John Calvin Commentary Acts 25:13

"Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus." — Acts 25:13 (ASV)

And after certain days. This long narration tends to this end: that we may know that although the handling of the case was interrupted, yet Paul’s bonds were famous; and that he was nevertheless brought out of prison so that he might profess his faith and dispute concerning the gospel before a notable audience; and again, that although he was despised, yet he was not considered a wicked person, lest the glory of Christ be diminished by his slander and disgrace; indeed, that he had more liberty to preach the gospel while in prison than if he had lived freely in a private house.

King Agrippa and Bernice. It is certain that this Agrippa was the son of Agrippa the elder, whose foul and detestable death was recorded in the twelfth chapter. When this man was made king of Chalcis in his uncle’s place, after the death of his father, he afterward obtained a larger dominion.

Bernice, who is mentioned here, was his own biological sister, who was first married to Herod, king of Chalcis, her uncle, and remained a widow for a certain time after his death. Yet she did not live honorably and chastely during that time, for her close intimacy with her brother Agrippa was suspected.

And so that she would not be considered an incestuous person, she married Polemon, king of Cilicia. Nevertheless, because she was more given to lust than to chastity, she deserted him. Historians nowhere say that she was her brother’s wife; and Josephus, in his Life, assigned her a dominion of her own in part of Galilee.

Therefore, it is to be supposed that since they were hardened in their wickedness, they lived together, disregarding what people said. Yet they abstained from marriage, lest their incestuous marriage should expose and also increase their crime.

Nor is it any wonder that he came for the sake of honor to greet the governor, who reigned only at the will and pleasure of another and depended upon the command and favor of the Emperor of Rome, which he had to retain and cultivate through the governor.