In Acts 26 we find the longest and most important of five speeches the apostle Paul made to defend himself and the gospel. Many charges had been leveled against Paul by the Jewish people, including the charges that he was against the law, against the temple, and against Caesar. Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea so that he could be tried on these charges. But the truth is, none of these charges was ever proven. Paul was innocent of these false charges; yet, because of politics, the Roman governors Felix and Festus did not set him free.
When Paul saw that he was not receiving justice at the hands of these governors, he appealed as a Roman citizen to Caesar Nero for an opportunity to defend himself in the court of Caesar. In Acts 25 we read that King Agrippa II and his sister Queen Bernice came to pay the new governor, Festus, a visit in Caesarea. While they were there, Festus consulted with King Agrippa II as to what he should write on the charge sheet to be sent to Rome with Paul. When Agrippa heard that Paul was there, he requested Paul be brought before him to make his case. Paul spoke to King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice.
Would any of us have the strength of our faith and our love of the Lord to stand up before a royal court and not only defend ourselves, but make every effort to convert to Christianity the very court before which we were being tried? Below is a good enactment of the trial:
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