Still in Acts 21-25, we learn that Paul was delivered to the Roman governor of Judea, whose name was Felix in Caesarea. Felix listened to the charges of the Sanhedrin court and Paul’s defense. He procrastinated judgment for “two years” until his successor Porcius Festus took his place. 

To get off on the right foot (verse 9) and “willing to do the Jews a pleasure (favor),” Festus proposed to send Paul back to Jerusalem for trial because the charges were more theological than criminal. However, Paul knew death awaited him in Jerusalem and used his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. Festus said in verse 12, “Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go.”

This placed Festus in something of a dilemma because in sending a prisoner to Caesar’s court, he had to write the indictment. He still really didn’t know what crime Paul had committed. He was delighted then to welcome a visit from the governor of Israel, Agrippa and seek his counsel.

“King Agrippa” had the official name of Herod Agrippa II. He was an Edomite king who ruled the northern part of Palestine under Rome. His father, Agrippa I, had James killed, arrested Peter, was struck down by the Lord and eaten by worms for failing to give God the glory. His great-uncle, Herod Antipas, had John the Baptist beheaded and put Jesus on trial. His great-grand father was Herod the Great who tried to kill baby Jesus by murdering the children of Bethlehem.