Atos 25

Atos 25

Boice points out that "The account of Paul's appearance before King Herod Agrippa II begins at Acts 25:13 and continues to the end of Acts 26 (Acts 26:32). It is a large section of the book, so large that it would be desirable to divide it were it not so clearly a single story. These verses recount the third of three formal defenses of the apostle Paul before the secular authorities subsequent to his arrest in Jerusalem. (An Expositional Commentary – Acts) Now when several days had elapsed - It suggest a short time, but one cannot say much more. Homer Kent wrote, “It should not be supposed that Festus was a subordinate to Agrippa. This visit was not that of a monarch to one of his underlings, but a courtesy call from a neighboring ruler to the new procurator of an adjoining province.” Had elapsed (1230)(diaginomai from dia = through + ginomai = to become, be) is used of time and means literally to be through (i.e., past). In classic Greek diaginomai mean “to go through,” “to pass,” “to go through life,” and “to continue through.” Gilbrant on diaginomai - Mark’s use is in regard to the passing of the Sabbath. The genitive absolute construction makes the Sabbath the subject of diaginomai (“was past”). The idea is that the Sabbath had come and was now over. The Sabbath had to pass before the women could resume their intention to complete the preparation of the Lord’s body with spices. The use of diaginomai in both Acts references (Acts 25:13; 27:9) also has to do with time elapse. In the former reference, days intervened between Paul’s trial before the governor Festus and the arrival of King Agrippa. In the latter reference, too much time had passed between the ship’s arrival at Fair Havens and the passengers’ embarking on the voyage to Rome. Due to the excessive time spent at the fair city of Lasea, there was great danger of winter storms at sea. Diaginomai emphasizes the interval of time. (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Diaginomai - 3x - elapsed(1), over(1), passed(1). - Mk. 16:1; Acts 25:13; Acts 27:9 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus - As the new governor of the province, this was good protocol for the royal couple. Arrived is literally "came down" which suggest they were at Jerusalem (more elevated) before they arrived. NET Note on King Agrippa - King Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II (A.D. 27–92/93), son of Herod Agrippa I (see Acts 12:1+). He ruled over parts of Palestine from A.D. 53 until his death. His sister Bernice was widowed when her second husband, Herod King of Chalcis, died in A.D. 48. From then she lived with her brother. In an attempt to quiet rumors of an incestuous relationship between them, she resolved to marry Polemo of Cilicia, but she soon left him and returned to Herod Agrippa II. Their incestuous relationship became the gossip of Rome according to Josephus (Ant. 20.7.3). The visit of Agrippa and Bernice gave Festus the opportunity to get some internal Jewish advice. Herod Agrippa II was a trusted adviser because he was known to be very loyal to Rome (Josephus, J. W. 2.16.4). Arrived (2658)(katantao from katá intensifier + antáo = meet) means to come to or to arrive at and literally referred to finishing a journey or arrive at one's destination. Katantao in Acts - Acts 16:1; Acts 18:19; Acts 18:24; Acts 20:15; Acts 21:7; Acts 25:13; Acts 26:7; Acts 27:12; Acts 28:13; Paid respects (782)(aspazomai from a + spao = draw out, pull, breathe) means to enfold in arms, to welcome, to embrace. To salute one (not in a military sense), greet, bid, wish well to. In classical literature aspazomai can also be used of physical expressions of welcome, such as “embrace” and “kiss.” Uses in Acts - Acts 18:22; Acts 20:1; Acts 21:7; Acts 21:19; Acts 25:13; Jack Arnold gives us a great summary of Agrippa II and especially the wicked Bernice - King Agrippa and his wife paid a protocol visit to Festus, the new governor to Judea. Agrippa and Bernice were the scandal of Judea. They were blood brother and sister who had not married but were living together as man and wife. This Agrippa is Agrippa II who was the son of Herod Agrippa I, and grandson of Herod the Great. Agrippa was only seventeen when his father died the horrible death of being eaten by worms after putting James to death (Acts 12:1-23). He should have reigned, but Emperor Claudius thought him too young so placed his kingdom under the Roman governor until he came of age. After the death of Claudius, the Emperor Nero gave him a large domain. Agrippa was a Jew who was reared in Rome and was strongly attached to the Romans. So loyal to the Romans was Agrippa II, that in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., he turned his troops on his own countrymen, uniting with the Romans in the destruction of this great city. History tells us that he was a very capable ruler and he died in 90 A.D. in Rome at the age of seventy. Bernice was a very beautiful woman and was the blood sister to Agrippa II and to Drucilla, wife of Felix. Bernice made a fetish of incestuous relationships. She had been married to her uncle, Herod, King of Chalcis, but when he died she chose to live with her brother, committing the worst kind of incest. Later on, to avoid the scandal with Agrippa, Bernice left Agrippa and married Polemon, King of Pomins. She stayed married for only a brief time, and she divorced her husband. She then went back to Agrippa and together they went to Rome. Bernice then became the mistress to two successive Roman emperors, Vespasian and Titus, who were father and son. (Sermon)