Introduction:

King Agrippa had entered the auditorium with great pomp.  Festus the governor told him about Paul and why he was a prisoner.  Agrippa desired to hear Paul so he permitted him to speak.

Body:

I.  Paul Makes His Opening Remarks  Acts 26:1-8 “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You are permitted to speak for yourself.’  So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself.  “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews.  Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.  My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.  They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.  To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain.  For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.’ ” NKJV  

·  Paul was fortunate to address Agrippa.  He knew much about the Jewish life.  Paul also sincerely wanted to convert Agrippa!

·  Paul stressed his life as a Pharisee.  They believed the Old Testament promises as well as the resurrection of the dead.  (Acts 23:6, 8) “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!’ 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection – and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.” NKJV

·  Note that he mentioned the twelve tribes, not just two.  Jesus did also as well as James and John.

·  The hope of the promise included the resurrection of the dead.  (Daniel 12:2) “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.  Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.”  (Job 19:25-27) “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall  stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another, How my heart yearns within me!” NKJV  If God could raise others from the dead, why is it so hard to believe that He raised Jesus from the dead.

II.  Paul Tells of His Conversion  Acts 26:9-18 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.  While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.  And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?  It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’  So I said,  ‘Who are You, Lord?’  And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,  to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.  I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ ” NKJV  

·  Paul admits that he had been where they are now.  He also admits those he had locked up were in reality saints.  He reveals his past zeal for Judaism.

·  Paul now tells Agrippa what caused his great change.  God had been prodding him to accept Jesus.

·  The prodding then became a nail that pierced his heart.  “Minister” is one who serves a higher will.  Jesus appeared to Paul to qualify him as an apostle.  (Acts 22:14-15) “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.  For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.” NKJV  (Acts 1:21-22) “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” NKJV

·  God was sending Paul to both Jew and Gentile, to open their eyes and turn them from darkness.  (Ephesians 5:8) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light” NKJV

III.  Paul Preaches the Resurrection  Acts 26:19-27 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.  For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.  Therefore, having obtained help for God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come – that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.’  Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are beside yourself!  Much learning is driving you mad!’  But he said, ‘I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.  For the king, before whom  I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that no one of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.  King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know that you do believe.’  Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ ” NKJV

·  If Paul obeyed, so should Agrippa!  He wanted Agrippa to repent.  If he did change, his new life would not be easy.  Agrippa would have the same strength available from God that Paul had.

·  The resurrection was always central to Paul’s life and preaching.  Jesus was the first to be raised to never die again.

·  Apparently Festus had become more and more agitated at Paul’s words and finally erupted.  Festus was the one out of his mind.

·  Paul was in his right mind – sober.  Christianity was very well-known.  Agrippa knew these things.  The prophets had spoken about Jesus the Messiah and that he would die and be raised.

IV.  Agrippa Responds  Acts 26:28-32 “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’  And Paul said, ‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as  I am, except for these chains.’  When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying,  ‘This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.’  Then Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’” NKJV 

·  We do not know the tone of Agrippa’s voice when he said these words.  How close to conversion he was,- we will never know.

·  Paul was a Christian and wanted so much for others to be as well.

·  It seems Agrippa was impressed with Paul and his message.

Invitation:

Agrippa and those with him had heard the gospel message.  It was not Paul’s fault they did not accept it.  People can obey it like Paul did or walk away like Agrippa.  Even though Agrippa was almost persuaded, he was still entirely lost!

Bobby Stafford 
December 4, 2016 
Acts:  Lesson 54  Acts 26:1-32