Paul's Trial Before Agrippa

While Paul was being held in Caesarea for transport to Rome, King Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II) arrived to greet the new governor of Judea. This providence provided Paul with his third opportunity for bringing his gospel to Gentile rulers in Israel. But this third ruler was different than Felix and Festus: Though ruling in Rome's name and authority, Agrippa had a Judaistic background, being a descendent of the Edomite people converted to Judaism under the Hasmoneans (Maccabeans). As Paul would himself note, Agrippa was in a unique position to hear and judge his defense, for he knew well the things Paul was testifying to. But greater awareness and understanding means greater obligation; of whom much is given much is required. If Felix and Festus were culpable for their rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ, how much more would that be true of Herod Agrippa?