A Year in Luke/ActsSample

The chapter ends with setting up Paul’s next great speech in Acts. We’re going to have a window into Paul bringing together themes that we’ve seen already in different speeches into one, longer overview. It’s an example of where Paul might have gone if he was actually allowed to share at length, although even in this speech he will be interrupted!

“Paul addresses his most socially elevated audience in Acts so far” (Kenner, p579-580, Acts)

For the purposes of this chapter, though, it’s important to understand who it is that Paul is speaking to. As Kenner writes, this is his most “socially elevated” audience yet. Festus, the Roman governor, seems much more proactive than Felix, the previous one. He wants to get to the bottom of Paul’s situation. In order to do this he brings in Herod Agrippa II, who arrives in great pomp and ceremony. Educated in Rome and “king of the Jews,” he is familiar with both cultures in a way few who have listened to Paul so far have been.

In verses 13-22, we have a window into conversations between those in positions of power in the story. One representing the Roman system and the other what is left of the Jewish political system (Agrippa was not from the royal line of David but acting as a proxy king). They do not know what to do with a figure like Paul who has clearly not done anything morally wrong and yet causes such a stir. It’s an example of how human systems often do not know what to do with the message of Jesus.