The Almost Converted King Agrippa
The Almost Converted King Agrippa
Sometimes, God will allow us the opportunity to meet some of this world’s “important” people and/or “movers and shakers”. Paul’s trial is doing exactly that for him. Today, Paul meets the “who is who” – King Agrippa and his sister Bernice; governor Festus and other “great people” in the province. Paul was not here to collect autographs but will use this chance to speak boldly about Christ and the salvation He offers. May we never squander our own opportunities; whether it is meeting the owner of the company, the president of your institution or the CEO or any of the political leaders of our time. Our natural incline is to seek what “movers and shakers” can give/do for us (networking in today’s language), but we should give them what we have – Christ. Most often than not, they lack what we have. Let us be givers instead of takers.
Acts 26
1Then 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, 3and 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 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. 5They 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. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7This 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. 8Why 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. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About 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. 14We 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 of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to 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. 20First 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. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God's help to this 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— 23that the Christ[b] would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 24At 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. 26The 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. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul considers himself “fortunate” to stand before King Agrippa. I am not sure why but I believe it is for the chance to proclaim the gospel to those who are in authority. His fortune was not that he was really expecting the king to release him. His fortune is that these guys who ordinarily would not have heard the gospel would now hear it. Do you consider yourself fortunate at the place of work or in the difficult pickles you find yourself and seize the opportunity to testify for Jesus?
2. Apostle Paul recounts his past. It is always helpful to remind ourselves where we have come from. 9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem” vs.9-10. I don’t know about you but I used to laugh and mock my cousin who had become born again before me. I thought he was into something and we made fun of him. Let’s never forget, otherwise we get big heads and the “holier than thou” attitude.
3. Just like Paul received it, we have the same mandate from the Lord. Here it is: “I am sending you to them 18to 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.17,18. Do you have any loftier goal in life than this? Everything we do must feed to accomplish this calling. How are you doing on this? Lately, I have been frustrated and asking God by the power of His Holy Spirit to enable me to accomplish this mandate in my everyday life. We have been sent and there is no confusion about the mission and message. Please pray for me.
4. Listen to Governor Festus after hearing Paul’s telling of his encounter with Jesus. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane" vs. 24. Many think the same way of Christians. I hope he later believed because Festus died within two years of this hearing. Yes, we are out of our minds to believe in Christ and His resurrection that gave us life.
5. The ultimate question by Paul. “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?” I know you do.” Vs. 27. In other words, King Agrippa do you believe what the prophets have testified about the Christ who has come, crucified, and has risen? Everyone must answer this question. We must ask people the same question.
6. King Agrippa answered. "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" What a missed opportunity for the king. Agrippa was well acquainted with Christianity and about Christ. Perhaps he is feeling the peer pressure and wanting to be “cool”. We will get similar responses but we should not give up. We must continue to pray for such as King Agrippa, governor Festus, Bernice and all the “small and great” people. Everyone needs Jesus. He is the only hope. Anything and everything else we are pursuing is a façade and a chasing of the wind.
May God help us to be obedient to the “heavenly vision” like Apostle Paul. Have you received God’s grace like Paul? We owe it to others who are yet to come to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. “16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” John 15:15. Let us make use of every opportunity including meeting “important” people regardless of the circumstances that bring us to them.
Sometimes, God will allow us the opportunity to meet some of this world’s “important” people and/or “movers and shakers”. Paul’s trial is doing exactly that for him. Today, Paul meets the “who is who” – King Agrippa and his sister Bernice; governor Festus and other “great people” in the province. Paul was not here to collect autographs but will use this chance to speak boldly about Christ and the salvation He offers. May we never squander our own opportunities; whether it is meeting the owner of the company, the president of your institution or the CEO or any of the political leaders of our time. Our natural incline is to seek what “movers and shakers” can give/do for us (networking in today’s language), but we should give them what we have – Christ. Most often than not, they lack what we have. Let us be givers instead of takers.
Acts 26
1Then 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, 3and 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 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. 5They 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. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7This 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. 8Why 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. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About 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. 14We 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 of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to 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. 20First 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. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God's help to this 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— 23that the Christ[b] would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 24At 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. 26The 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. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul considers himself “fortunate” to stand before King Agrippa. I am not sure why but I believe it is for the chance to proclaim the gospel to those who are in authority. His fortune was not that he was really expecting the king to release him. His fortune is that these guys who ordinarily would not have heard the gospel would now hear it. Do you consider yourself fortunate at the place of work or in the difficult pickles you find yourself and seize the opportunity to testify for Jesus?
2. Apostle Paul recounts his past. It is always helpful to remind ourselves where we have come from. 9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem” vs.9-10. I don’t know about you but I used to laugh and mock my cousin who had become born again before me. I thought he was into something and we made fun of him. Let’s never forget, otherwise we get big heads and the “holier than thou” attitude.
3. Just like Paul received it, we have the same mandate from the Lord. Here it is: “I am sending you to them 18to 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.17,18. Do you have any loftier goal in life than this? Everything we do must feed to accomplish this calling. How are you doing on this? Lately, I have been frustrated and asking God by the power of His Holy Spirit to enable me to accomplish this mandate in my everyday life. We have been sent and there is no confusion about the mission and message. Please pray for me.
4. Listen to Governor Festus after hearing Paul’s telling of his encounter with Jesus. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane" vs. 24. Many think the same way of Christians. I hope he later believed because Festus died within two years of this hearing. Yes, we are out of our minds to believe in Christ and His resurrection that gave us life.
5. The ultimate question by Paul. “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?” I know you do.” Vs. 27. In other words, King Agrippa do you believe what the prophets have testified about the Christ who has come, crucified, and has risen? Everyone must answer this question. We must ask people the same question.
6. King Agrippa answered. "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" What a missed opportunity for the king. Agrippa was well acquainted with Christianity and about Christ. Perhaps he is feeling the peer pressure and wanting to be “cool”. We will get similar responses but we should not give up. We must continue to pray for such as King Agrippa, governor Festus, Bernice and all the “small and great” people. Everyone needs Jesus. He is the only hope. Anything and everything else we are pursuing is a façade and a chasing of the wind.
May God help us to be obedient to the “heavenly vision” like Apostle Paul. Have you received God’s grace like Paul? We owe it to others who are yet to come to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. “16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” John 15:15. Let us make use of every opportunity including meeting “important” people regardless of the circumstances that bring us to them.
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