Acts 25:23

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.

And on the morrow {G1887}, when {G3767} Agrippa {G67} was come {G2064}, and {G2532} Bernice {G959}, with {G3326} great {G4183} pomp {G5325}, and {G2532} was entered {G1525} into {G1519} the place of hearing {G201}, with {G4862}{G5037} the chief captains {G5506}, and {G2532} principal {G2596}{G1851} men {G435} of {G5607} the city {G4172}, at {G2532} Festus {G5347}' commandment {G2753} Paul {G3972} was brought forth {G71}.

So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much pageantry; they entered the audience room accompanied by military commanders and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Shaโ€™ul was brought in.

The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.

So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and the principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.

Commentary

Context of Acts 25:23

Acts 25:23 sets the stage for one of the most pivotal moments in the Apostle Paul's legal journey: his appearance before King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. This event takes place in Caesarea, the Roman provincial capital, where Paul had been imprisoned for some time. The new Roman governor, Porcius Festus, had inherited Paul's case from his predecessor, Felix. Festus, desiring to clarify the vague charges against Paul before sending him to Caesar in Rome for appeal, seized the opportunity presented by the visit of King Agrippa and Bernice.

King Agrippa II, a Jewish king appointed by Rome, was well-versed in Jewish law and customs, making him an ideal consultant for Festus to understand the intricate religious and political accusations against Paul. Their arrival "with great pomp" highlights the official grandeur and the high status of the Roman provincial administration and its allied kings. This grand assembly was meant to provide Festus with sufficient information to draft a coherent report for the Emperor, rather than to conduct a formal trial.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Contrast of Spectacle and Substance: The "great pomp" of Agrippa, Bernice, chief captains, and principal men starkly contrasts with the humble prisoner, Paul. This verse underscores the worldly display of power and authority against the spiritual truth and unwavering faith Paul represents.
  • Divine Orchestration for Witness: God is sovereignly directing these events. This seemingly political and ceremonial assembly becomes a divinely appointed platform for Paul to bear witness to the Gospel before powerful rulers. This fulfills prophecies concerning his ministry to Gentiles and kings, as mentioned in Acts 9:15.
  • Paul's Unwavering Resolve: Despite being a prisoner and facing an intimidating display of worldly power, Paul's resolve to proclaim Christ remains steadfast. His appearance before this distinguished audience provides another opportunity to present the defense of the Gospel, much like his previous defense before Felix.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "great pomp" translates the Greek word phantasia (ฯ†ฮฑฮฝฯ„ฮฑฯƒแฝทฮฑ), from which we derive the English word "fantasy." In this context, it refers to a magnificent display, a show, or an impressive spectacle. It vividly describes the elaborate, ceremonial entrance of King Agrippa and Bernice, surrounded by high-ranking military officers (chief captains) and prominent citizens (principal men). This was a deliberate demonstration of their authority and status, designed to impress and assert power within the Roman provincial setting of Caesarea.

Practical Application

Acts 25:23 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  • Courage in Adversity: Like Paul, we are called to stand firm in our faith even when facing intimidating displays of worldly power, opposition, or skepticism. Our confidence should rest in God's truth, not in human approval or circumstances.
  • Unexpected Opportunities for Witness: God often opens doors for sharing the Gospel in the most unlikely places or through seemingly mundane, or even adversarial, events. We should be prepared to speak for Christ whenever and wherever an opportunity arises.
  • Focus on the Eternal Message: The true significance of any situation lies not in outward appearances or worldly display, but in the eternal message of the Gospel. Our focus should always be on the substance of our faith and the transformative power of Christ.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 26:30

    And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

  • Acts 25:13

    ยถ And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

  • 1 John 2:16

    For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  • Acts 9:15

    But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

  • Isaiah 14:11

    Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

  • James 1:11

    For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • Daniel 4:30

    The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
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