We saw last week that although Governor Festus was intending to send Paul to Rome to be tried under Caesar, he needed to have more concrete charges against him. All of his previous charges were brought by Jewish antagonists and focused on the temple and the Law of Moses. Festus already determined that Paul had done nothing deserving of death according to Roman law, but he needed to accuse him of some offence against Rome, not just an offense against the Jews. And Festus was hoping that such an accusation would surface as he stood before King Agrippa.
And so, when Paul was brought into the courtroom, King Agrippa told him that he was permitted to speak for himself without having an attorney present. As Paul began his defense, he acknowledged that Agrippa was an expert in all of the customs and questions among the Jews. Paul also noted that all the Jews present in the courtroom knew about his former life as a Pharisee, and that now,
“…I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead? (Acts 26:6-8).
Knowing that many Pharisees were in the audience, Paul appealed to their common belief in the hope of the resurrection of the dead, and that they should not find it unreasonable if God actually did raise someone from the dead. And, of course, Paul was alluding to the prior resurrection of Jesus.
Paul then shared how he had received authority from the chief priests to seek out Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial, and likely death. Paul recalled how he tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, he kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. And then Paul shared how when they were being put to death, he cast his vote against them (he didn’t mention Stephen by name, but he was certainly on Paul’s mind).
And then Paul began to share about the circumstances that led to his conversion, and how at midday on the road to Damascus,
“…I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me’ (Acts 26:13-18).
At this point, Paul wanted Agrippa to know that he had not been disobedient to the vision he had received from God. After all, would Agrippa have told him to disobey that vision? Of course not! And then Paul said,
“I kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance (Acts 26:20).
Now Paul is getting to the heart of the matter, in that he was fulfilling the Lord’s command to preach repentance, and for those who responded, that they should perform deeds in keeping with their repentance. But that was not what really irritated the Jews — it was that he was called to preach this message not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles! Paul recounts that this was why he was seized in the temple and why they wanted to put him to death. But Paul made a point of saying that God had delivered him, and was able to stand before him in order to testify,
“…to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:22-23).
Being a Roman, Festus had finally had enough and said,
“Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad” (Acts 26:24).
But Paul replied to Festus,
“I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner” (Acts 26:25-26).
Even though Festus thought Paul was crazy, Paul appealed to the facts that were true, facts that told the story Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the story of his conversion and subsequent ministry throughout the Roman Empire. I find it interesting that Paul appealed to Agrippa’s knowledge of the events surrounding Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection some thirty years prior, which Agrippa would have been fully aware of. And then Paul addressed Agrippa directly,
“King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do” (Acts 26:27).
How bold of Paul! Notice how he focused on “the Prophets” of the Old Testament, and if you remember, the liberal Sadducees did not acknowledge the prophets, but the more conservative Jews (including the Pharisees) did acknowledge them. And it was the prophet Isaiah who prophesied the future sufferings of the Messiah (Isaiah 53). In essence, Paul was telling Agrippa that because he believed the Prophets, he had to believe in the prophetic message of Isaiah. And then, Agrippa replied to Paul,
“In such a short time do you think that you will persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28)?
And Paul replied,
“I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:29).
At this point, Agrippa stood up along with Festus and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, and they began talking to one another, saying,
“This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (Acts 26:31-32).
We might be inclined to think that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he would have been set free to continue traveling around the Empire sharing the gospel. What a pity, so we might think! But Paul realized that his imprisonment was God’s plan all along. Paul needed to go to Rome and stand trial before Nero Caesar. And so, Paul had no problem remaining a prisoner for the precise reason that he was called to testify in Rome.
Luke records that Agrippa was “almost persuaded” to become a Christian. Maybe some of you reading this have been “almost persuaded” just as Agrippa was. I am not aware of any historical data that would suggest that he ever did. He likely stepped into eternity without Christ. If you have been putting off that decision to receive Christ and follow Him, then don’t put it off any longer. Let the Holy Spirit “persuade” you to repent of your sin and turn to Jesus.
There is an old traditional hymn that I remember singing as a young boy called “Almost Persuaded” by Philip Bliss. I’m including the words to all 5 stanzas. For some of you, this may provide just the “nudge” you need:
1 Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
on Thee I’ll call.”
2 “Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are lingering near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wanderer, come!
3 Oh, be persuaded! Christ never fails—
Oh, be persuaded! His blood avails—
Can save from every sin,
Cleanse you without, within—
Will you not let Him in?
Open the door!
4 “Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last;
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad that bitter wail—
“Almost—but lost!”
5 Be now persuaded, oh, sinner, hear!
Be now persuaded, Jesus is near;
His voice is pleading still,
Turn now with heart and will,
Peace will your spirit fill—
Oh, turn today!
God bless you all. Hope to see you next week!
