The Pomp, The Paperwork, and The Power: A Guide to Acts 25:13-27
- Thad DeBuhr
- 6 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Study Guide: Acts 25:13-27
Imagine walking into a high-stakes corporate boardroom. On one side of the mahogany table, you have the CEO and the investors, dressed in $5,000 suits, surrounded by assistants and expensive tech. They hold all the "power." On the other side is a guy in a wrinkled t-shirt who just walked in off the street. But here’s the twist: the guy in the t-shirt is the only one who knows how the building’s foundation works, and he knows it’s about to collapse. Who really has the power in that room?
In Acts 25, Paul is the guy in the "wrinkled shirt" (or in his case, prison rags and chains). He stands before a King and a Governor who are covered in gold and titles. To the world, Paul is a loser. But as we dig into this study, we see that the people on the thrones are actually the ones who are trapped, while the man in chains is the only one moving with a mission.
Before you dig into the rest of the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the passage in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the scene:
To get this passage, we have to look at the "Who’s Who" of the Roman world in AD 59.
The Location: We are in Caesarea Maritima. This was a stunning, Roman-built port city on the coast of Israel. It had a massive theater, a stadium, and a palace. It was the headquarters for the Roman governors. It felt more like Rome than Jerusalem.
The New Guy (Festus): Porcius Festus had just taken over a region that was falling apart. He was trying to be a "good" leader, but he was stuck with a prisoner (Paul) that he didn't know what to do with.
The Royal Guests (Agrippa and Bernice): King Agrippa II was the last of the Herods. He wasn't a "King" over all of Israel, but he was a powerful "client king" who looked after the Temple in Jerusalem. He was Jewish by religion but Roman by culture. He traveled with his sister, Bernice, and the rumors were flying that their relationship was much more than just "siblings."
The Timing: Paul had been sitting in a cell for two years. His life felt like it was on "pause," but as we are about to see, God was actually setting the stage for Paul to speak to the highest levels of government.
Deep Dive: What Actually Happened?
In our podcast, we looked at the conversation between the Governor and the King. Here is a deeper breakdown of the points we covered:
1. The "Religious" Confusion (Acts 25:13-21)
Festus sits down with Agrippa for a "working lunch." He vents his frustration about Paul. He admits that he expected Paul to be a criminal, but instead, the whole argument was about "their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive" (Acts 25:19).
The Western Blind Spot: Festus saw the Resurrection as a "point of view" or a weird hobby. But for Paul, the Resurrection was a fact of history that changed the rules of the universe.
Context: Festus is the classic "secular man." He can handle facts and figures, but he is totally blind to spiritual reality. He thinks he’s talking about a dead man; Paul knows he’s serving a Living King.
2. Pomp vs. Purpose (Acts 25:22-23)
Agrippa is curious. He wants to hear Paul. The next day, the King and Bernice enter the hall with "great pomp."
The Visual: Imagine the bright purple robes, the gold jewelry, and the "five commanders" (high-ranking military officers) and the leading men of the city standing at attention.
The Contrast: Then comes Paul. His skin is probably pale from two years indoors. His clothes are worn. He is wearing chains. But Paul doesn't blink. He knows that Agrippa’s "pomp" is temporary, but his mission is eternal.
Key Word: The Greek word for "pomp" is phantasia (where we get the word "fantasy"). Luke is telling us that the King’s power was just a show—a fantasy—compared to the reality of God’s Kingdom.
3. The Paperwork Crisis (Acts 25:24-27)
Festus stands up and basically says, "I have a problem." He admits Paul has done nothing deserving of death, but he has to send him to the Emperor (Nero) in Rome.
The Dilemma: It was a crime in Rome to send a prisoner to the Emperor without a list of specific charges. Festus was basically admitting, "I'm holding this man, but I have no idea why." * Historical Insight: Festus used this "hearing" to crowdsource a list of crimes. He was hoping Agrippa, who knew Jewish Law, could help him fill out the paperwork so he wouldn't look like an idiot when Paul arrived in Rome.
Why We Look at "Wrong" and "Right" Applications
This passage is about how the "World" reacts to the "Gospel." If we don't apply this correctly, we miss the encouragement it’s meant to give us when we feel like the world is against us.
🛑 Applying it Wrong: The Common Pitfalls
The "Evidence" Obsession: People often use this to say we just need more "proof" to convince skeptics. They think if Paul had just been more logical, Festus would have believed. But Festus didn't have a "head" problem; he had a "heart" problem. He didn't want to believe.
The "Political Christian" View: Some use this to say Christians should seek "pomp" and "power" to get the message out. They think we need to "be like Agrippa" to influence the world. But the influence in this story came from the man in chains, not the man on the throne.
✅ Applying it the Right Way:
See the Irony: Notice that the "free" people (Festus and Agrippa) are actually the ones stuck. They are trapped by their reputations, their scandals, and their jobs. Paul is the only one who can speak the truth without fear.
Understand the "Already/Not Yet": This is a term scholars like NT Wright use. It means Jesus is already King, but the world hasn't yet fully realized it. Paul acts like Jesus is the boss even while the Roman government is holding his chains.
Trust the "Red Tape": Sometimes, God uses the "paperwork" of your life (legal delays, job requirements, waiting periods) to put you in exactly the right room at the right time.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage and help guide your discussions in your Journey Groups and Me & 3 small groups.
The Facts (What does it say?)
Goal: To ensure everyone is grounded in the actual text before moving to interpretation.
Who did Festus invite to hear Paul's case, and why did he think this person could help?
How did Festus describe the core of the dispute between Paul and the Jewish leaders in verse 19?
What did Festus say was "unreasonable" about sending Paul to Rome in verse 27?
The Meaning (What does it mean?)
Goal: To dig into the "Why" behind the history and the culture.
Why does Luke use the word "fantasy" or "pomp" to describe the King's entrance? What is he trying to show us?
Why is the Resurrection of Jesus the "tipping point" for people like Festus? Why can't he just accept it as a nice idea?
What does it tell us about God’s providence that the Roman Governor had to publicly admit Paul’s innocence?
The Heart (What am I hearing?)
Goal: To let the Holy Spirit use the text as a mirror for our own lives.
When you feel "stuck" or "in chains," do you feel like God has forgotten you, or do you see it as a potential "stage" for the Gospel?
Are you ever intimidated by the "pomp" of people in power (bosses, wealthy people, influencers)? How does Paul’s attitude help you?
Do you view the Resurrection as a "religious topic" or as the central fact that guides your daily decisions?
The Hands (What will I do?)
Goal: To move from "interesting thoughts" to "Kingdom action."
Is there a "paperwork" problem or a delay in your life right now? How can you start viewing that as God setting the scene for something else?
Who is someone in your life who sees Jesus as just a "religious opinion"? How can you share a "fact" of what He has done for you this week?
In your next "boardroom" or "waiting room" moment, what is one way you can act with the confidence of Paul rather than the confusion of Festus?
Journey Group Discussion Starter:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
The "First Impression": If you were in that room in Caesarea, and you saw the King in his gold and Paul in his chains, who would you have naturally assumed was winning at life? Why is our first impression often wrong when it comes to God’s work?
The "Jesus is Alive" Test: Festus said the whole thing was about "a dead man Paul claims is alive." If someone looked at your life this week, would they see any evidence that you believe Jesus is actually alive and in the room with you?
Sum it Up
In Acts 25:13-27, we see that the world’s power is often just a "fantasy" made of gold and titles. While the leaders were worried about their paperwork and their reputations, Paul was focused on his mission. You don't need to be in charge of the room to be the most powerful person in it. When you know the King who defeated death, you are never truly stuck—you are just waiting for the next door to open.
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