SCRIPTURE: ACTS 26
Agrippa gave Paul the permission to speak for himself. So Paul began his defense:
“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.” (vs. 2-3)
“The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now, it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God, day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? ” (vs. 4-8)
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible, to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.; And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priest I put many of the saints in prison and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many times I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force that to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. (vs. 9-11)
“On one of these journeys, I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (vs. 12-18)
“So King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But I have had God’s help to his very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen– that Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (vs. 19-23)
After hearing the defense of Paul, Festus said Paul was insane and out of his mind. Then King Agrippa together with the governor and Bernice rose and left the room. Then they said: “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” (v. 31) King Agrippa said to Festus, “this man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
(v. 32)
THOUGHTS:
Paul delivered a powerful message during his defense to the royal audience. He told his story including the resurrection of Christ,, equal share of the Gentiles in God’s inheritance and blessings of the covenant that God made with Abraham. He was risking his life for a message that was offensive to the Jews and the unbelievable Gentiles.
Agrippa responded to Paul’s presentation with a sarcastic remark. Instead of reacting, he made a personal appeal to his listeners about God’s plan of salvation. He was more concerned with the salvation of the hearers than for the removal of his own chains. Paul’s response was a good example for us as we tell others about the Good News. A sincere personal appeal or testimony can show the depth of our concern and convince the hardened hearts.