To-day's readings present us with a small cross section of the human race. All five, Peter, Paul, Festus, Agrippa and Bernice were alike in that they appear in the readings because of some contact, however limited, they had with Jesus. Their reactions to these contacts , however, were very different.

Festus does not emerge from the meeting in a very creditable light. He was obviously trying to play safe in his handling of Paul's case. He ingratiated himself with anyone who might prove useful to him. He tried to give the impression of being an unbiased,objective upholder of the law. He was not, however, totally closed to honesty and fairness.

Agrippa and Bernice were minor rulers of a few small territories in northern Palestine. They were flattered by the respect paid to them by Festus but they were level headed and fair minded and Agrippa seems to have had a sense of humour which Paul appreciated and followed up on.

Paul was a fiery person but is restrained in today's reading. While quite willing to die for his Master, he is wise enough to temporarily play the legal game in pursuit of an immediate good. Peter is the chastened but loving friend of Jesus, still capable of the odd mistake but ready now to die for Jesus.

We see how Peter and Paul were changed by their contact with Jesus. What about ourselves?