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 especially 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.
Notwithstanding all this parade of Festus and his Court, I should not have thought it worth detaining the Reader to have made any observations upon it, had it not been to have called his attention to those blessed testimonies, which arise out of it, respecting the Lord and his people, The Lord Jesus had told his disciples, that they should be brought before Governors and Kings for his sake, for a testimony against them, Matthew 10:18. And Jesus had said the same to Paul, Acts 9:15-16, And, here we see it fulfilled. And Paul alludes to the same, when he saith we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men! 1 Corinthians 4:9. And, what a spectacle indeed, of derision, did the Apostle appear, amidst such an host of infidels! But, what an object of honor, to the view of angels, and the world of the spirits of just men made perfect, looking on, and beholding the faithful Apostle! Hail! thou highly favored servant of thy Lord!