The Trial of Paul – Who was Bernice? - Acts 25:23

Acts 25:23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with high ranking officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

When Paul was tried at Caesarea, Bernice was one of the high ranking officials at his trial. Bernice was the sister of Herod Agrippa II who was also at the trial. Bernice was the great grandchild of Herod the Great. Bernice’s first husband was Alexander the Alabarch, the nephew of Philo of Alexandria. Alexander the Alabarch may be mentioned in Acts 4:6 in connection with the trial of the apostles. Bernice eventually became romantically involved with Titus Flavius who was the roman general that destroyed Jerusalem and later became Caesar of the Roman Empire. During her lifetime, Bernice became one of the most important political figures of the Roman Empire.

Bernice, the pragmatic politician, lived a Godless life and is now merely a footnote in history. Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, lived a God filled life and is considered to be one of the most influential people who ever lived.

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament