True Power

“The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.”  Acts 25:23

Things aren’t always as they seem, are they?  Take power, for instance …

Who can forget the image of a solitary protester in Tiananmen Square, whose mere presence and conviction brought a roaring army tank to a complete standstill? Fortified both in strength of steel and the authority of the Chinese government, this massive, advancing behemoth lost its battle – failed its mission – against one man literally standing for freedom and armed only in courage.  The whole world was watching, but appearances deceived; power wasn’t as it seemed.

In today’s text, there convened in Caesarea the “machinery” of Judea – King Herod Agrippa, his sister Bernice, Governor Festus, and a room full of military officers and local leaders. And at the command of Agrippa, Paul was brought into the auditorium.  Bound with chains, he stood alone before them.

They had not assembled against Paul, but simply to hear the defense of him who had appealed his case to Caesar. Still, it was a display of authority that would intimidate just about anyone.

Paul, however, saw it for what it was, an opportunity ... not only for his defense, but also to witness to God's faithfulness to his promises. And like the lone figure in Tiananmen Square, Paul needed no weapons, for he was already armed with all the power he needed: Truth, freely spoken.

After greeting the King with respect, Paul spoke clearly and concisely about his hope in the long-promised Messiah ... and his faith in Jesus, who fulfilled all the Messianic predictions of Moses and the prophets.  And at that point, it became clear where the real power lay ...

For it was Festus, the governor, who first lost composure, shouting “You are out of your mind, Paul!”  (“I am not insane, most excellent Festus. What I am saying is true and reasonable.”)

And when Paul asked Agrippa, a Jew by birth, if he believed in the prophets, the king completely avoided the question, exposing his own inner weakness: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”  (“Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”)

Outgunned, the king stood and left the room in full retreat, dignitaries in tow. Only when out of earshot did Agrippa privately confess, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

Appearances had deceived; power wasn’t as it seemed. Those who entered the room ”with great pomp” left it ... pomp-less!  The real power in the room that day was truth simply spoken in faith by one physically bound by man, but spiritually free in Christ.

Whether we testify before small or great, Jesus tells us, “... do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:9, 11)”

So speak truth freely!  And as you look upon things as they appear, confidently and joyfully remember this: he who holds all power lives within us.

[Read the entire story of Paul before King Agrippa in Acts 25:23 - 26:32. For the NIV, click here.  For The Message, click here.]