christ, just as he is.

The hearing is now over, and the king and his wife, Bernice, conclude that Paul is innocent of all charges. But Paul’s appeal to Rome cannot be rescinded; he must be remanded to the capital of the most powerful empire in the world. From a human perspective, this would seem tragic, for Paul would have now been freed had he not appealed to Caesar. However, had he not appealed to Caesar, the hearing with Agrippa would not have taken place, and Paul would have, in all likelihood, been tried in Jerusalem and found guilty by the biased Jewish court.

The Spirit used events and human decisions to fulfill Paul’s desire and God’s will. Paul “purposed in the Spirit . . . saying, ‘After I have been there [Jerusalem], I must also see Rome’” (Acts 19:21). In Jerusalem, the Lord had promised him he would bear his testimony in Rome: “‘Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also’” (Acts 23:11). Then on Paul’s voyage to Rome, the Lord reminded him: “‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar’” (Acts 27:24).

Lord, I am amazed at how Your will orders the events and decisions of our lives.