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From: Acts 25:13b-21

Festus Briefs Agrippa

[13] Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. [14] And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix; [15] and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him. [16] I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had opportunity to make his defense concerning
the charge laid against him. [17] When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. [18] When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed; [19] but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. [20] Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem
and be tried there regarding them. [21] But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I send him to Caesar.”

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Commentary:

13. Herod Agrippa II was a son of Herod Agrippa I. He was born in the year 27. Like his father he had won favor with Rome and had been given various territories in northern Palestine, which he was allowed to rule with the title of king. Bernice was his sister.

19. Festus’ words show his indifference towards Paul’s beliefs and his religious controversy with the Jews. The conversation between the two politicians reveals a typical attitude of worldly men to matters which they consider far-fetched and irrelevant as far as everyday affairs are concerned. This passage also shows us that in the course of his trial Paul must have had an opportunity to speak about Jesus and confess his faith in the Resurrection.

Jesus Christ is alive; he is the center of history and the center of each and every person’s existence. “The Church believes that Christ, who died and was raised for the sake of all (cf. 2 Cor 5:15) can show man the way and strengthen him through the Spirit in order to be worthy of his destiny: nor is there any other name under heaven given among men by which they can be saved (cf. Acts 4:12). The Church likewise maintains that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man’s history is to be found in its Lord and Master. She also maintains that beneath all that changes there is much that is unchanging, much that has its ultimate foundation in Christ, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever (cf. Heb 13:8)” (Vatican II, “Gaudium Et Spes”, 10).

“Stir up that fire of faith. Christ is not a figure that has passed. He is not a memory that is lost in history.

“He lives! ‘”Jesus Christus heri et hodie, ipse et in saecula”’, says Saint Paul,—’Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever”’ ([St] J. Escriva, The Way, 584).

21. “Caesar” and “Augustus” were titles of the Roman emperor. At this time the emperor was Nero (54-68).

From: John 21:15-19

Peter’s Primacy

[15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” [16] A second time He said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, you know I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. [18] Truly, truly I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” [19] (This He said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this He said to him, “Follow Me.”

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Commentary:

15-17. Jesus Christ had promised Peter that he would be the primate of the Church (cf. Matthew 16:16-19 and note on the same). Despite his three denials during our Lord’s passion, Christ now confers on him the primacy He promised.

“Jesus questions Peter, three times, as if to give him a triple chance to atone for his triple denial. Peter has learned his lesson from the bitter experience of his wretchedness. Aware of his weakness, he is deeply convinced that rash claims are pointless. Instead he puts everything in Christ’s hands. `Lord, You know well that I love You” ([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 267). The primacy was given to Peter directly and immediately. So the Church has always understood—and so Vatican I defined: “We therefore teach and declare that, according to the testimony of the Gospel, the primacy of jurisdiction over the universal Church of God was immediately and directly promised and given to Blessed Peter the Apostle by Christ our Lord. [...] And it was upon Simon Peter alone that Jesus after His resurrection bestowed the jurisdiction of chief pastor and ruler over all His fold in the words: “Feed My lambs; feed My sheep” (”Pastor Aeternus”, Chapter 1).

The primacy is a grace conferred on Peter and his successors, the popes; it is one of the basic elements in the Church, designed to guard and protect its unity: “In order that the episcopate also might be one and undivided, and that [...] the multitude of the faithful might be kept secure in the oneness of faith and communion, He set Blessed Peter over the rest of the Apostles, and fixed in him the abiding principle of this twofold unity, and its visible foundation” (”Pastor Aeternus, Dz-Sch 3051”; cf. Vatican II, “Lumen Gentium”, 18). Therefore, the primacy of Peter is perpetuated in each of his successors: this is something which Christ disposed; it is not based on human legislation or custom.

By virtue of the primacy, Peter, and each of his successors, is the shepherd of the whole Church and vicar of Christ on earth, because he exercises vicariously Christ’s own authority. Love for the Pope, whom St. Catherine of Siena used to call “the sweet Christ on earth”, should express itself in prayer, sacrifice and obedience.

18-19. According to Tradition, St. Peter followed his Master to the point of dying by crucifixion, head downwards, “Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom in Rome during Nero’s persecution of Christians, which took place between the years 64 and 68. St. Clement, the successor of the same Peter in the See of the Church of Rome, recalls this when, writing to the Corinthians, he puts before them `the generous example of these two athletes’: `due to jealousy and envy, those who were the principal and holiest columns suffered persecution and fought the fight unto death’” ([Pope] Paul VI, “Petrum Et Paulum”).

“Follow Me!”: these words would have reminded the Apostle of the first call he received (cf. Matthew 4:19) and of the fact that Christ requires of His disciples complete self-surrender: “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up the Cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). St. Peter himself, in one of his letters, also testifies to the Cross being something all Christians must carry: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).