And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to salute Festus.
king.
Acts 25:22,23 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him…
Acts 26:1,27,28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: …
to.
1 Samuel 13:10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
1 Samuel 25:14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
2 Samuel 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
King Agrippa and Bernice
King Agrippa II was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and the last ruler of the Herodian dynasty. He was known for his knowledge of Jewish customs and laws, which made him a significant figure in Judea. Bernice was Agrippa's sister, and their close relationship was a subject of gossip and controversy. Their presence highlights the political and familial complexities of the Herodian dynasty.
came down to Caesarea
Caesarea was the Roman administrative capital of Judea, located on the Mediterranean coast. It was a significant city built by Herod the Great and served as the residence of the Roman governors. The phrase "came down" reflects the geographical descent from the higher elevation of Jerusalem to the coastal city of Caesarea.
to pay their respects to Festus
This visit was likely a formal diplomatic gesture, as Festus was newly appointed as the Roman governor. Such visits were customary to establish political alliances and show support. It also provided an opportunity for Agrippa, knowledgeable in Jewish affairs, to offer insights to Festus regarding the complex religious and political issues in the region.
“After several days had passed” links this verse to what has just occurred—Festus’ first hearing with Paul (Acts 25:1-12).
• This brief delay shows Festus did not act impulsively but allowed time for official matters to settle (compare Acts 24:27 where Felix delayed Paul’s case for two years).
• The wording reminds us that God’s timetable is always in motion, even when days simply “pass” (Psalm 31:15; Galatians 4:4).
• Paul, still in custody at Caesarea (Acts 23:35), waits patiently. His circumstances look stalled, yet the Lord is preparing the next step in the gospel’s advance (Acts 23:11).
• “Came down” reflects the descent from the higher elevation of their royal seat in Jerusalem to the coastal plain of Caesarea (Acts 8:5).
• King Agrippa here is Herod Agrippa II, great-grandson of Herod the Great; Bernice is both his sister and frequent public companion (Acts 26:30). Their appearance fulfills Jesus’ word that His witnesses would stand before “kings” (Luke 21:12-13; Acts 9:15).
• Caesarea is Rome’s provincial capital in Judea, where Cornelius first heard the gospel (Acts 10:1-48). God keeps bringing key leaders to this city so they must confront Christ through His servant Paul (Acts 12:19-24).
• These royal visitors hold civil authority, yet they themselves will soon hear Paul testify about the risen Lord (Acts 26:1-32). The gospel continues moving from local synagogue disputes to the highest circles of power (Philippians 1:12-13).
• Festus is the newly installed Roman governor, replacing Felix (Acts 24:27). In ancient custom, regional rulers honored a new procurator to secure good relations (Proverbs 18:16).
• Their courtesy visit sets the stage for Festus to consult Agrippa about Paul’s case (Acts 25:14-22). The Lord uses ordinary political protocol to open extraordinary gospel opportunities (Romans 8:28).
• By seeking favor with Festus, Agrippa and Bernice unintentionally place themselves where they will hear the saving message (Acts 26:28). Political ambition meets divine appointment.
• Scripture underscores that every earthly authority, whether Roman governor or Jewish king, ultimately answers to God’s authority (Romans 13:1; Daniel 4:17). Paul’s impending defense will make that truth unmistakable.
Acts 25:13 records more than a polite state visit; it quietly reveals God orchestrating events so Paul can proclaim Christ to rulers. A few “days” pass, a royal entourage travels down to Caesarea, and a courtesy call is paid—but behind each detail stands the sovereign hand of the Lord. What looks like routine politics becomes the next step in fulfilling Jesus’ promise that His gospel will reach kings and nations.
(13) King Agrippa and Bernice.--Each of the characters thus brought on the scene has a somewhat memorable history. (1) The former closes the line of the Herodian house. He was the son of the Agrippa whose tragic end is related in Acts 12:20-23, and was but seventeen years of age at the time of his father's death, in A.D. 44. He did not succeed to the kingdom of Judaea, which was placed under the government of a procurator; but on the death of his uncle Herod, the king of Chalcis, in A.D. 48, received the sovereignty of that region from Claudius, and with it the superintendence of the Temple and the nomination of the high priests. Four years later he received the tetrarchies that had been governed by his great-uncles Philip and Lysanias (Luke 3:1), with the title of king. In A.D. 55 Nero increased his kingdom by adding some of the cities of Galilee (Jos. Ant. xix. 9, ? 1; xx. 1, ? 3; 8, ? 5). He lived to see the destruction of Jerusalem, and died under Trajan (A.D. 100) at the age of seventy-three. (2) The history of Bernice, or Berenice (the name seems to have been a Macedonian form of Pherenice) reads like a horrible romance, or a page from the chronicles of the Borgias. She was the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I., and was married at an early age to her uncle the king of Chalcis. Alliances of this nature were common in the Herodian house, and the Herodias of the Gospels passed from an incestuous marriage to an incestuous adultery. (See Note on Matthew 14:1.) On his death Berenice remained for some years a widow, but dark rumours began to spread that her brother Agrippa, who had succeeded to the principality of Chalcis, and who gave her, as in the instance before us, something like queenly honours, was living with her in a yet darker form of incest, and was reproducing in Judaea the vices of which his father's friend, Caligula, had set so terrible an example (Sueton. Calig. c. 24). With a view to screening herself against these suspicions she persuaded Polemon, king of Cilicia, to take her as his queen, and to profess himself a convert to Judaism, as Azizus had done for her sister Drusilla (see Note on Acts 24:24), and accept circumcision. The ill-omened marriage did not prosper. The queen's unbridled passions once more gained the mastery. She left her husband, and he got rid at once of her and her religion. Her powers of fascination, however, were still great, and she knew how to profit by them in the hour of her country's ruin. Vespasian was attracted by her queenly dignity, and yet more by the magnificence of her queenly gifts. His son Titus took his place in her long list of lovers. She came as his mistress to Rome, and it was said that he had promised her marriage. This, however, was more than even the senate of the empire could tolerate, and Titus was compelled by the pressure of public opinion to dismiss her, out his grief in doing so was matter of notoriety, "Dimisit invitus invitam" (Sueton. Titus, c. 7 Tacit. Hist. ii. 81; Jos. Ant. xx. 7, ? 3). The whole story furnished Juvenal with a picture of depravity which stands almost as a pendent to that of Messalina (Sat. vi. 155?9).To salute Festus.--This visit was probably, as the word indicates, of the nature of a formal recognition of the new procurator on his arrival in the province.
Verse 13. - Now when certain days were passed for and after certain days, A.V.; Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at for King Agrippa and Bernice came unto, A.V.; and saluted for to salute, A.V. and T.R. Agrippa the king. Herod Agrippa II., son of Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12.), and consequently brother of Drusilla (Acts 24:24). He was only seventeen at his father's death, and so not considered by Claudius a safe person to entrust his father's large dominions to. But he gave him Chalets, and afterwards, in exchange for it, other dominions. It was he who made Ismael the son of Phabi high priest, and who built the palace at Jerusalem which overlooked the temple, and gave great offence to the Jews. He was the last of the Herods, and reigned above fifty years. Bernice was his sister, but was thought to be living in an incestuous intercourse with him. She had been the wife of her uncle Herod, Prince of Chalets; and on his death lived with her brother. She then for a while became the wife of Polemo, King of Cicilia, but soon returned to Herod Agrippa. She afterwards became the mistress of Vespasian and of Titus in succession (Alford). And saluted; ἀσπασόμενοι, which reading Meyer and Alford both retain. The reading of the R.T. is ἀσπασάμενοι. It is quite in accordance with the position of a dependent king, that he should come and pay his respects to the new Roman governor at Caesarea.