Naturally, human beings are proud in their hearts. Most of us have many reasons for being humbled and not daring to display our pride too much, but the trappings of high office can bring it to the surface. The new governor of Northern Israel and Syria, Festus, was being visited by King Herod Agrippa II. It was a diplomatic visit but also an opportunity to show Festus that he was under Herod's jurisdiction. Both men were trying to impress each other.

Agrippa came into the great hall in fine robes accompanied by tribunes and a procession of people who thought they were important. Festus hosted the proceedings. After all the pomp and ceremony, Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. All eyes were on the prisoner; such a contrast to the king, and his incestuous sister-wife, Bernice, in all their finery. The apostle was chained to two soldiers, a dramatic statement that Paul was a nobody, totally under their control.

Festus made a grand speech, designed to impress the king, military, and civic officials; and designed to belittle Paul. The governor portrayed himself as a wise, just and impartial man, although that was not true. He was frightened that the religious establishment would protest against him or that Caesar would be angered to receive a prisoner who had done nothing wrong. So he publicly put the responsibility onto Agrippa to provide an official reason for Paul's appearance in Rome. Agrippa's entrance was grand. But although his relationship with Bernice was a public scandal, like his ancestors, he was determined to be seen as the supreme power in Israel.

God does not work like that. In Christ, He came to earth as a baby, conceived in an unmarried mother, and was a refugee until He became a tradesman working with wood and nails: yet He became the Saviour of the world. The church usually appears fragile but it is actually eternal. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." There is no need to try to make an impression on God because He uses humble people in a way which proud people cannot even imagine. So if you feel you have nothing to boast about – praise God. If you do boast – repent.