22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 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. 24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. (Acts 25:22-27 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. King Agrippa’s curiosity to see and hear St. Paul: he was born and bred up amongst the Jews, and probably, understood something of the Christian religion; and possibly had heard much of St. Paul, and therefore desired to see him, as Herod desired to see Christ, and to hear John the Baptist, only to gratify his curiosity, not to be advantaged by his ministry.
Observe, 2. How contemptuously the Holy Ghost speaks of all the pomp, retinue, and state, which Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice, appeared in, at the time and place of hearing: he calls it fancy, so the original word signifies, intimating, that all the pomp, gaiety, and glory of the world, is nothing but fancy, a dream, and a shadow, having no real existence, but a being in imagination only.
Observe, 3. That truth and innocence shine forth the more splendidly by the greater opposition that is raised against them. The more malicious the Jews were in accusing Paul, the more did his innocence appear, and the more was he acquitted and discharged by his judges.
Thus we see the providence of God wrought all matters for St. Paul’s justification, and for the Jews’ reprehension; Festus had nothing to write to Cesar, no crime to inform him of against the apostle.
Thence learn, That although God sometimes permits his servants to be loaded with slanders and reproaches, yet he will find a time to clear their innocency and cause their very judges, if not their accusers, to proclaim them guiltless. I find, saith Festus, that he hath committed nothing worthy of death.
It is no small mercy to have our innocence vindicated; for God to clear up our righteousness as the light, and our just dealing as the noonday, and to free our reputation from those blemishes which the uncharitable suspicions or rash censures of men have cast upon us.
There is no spot so unbeautiful as that upon our credit, saving only a spot upon our consciences. God made the apostle’s enemies here do him right, and his name was clothed with honour in the estimation of his very adversaries.