Agrippa I left behind a teenage son who was given political authority by the Roman Emperor Claudius. This son became known as Agrippa II. His story appears in Acts 25 where he along with Festus heard Paul's defense. The Jews had charged Paul before the Roman government, first to Felix and then to his successor Festus. Paul, a Jew with Roman citizenship, appealed his case to the court of Caesar. Festus granted that, but was still unsure of what to write in the letters when Paul was sent to Rome.

It happened about this time that Herod Aripppa II with his sister Bernice came to pay a visit to the governor Festus at Caesarea. Festus told Herod Agrippa, "When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about one, Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul appealed to be reserved for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I also would like to hear the man myself." (Acts 25:18-22)

Herod's whole family history had been wrapped up in this. Now here in the fourth generation of his family, Herod Agrippa II was about to come face to face with the gospel of Christ.

Acts 26:1-8 states, "Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So answered for himself: (2) "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, (3) "especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. The re f ore I beg you to hear me patiently. (4) "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. (5) "They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (6) "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. (7) "To this (promise) our twelve tribes, earnestly serving (God) night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, the Jews accuse me. (8) "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?"

Now observe how Paul places himself in almost the same situation as Agrippa's family -- a persecutor of Christ.

(9) "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. (10) "This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against (them). (11) "And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted (them) even to foreign cities."

Next Paul shows what changed his mind.

"While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, (13) "at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. (14) "And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? (It is) hard for you to kick against the goads.' (15) "So I said, 'who are You, Lord?' And He said, `I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

Having explained his commission to be an apostle, Paul then says, "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision" (19). At vs. 22 Paul states, " Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come - (23) "that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the (Jewish) people and to the Gentiles."

Festus does not understand all these things Paul is speaking of. He interrupts saying, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" (Acts 26:24). To which Paul responded, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason" (Acts 26:25).

And then Paul redirects his address to Agrippa. (26) "For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. (27) "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." (Acts 26:26-27). When Paul speaks to Agrippa, it is he who is on trial rather than Paul. Paul may stand before Agrippa's judgment seat, but Paul brings Agrippa before Christ's judgment seat, challenging him as to his faith in God's word.

We are familiar with the response in Acts 26:28 rendered in the are KJV as "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." There is a great deal of scholarly discussion over that translation. The word almost literally is "with a little" Some have suggested what Herod is saying is sarcastic, "Paul, you think with just a little effort you can persuade me to be a Christian." Others however, don't differ dramatically from the KJV's "Almost thou persaudest me." Herod Agrippa may be saying "With very little effort you would persuade me to be a Christian" or "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

Whatever, Paul incorporates Herod's phrase into his reply: Vs. 29 states, "And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." The American standard renders it, "I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds."

I cannot say for certain, whether Herod was brushing aside Paul by saying, Why preacher, do you really think you can win over a Herod with just a little sermon? Or is Herod saying, "Paul your just a little way from convincing me I need to be a Christian."

Either way, there is one fact we need to come away with. Herod Agrippa II had been brought to the brink. By that I mean he had a rare opportunity to hear and obey the gospel. He may have been a powerful man, with an important family history, but he had to hear the same message all must hear. The truth was preached, and he knew that Paul's words meant He too must become a Christian. It is amazing to think that our story of the Herods which in the first generation tried to kill Jesus as an infant, in the second generation murdered His messenger John and shamefully mocked the Son of God on trial, and in the third generation killed one apostle and imprisoned another, and now in the fourth generation the story of the Herods culminates with him being confronted with the truth of the gospel.

No evidence exists that suggest Herod ever obeyed the gospel. But to his credit, he was the first of these Herods not to persecute the cause of Christ. Acts 26:30-31 states, "When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing worthy of death or chains."

CONCLUSION: