Blinded by Grace

Before Kings and the Journey to Rome Begins

I had appealed to Caesar, and my course was set for Rome, but before that journey could begin, there was one more trial, this time before King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. Festus, the Roman governor, had invited Agrippa to hear my case, hoping to gain more insight before sending me to the emperor. Agrippa, being familiar with Jewish customs and disputes, was intrigued and agreed to listen.

The day of the hearing arrived, and it was a spectacle unlike any of the previous trials. King Agrippa and Bernice entered the hall with great pomp, surrounded by high-ranking officers and the leading men of the city. Festus had arranged for the event to be as grand as possible. I stood before them, still in chains, but my heart was steady. This was another opportunity to testify about Jesus, not just to a governor but now to a king.

Festus began by explaining the situation. “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I have found he has done nothing deserving of death, but because he has made his appeal to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore, I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation, I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

With that, Festus turned to me, giving me permission to speak.

I looked at Agrippa, knowing that this man was well acquainted with Jewish law and prophecy. He understood the customs of our people, and I knew that the Spirit had orchestrated this moment for a reason.

“King Agrippa,” I began, “I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

I took a deep breath and began telling my story once again, starting from the beginning. “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.”

Agrippa nodded slightly, acknowledging my reference to the promises of God. I knew he was familiar with the prophecies of a Messiah, the one who would bring redemption to Israel.

“It is because of this hope,” I continued, “that these Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?”

I could see Agrippa’s curiosity growing, so I pressed on, recounting my past as a persecutor of the followers of Jesus. “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests, I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time, I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.”

I paused, allowing the weight of my confession to settle over the room. Even the Roman officials, who didn’t fully understand the depth of the religious tensions, seemed to sense the gravity of what I had said.

Then I began to recount the turning point of my life, the day I encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus.

“On one of these journeys, I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’