Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14 And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15 and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19 Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”
23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
What do Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp, Bruce Willis, George Harrison, and Stephen King have in common? They all have cameo appearances in various movies. They show up as a shopkeeper, an alien, or as themselves. In and out in a few minutes, or seconds. People enjoy seeing these – at least I do when I see one of the 12 people I can name in one of these films. In fact it seems some of the movies are actually written to set up these cameos.
But notice this. Paul is spoken of throughout these verses but never really makes an appearance. He is brought in. But Festus does all the speaking. King Agrippa and Bernice are there, but the king has only one line. And this guy is a significant leader. Herod Agrippa II was a member of the Herodian dynasty, a line of rulers with strong ties to the Roman Empire. Agrippa II was the son of Herod Agrippa I (who is mentioned in Acts 12) and the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who ruled during the time of Jesus’ birth. This is no lightweight. No matter. Festus will hog the limelight. It seems he can’t help himself.
But there is much more going on here than Festus’ posturing and Paul’s waiting in the wings. King Agrippa will play a pivotal role in getting Paul to Rome. He doesn’t have to say much because he is king. But he will have much to say as this saga unfolds. All this is to set up some important dialogue between Paul and Agrippa, and Paul’s continuing missionary work.
There is another not-even-a-cameo Actor involved in this story. Jesus’ name is mentioned, but in passing. It’s almost a throw away comment about, “certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.”
But Jesus isn’t waiting in the wings to be brought on stage. He has had center stage. His prop was a cross. His exit was to a tomb. But his ultimate Prop is an empty tomb, and his final exit is to the right hand of God.
Paul will make more than a cameo appearance as this episode unfolds. But his appearance – even as it continues through his long and eventful travel to Rome – is not eternal. Jesus’ ultimate appearance will be forever, and every tongue will confess his lordship and reign for all eternity. His final appearance will be The Starring Role, no mere cameo.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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