Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. Tomorrow, said he, you shall hear him.
Read Chapter 25
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Agrippa has the same curiosity of hearing Paul, as Herod formerly had of seeing Jesus. The apostle's name had, no doubt, become famous enough to reach the ears, and arrest the attention of Agrippa. Curiosity is certainly not the best motive a person can bring with him to the investigation of religious truth: still it may occasionally become productive of good. The king was half persuaded to embrace the Christian faith. A better motive, or more serious attention, may induce some to embrace the truth, which accident may first have discovered to them. (Haydock)
And observe a crimination of the Jews, not from Paul, but also from the governor. Desiring, he says, to have judgment against him. To whom I said, to their shame, that it is not the manner of the Romans, before giving an opportunity to speak for himself, to sacrifice a man. But I did give him (such opportunity), and I found no fault in him. Because I doubted, says he, of such manner of questions: he casts a veil also over his own wrong. Then the other desires to see him. (b) But let us look again at what has been said.
so that it was but natural that he showed them a pleasure, as he had been so long governor there. Now when Festus had come into the province, etc. ch. 25:1, 2 At the very beginning, the priests came to him, who would not have hesitated to go even to Cæsarea, unless he had been seen immediately coming up, since immediately on his arrival they come to him. And he spends ten days, in order, I suppose, to be open to those who wished to corrupt him with bribes. But Pa...
