READ | ACTS CHAPTER 26
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people 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. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘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 and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 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.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people 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. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘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 and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 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.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
DEVOTIONAL
King Herod Agrippa II ruled a client kingdom of the Roman Empire to the northeast of Governor Festus’ province. Which is why he is referred to as a King, though very much under the authority of Caesar Nero. Agrippa didn’t rule over much territory, but he was of great influence because the emperor had given him the right to oversee the affairs of the temple in Jerusalem and the appointment of the High Priest. Paul’s appearance before King Agrippa was really a hearing, and not a trial; and though King Agrippa did not have jurisdiction over Paul in this case, his hearing of the matter would be helpful for Festus, who knew little of Jewish tradition and the controversy surrounding this person called Jesus. Agrippa, on the other hand, was a Jew himself and known to be an expert in Jewish customs and religious matters. His opinion on the case would be invaluable for Governor Festus, who was hoping to bring the matter to a swift resolution which appeased all sides.
Verse 23 of the previous chapter tells us that Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp. This was more than a hearing of evidence; it was an event, held in an auditorium, with all the commanders and prominent men of the city there. These were leaders of men all trying to elevate themselves in others’ eyes and in the eyes of the people they represented. Despite the huge amounts of arrogance and pride present in the room, Paul was being presented with a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel. Paul was brought in to testify and stood before Herod Agrippa, a man Paul would have been very familiar with; both him and his family line. His great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred James the brother of John. Now, Paul stood before the next in line of the Herod’s, Herod Agrippa. Paul would have been relieved that, because of his appeal to Caesar, his own life was not in this man’s hands. Paul had an opportunity to speak venomously to Agrippa in a very public setting. To accuse him of arrogance, pride and corruption. To expose his incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. Yet Paul does none of those things, he simply presents his testimony. There is nothing more powerful than your story. It is relatable, it is relevant to the listener, your story holds the power of life and death, and according to Revelation 12:11, the power to triumph over the accuser. Paul made it clear that in both his heart and mind, he remained a faithful Jew. His trust in Jesus was an outgrowth of his trust in the hope of the promise made by God and he argued that for this hope’s sake, he was being accused by the Jews. The auditorium where Paul spoke was filled with important people and dignitaries, but we may fairly imagine Paul speaking the words of his testimony with special attention and focus towards Agrippa. This was a very direct invitation to Agrippa to become one of those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. This king’s eyes could be opened just as Paul’s were on the road to Damascus. Oh, what an amazing thing it would be if the most powerful Jew in the world came to faith in Jesus. Perhaps the failed Jewish revolt and slaughter of A.D.70 could have been totally avoided if Agrippa had given his life to Christ.
Paul uses Festus’ outburst to appeal to what King Agrippa already knew. Then Paul brought the challenge directly to Agrippa, asking him if he believed. Paul didn’t first ask Agrippa if he believed in Jesus; he asked, “Do you believe the prophets?” Paul did this because he knew that if Agrippa did believe the prophets, truth, and reason would soon lead him to believe in Jesus. He wanted to connect what Agrippa already believed to what he should believe. This is a good and often necessary part of the presentation of the message of who Jesus is and what He did for us, calling the listener to a decision one way or the other about Jesus. Do you accept him or reject him? Who do you say Jesus is? We can only speculate as to why Agrippa said of himself that he was only almost persuaded. Here are a few ideas. One answer may have been the person sitting next to him – Bernice. She was a sinful, immoral companion, and he may have rightly realized that becoming a Christian would mean losing her and his other immoral friends. He was unwilling to make that sacrifice. Another possible answer was in the man on the other side of Agrippa; Festus – a man’s man, a no-nonsense man, a man who thought Paul was crazy. Perhaps Agrippa thought, “I can’t become a Christian, Festus will think I’m also crazy.” Because Agrippa wanted the praise and acceptance of men, Agrippa rejected Jesus, though he knew in his heart what Paul said was true. A final reason may have been Paul himself standing in front of him. Paul was a strong man, a noble man, a man of wisdom and character, but also a man in chains. Perhaps Agrippa reasoned in his heart that if he became a Christian like Paul, he may also end up in chains like Paul. Every person who has ever lived and will ever live will be presented with a similar dilemma, and like Agrippa, each of us is surrounded by reasons why we should not give our lives to Jesus. Nevertheless, this question remains: what will I do with Jesus?
Verse 23 of the previous chapter tells us that Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp. This was more than a hearing of evidence; it was an event, held in an auditorium, with all the commanders and prominent men of the city there. These were leaders of men all trying to elevate themselves in others’ eyes and in the eyes of the people they represented. Despite the huge amounts of arrogance and pride present in the room, Paul was being presented with a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel. Paul was brought in to testify and stood before Herod Agrippa, a man Paul would have been very familiar with; both him and his family line. His great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby; his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded; his father had martyred James the brother of John. Now, Paul stood before the next in line of the Herod’s, Herod Agrippa. Paul would have been relieved that, because of his appeal to Caesar, his own life was not in this man’s hands. Paul had an opportunity to speak venomously to Agrippa in a very public setting. To accuse him of arrogance, pride and corruption. To expose his incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. Yet Paul does none of those things, he simply presents his testimony. There is nothing more powerful than your story. It is relatable, it is relevant to the listener, your story holds the power of life and death, and according to Revelation 12:11, the power to triumph over the accuser. Paul made it clear that in both his heart and mind, he remained a faithful Jew. His trust in Jesus was an outgrowth of his trust in the hope of the promise made by God and he argued that for this hope’s sake, he was being accused by the Jews. The auditorium where Paul spoke was filled with important people and dignitaries, but we may fairly imagine Paul speaking the words of his testimony with special attention and focus towards Agrippa. This was a very direct invitation to Agrippa to become one of those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus. This king’s eyes could be opened just as Paul’s were on the road to Damascus. Oh, what an amazing thing it would be if the most powerful Jew in the world came to faith in Jesus. Perhaps the failed Jewish revolt and slaughter of A.D.70 could have been totally avoided if Agrippa had given his life to Christ.
Paul uses Festus’ outburst to appeal to what King Agrippa already knew. Then Paul brought the challenge directly to Agrippa, asking him if he believed. Paul didn’t first ask Agrippa if he believed in Jesus; he asked, “Do you believe the prophets?” Paul did this because he knew that if Agrippa did believe the prophets, truth, and reason would soon lead him to believe in Jesus. He wanted to connect what Agrippa already believed to what he should believe. This is a good and often necessary part of the presentation of the message of who Jesus is and what He did for us, calling the listener to a decision one way or the other about Jesus. Do you accept him or reject him? Who do you say Jesus is? We can only speculate as to why Agrippa said of himself that he was only almost persuaded. Here are a few ideas. One answer may have been the person sitting next to him – Bernice. She was a sinful, immoral companion, and he may have rightly realized that becoming a Christian would mean losing her and his other immoral friends. He was unwilling to make that sacrifice. Another possible answer was in the man on the other side of Agrippa; Festus – a man’s man, a no-nonsense man, a man who thought Paul was crazy. Perhaps Agrippa thought, “I can’t become a Christian, Festus will think I’m also crazy.” Because Agrippa wanted the praise and acceptance of men, Agrippa rejected Jesus, though he knew in his heart what Paul said was true. A final reason may have been Paul himself standing in front of him. Paul was a strong man, a noble man, a man of wisdom and character, but also a man in chains. Perhaps Agrippa reasoned in his heart that if he became a Christian like Paul, he may also end up in chains like Paul. Every person who has ever lived and will ever live will be presented with a similar dilemma, and like Agrippa, each of us is surrounded by reasons why we should not give our lives to Jesus. Nevertheless, this question remains: what will I do with Jesus?
