Acts 26:24-32. Paul is testifying before the Jewish king Agrippa in the Roman audience hall at Caesarea, where he is still being held prisoner by the governor, Festus. After Paul finishes his testimony, including recounting his vision on the road to Damascus, Festus cries out that Paul has gone mad. But Paul answers "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth." Paul then appeals to King Agrippa, saying he is convinced the king could not have failed to notice the things of which Paul has spoken, for they "were not done in a corner." Paul asks Agrippa if he believes the prophets, then says "I know that you believe." Agrippa says that it seems Paul is trying to make him a Christian, even in this short time. Paul responds that indeed, he would hope that not only Agrippa, but also Festus and all those who hear him become like Paul. Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus withdraw, and Agrippa says Paul has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. Agrippa notes that Paul could be set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.

Agrippa's initial reaction, that Paul seems to be trying to convert him, is telling of the way the truth speaks to our hearts. Paul has testified as to his vision of Christ, the mission Christ gave him, and what he has done in response. He is appealing to Agrippa as a fellow Jew, certain that Agrippa will understand, especially since none of what has happened has been done in secret (or "in a corner.") Because Agrippa is a Jew, he does know the prophets, he knows the Messianic promise. And clearly Paul is hitting the mark. It seems Agrippa does feel the pull of the truth in his heart, since his first comment is that Paul must be trying to convert him. Indeed, Paul is hoping to convert everyone, as he says, but he does not have to try very hard, he only has to speak the truth in all situations in which he finds himself. The truth will settle into the hearts of all who hear Paul speak and, slowly or quickly ("whether short or long," as Paul says), the truth will begin to convert them.

Agrippa seems to lament that Paul has appealed to Caesar because that means Paul cannot be set free right away. When he appealed to Caesar, Paul had no way of knowing that he would be given the opportunity to speak the Jewish king, but even if he had, he had no guarantee of how the king would react. So Paul made a discerned decision to appeal to Caesar, even though now it might seem like the wrong decision. This gets to issues of discernment, regrets, and abandonment to Divine Providence. In any situation, we must observe what is going on around us, try to find the truth of the situation, pray to make a good decision, bring our own virtues into the situation, discern, and ultimately make a decision. Sometimes we have a very short period of time to do this, so all of our training in discernment and the virtues will come to bear. When Paul made his decision to appeal to Caesar, he had not much time at all, but Paul had been developing the ability to do God's will, and developing his own virtue, long before that. Once we make a decision this way, we must put ourselves in God's hands and trust in His Providence.

When Paul appeared to Caesar, Paul made a decision based on the situation and facts before him at the time. Because Paul is a virtuous man, he then trusted that God would use his decision for good. Having just discussed the effect that Paul's testimony had on Agrippa, Festus, and those assembled in Caesarea, we can see that if Paul testifies before Caesar, he will be given an even bigger platform and audience to whom to speak the truth. So while his freedom would be a good thing, of course, his continued captivity and appeal to Caesar may be even better things. In fact, we can be assured that whatever happens to Paul will be what God wants for Paul, and so will be the best thing.

This is what abandonment to Divine Providence is all about. Every moment of our lives is exactly the best thing at that moment, or God would not be permitting it. If we make our decisions with discernment and virtue, we should have no regrets, even if later they seem to be wrong. God will use them for His purposes and will bring about great things through them!