Acts 25:9-11, 23-27 “Appeal to Rome”

Setting the stage in our continuing drama with Paul under arrest in Caesarea Maritima: We did not read this part from the pulpit, but in Acts 24:10 Luke describes Paul’s demeanor while he is being held at the Pretorium of Herod Agrippa. It is that he was “cheerful.”

I am sure all of us have seen on the evening news defendants in court just before they are about to be sentenced. I don’t think I have ever seen any of them actually showing good cheer. They all have dower brought-down demeanor. So, it is quite surprising to consider Paul’s demeanor. He is smiling and giving the old “thumbs up” to his judge and accusers. Does Paul know something that we don’t know? Sure. He knows that God is on his side! He knows that whatever happens, God will be there with him to help him through it.

I think we all know this, yet too often we just do not show it. It is like that song “If you are happy and you know it” says, “then your life will surely show it.” Why not show somebody today that you are happy? Why not show somebody today that you know that God is in your life?! Don’t go walking around looking distraught. Be “straught,” which is surely the opposite of distraught. Believe it or not, “straught” is a word in Scots dialect still which means “showing being upright and happy.”

Christ tells us this in his Sermon on the Mount that repeats the idea over and over again “happy is the who suffers for my sake,” “happy are the poor in spirit,” “happy, happy, happy.” You can read about all of this happiness from the Lord in Matthew 5. Some Bibles translate the Greek “makirioi” as “blessed.” Really it means just plain “happy.” But, if your life is blessed, then surely you must show everyone that you are happy!

Another reason Paul might be cheerful at this point is that Felix is being sent back to Rome, and Festus is taking over being the Roman authority over Palestine. Felix, by the way, means happy. But, despite this, he was not always happy with the situation with Saint Paul. The hint is in the bible that Felix was waiting for Paul to pay him a bribe to get out of being held prisoner at Herod’s house. Paul never bribes his way out. He is in fact content to stay there. He has the opportunity to continue his letter writing and meetings with church leaders. He gets “three hots and a cot.”

Cheerfully Paul welcomes Festus, thinking maybe this new governor might be more open to the Gospel message and less focused on getting the bribe. Also, King Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great (please refer to the birth of Christ and

Slaughter of the Innocents) decides to come to welcome Festus as the new governor. Herod Agrippa comes with his sister Bernice and the royal guard in grand fashion in a parade of royal pomp all the way from Jerusalem.

If you are having trouble picturing this, you might have seen the royal entourage coming into Windsor Castle in England this last week in order to celebrate our President’s arrival in the country. There was a gilded carriage pulled by a team of horses that were also in fancy garb and some kind of beefeater horse hats. It is always fun to see a royal equestrian parade to be sure!

Yes, Paul not only gets to try to share faith with the new governor, but with the named Jewish King as well. The bible is clear that King Agrippa with his sister Berenice were “Almmmmmooooossstttt convinced by Paul.” Biblical historians point out that the stories that continue on about Berenice especially may imply that she was converted to Christianity–which is a good bet also because the Catholic Church decided to make her a saint! Yes, there is a Saint Berenice! (Not to be confused with a Saint Bernard!)

The Christian tradition of the early church tells of Saint Berenice having actually been at the crucifixion of Jesus–which would have been completely possible. It is reported that she gave her veil to Jesus so that he could wipe the sweat and tears away. After the complete fall of the Herodian Kingdom after the Jewish Revolt of 70AD, Berenice is said to travel to Rome where she falls in love with Emperor Tiberius (Who followed Nero). During her time there, Paul is also in prison then in Rome and John Mark is there, so Paul, John Mark, and Berenice are in the same church. When Emperor Tiberius becomes ill, Saint Berenice takes the veil that Jesus touched to him, and he is miraculously healed by it. But, I get ahead of myself in this story.

The new governor of Palestine wants to let Paul go. He cannot find any reason for him to be staying on at Herod Agrippa’s guest house there in Caesarea. And, as the bile says, “He wants to do the Jews in Jerusalem ‘a favor’!” That is most likely code for the fact that the Jews had given a bribe to Festus to have Paul sent back to them so they can finally ambush him on the road and kill him as they had planned before. Paul himself stops Festus from fulfilling the condition of the bribe he received by stating that as a Roman he has the right to appeal to Rome. Paul demands, “I appeal to Caesar!” Festus responds: “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

Before Festus can get Paul on a ship to Rome, who should show up? No other but King Herod Agrippa with his sister Berenice. This is a great opportunity for Saint Paul. Not only does he have the governor, but now he has access to the Herodian King as well. I see this as absolute integrity in ministry! He does not care about saving his own life. He just wants people to hear the truth about Jesus Christ.

It seems that in our day and age anybody will say just about anything in order to get their five minutes of fame on the internet or on the news. Think about all the things that Saint Paul could have said to Festus and Agrippa. He could have told them exactly what they wanted to hear. He could have lavished compliments on the King and Governor. He could have fed their egos. HE could have made some deal with them, buying back his own freedom. He could have made up lies that would cast dispersions on the Pharisees who wanted him dead. I am sure he must have been tempted.

We are people of integrity who know the Truth of Jesus Christ. Our Belief in Jesus informs our values that then causes us to behave in public as we do. This even leads us to a kind of cheerfulness in turmoil that non-Christians struggle to understand. I am happy to share the Truth even when it might be easier and even prudent not to tell the truth. Paul cannot deny the truth. We cannot deny the truth.

When we were missionaries in Thailand, Helen and I took Thai language courses. We were focused on being able to share the Truth with the people of Thailand who had never heard of Jesus. Imagine our surprise when the language professor told us that there really is no word in Thai for “truth.” The closest thing they have is “kwaamching,” a kind of feeling of veracity. It is only a feeling. It is not a stand alone concept. Therefore, it was nearly impossible to share the idea that Jesus is the incarnation of God’s Truth. There was no way to translate it. The best we could do wThis understanding as try to live it out.

When I was studying Russian language before traveling there I ran into a similar problem. The word that we hear translated for “truth” is of course Pravda. This word in Russian does not mean telling the absolute truth as we understand it. It means a communal understanding of what is necessarily best for the people to know. Pravda is flexible and is used like a tool to control people’s minds. It is not the immutable Truth of God at all. It is the government censored line that every “patriot” must mimic.

Muslims have an understanding that is called “taqiyyah.” It is perfectly okay to break the Ten Commandments of Moses that say we ought not bear false witness. Taqiyyah says that it is alright to lie repeatedly to Non-Muslims, especially if your survival depends on it. The truth of self-preservation!

Christian integrity is never ever speaking anything but the Truth of Jesus Christ. He was the Son of God. His salvation is offered through his sacrifice to all who will believe. He died that we might have eternal life in heaven with God. We are a truth-loving people.

This integrity as a Christian that we see in Paul is so incredibly special. Cheerfully he stands before the two most powerful people in Israel and opens up his heart about Jesus. He almost convinces the King of Israel at that time of the one Truth of Jesus. He does convince Berenice the sister to the King who then takes that Truth in love to Rome with her. He does all this with the sincere desire to share finally the Good News with the most politically powerful man on earth. Even as a prisoner of Rome, he has the integrity to stand before the Emperor. That is the power of Faith and Truth in our lives still today. So, do not be distraught. Be straught in your faith in God.

Amen.