Written ~ 07-08-2024
Read Acts Chapter Twenty Six
Acts 26
Our chapter for today continues where we left off in chapter 25. Paul has the opportunity to stand before King Agrippa and defend himself against the accusations from the Jewish leaders.
King Agrippa has heard the entire story as to why Paul is in prison, Governor Festus had caught him up on all the pertinent details. So when Paul is summoned by the King, he stands and addresses Agrippa, Paul starts off by showing his gratitude that he could share his side of the story to a man who was knowledgeable in all Jewish customs and controversaries.
Then Paul goes into telling King Agrippa his testimony. We first heard about Paul’s conversion story in Acts 9:1-31, from that account we see the extraordinary power and boldness Paul walks in after this encounter with Jesus. Then in Acts 22:1-21 we find Paul standing before the Jewish leaders, elders and an angry mob out to kill him, when he clears his throat to silence them and proceeds to tell them his testimony. In that account Paul gives his listeners more detail into the plan God had for his life…
Acts 22:14-16, 21…
14 “Then He told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and hear Him speak. 15 For you are to be His witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’
21 “…the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”
Now here in Acts 26, Paul goes into even more detail as to the purpose God had given him and the reason he would continue (no matter what) to speak boldly.
Acts 26:15-18…
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen Me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.’
When we look closer at what God’s calling was for Paul – we need to consider that this same call is God’s purpose for every believer…
- We are to be servants of the Lord
- We are to be the Lord’s witnesses
- We are to tell people what we have seen God do in our lives
- We are sent out into an evil world to open the eyes of the non-believer
- Through the Holy Spirit we are to show the world the light of Jesus so the world can turn from the darkness
- We are to tell the world the need for repentance of their sin and become part of God’s family
Paul has proven that by standing firm on the Word of God and working diligently through the help of the Holy Spirit – lives were being changed, people were coming to Salvation everywhere he went.
Acts 26:19-23…
19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
When we obey the Word of the Lord, miraculous things can happen. Paul admits in verse 26:19 that he “obeyed the vision from heaven” and look what happens in the wake of his obedience! People everywhere were being saved. But not without some bumps in the road. When you and I pursue the will of the Lord in everything we do or say, we will confront opposition sooner or later, that just means our message of deliverance and freedom is piercing an evil heart and they are resisting. That’s what was happening to Paul. Everywhere he went, yes, people were being saved but he also came up against the friction and opposition from the Jewish leaders.
Look at the response Paul gets from both Governor Festus and King Agrippa! Would you say their hearts were being pierced?
Acts 26:24-28…
24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
See? Paul’s testimony is powerful, his bold teaching of Salvation through Jesus Christ reaches even the most stubborn of hearts… they may be resisting the truth because of their own arrogance and obstinance… but the Good News message can break through any wall a person may try to raise up around them.
So what is Paul’s response to what King Agrippa asks?
Acts 26:29…
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
This should be our response and prayer for our loved ones who are pushing the idea of Salvation away from themselves by calling the idea crazy. Our prayer should be constant, Salvation will come when a heart becomes unguarded and softened from the hardness that has been built up over time. Our prayer should be that the blinders over their eyes and ears would be lifted so they can see and hear the miraculous things that come from the Lord.
Paul’s message is simple…
Jesus is the Messiah, He is the source of Salvation and Eternal Life.
Our message to the unbelieving world is no different. We have the Light of Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit within us, we must speak boldly, with confidence, so the heart of the non-believer can be pierced with the truth found only in Scripture.
~AMEN~