Commentary by Ron BeckhamVerse 1.
“Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You are permitted to speak for yourself.’ Then
Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:”
In the previous chapter we saw
that the Jews asked for Paul to be returned to Jerusalem, so they
might try him under Jewish Law. But their real intention was exposed
– they wanted to ambush and kill him on the way (Acts 25:3 &
context). The motion to transfer him was not granted and Paul would
be heard under Roman Law. Agrippa II was a minor Roman official but
not Paul’s judge. He was looking into this case as a favor to Roman
Governor Festus, and he had his own reasons for wanting to hear what
Paul had to say.
What was occurring at that moment,
can be seen as an “extra-judicial” proceeding. This was a trial for a
capital offense. That is, the Jewish leaders wanted Paul to be killed
(executed through due process of “law”). They had no authority to
“legally” kill him, so they hoped their masters, the Romans, would do
the job. Agrippa II had been appointed by the Caesar of Rome, to rule
over a small section of what is now the nation Israel, but as stated,
he had no real say in relation to the trial of the Apostle Paul.
Verse 2.
“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I
consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my
defense
before you today;”
From King Agrippa's and Governor
Festus' perspective, this was very much like a modern prisoner,
wearing prison garb, with chains on his hands and feet; who stands up
in Court to enter his plea, saying, "Your Honor, I'm GLAD to be here,
and it's WONDERFUL that I get to enter my plea before YOU." The
judge, in such a case, would likely order a psychiatric examination.
But Paul was glad, because he was being allowed to talk about Jesus,
and he knew he was in the Will of God.
King Agrippa was partly Jewish and
he was raised within the context of a Jewish religious background, but
that wasn't why Paul was pleased to make his defense before the man.
Jesus Christ was at least as real to Paul as Agrippa and Festus were.
He had seen, heard and felt things that were only possible in the
context of a Risen Christ. And so should Christ be real to you. Just
as surely as the Lord was speaking to Agrippa through Paul, Jesus
Christ is speaking to you right now.
Verse 3.
“especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions
among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
If someone calls you an expert in
some area or another, it's time to start listening, because you might
miss something they are going to say. To let your attention wander at
such a time is to risk demonstrating that you AREN'T an expert, and
Agrippa was standing in front of many witnesses at that moment. You
can be sure that he was listening intently to every word that Paul was
uttering. He wanted to live up to Paul's expectations about him.
And so will God get YOUR
attention. If it hasn't happened already, on numerous occasions, it
will happen soon, in a variety of ways. Jesus Christ died for the
sins of the world, and in some manner or another, He has spoken and
will speak to every one of us who has ever lived. As David said in
Psalm 19 and Paul said in Romans 1, God speaks to us through the
physical universe and also through His Word. And so, whoever you are
and whenever you live, "you are without excuse" (Romans 1:20) before a
high and holy God, who sent His Son to die for you and me. We should
LISTEN to the Lord.
Verse 4.
“So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from
the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem;”
The Apostle Paul, or Saul the
Pharisee, as he had been known in his younger years, was a notorious
man; KNOWN to his contemporaries. Reading the contemporary literature
of the time, it is interesting how FAST news traveled in such a
"primitive" culture. They had no computers, TVs, radios, newspapers,
or other rapid-information devices, but word got around - in a hurry!
Word of mouth really does work. They KNEW about this man.
There were at least several dozen
Jews present at that moment, and if you have visited the place in
Caesarea where these events were occurring, you'll know that several
hundred could have been in attendance. Paul's notorious life would
have been fascinating to the people of his time. He had been a
persecutor of Christ and of the people of Christ. He had been a Jew
of Jews, a Pharisee, who would previously have APPLAUDED the actions
being carried out against him at that moment. But he had been CHANGED
by the Lord Jesus Christ, and they all knew about that, too.
Verse 5.
“since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing
to
testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the
strictest sect of our religion.”
The Jews had come to testify, but
not to reveal what Paul was discussing at that moment. They came to
say that he was a lawbreaker, a man who had violated Roman and Jewish
Law, by starting a riot in the Temple. They were asserting that he
had insulted God and Caesar, and should DIE for what he had done. But
Paul was taking them into a new direction; one in which they did not
intend to go.
There is a maxim that is usually
followed by any attorney who is questioning a witness in a Court of
Law: "Don't ask a question unless you already know the answer!" They
(the Jews) were accusing Paul of something that would lead to an
outcome that was outside of their intentions. They wanted to STOP
Paul's words about Jesus Christ. Paul was now laying a foundation
that would be counter to their desires. He had been exactly like
them, he was saying, a Pharisee of Pharisees, and he understood his
opponents perfectly.
Verse 6.
“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the
promise made by God to our fathers;”
Paul was not a prisoner because he broke Roman Law or
Jewish Law. He was on trial because he believed
in the Promise of God. The Promise was known to
Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah -
all of those considered "fathers" by the leaders of Israel had known that
something, rather, SOMEONE was being sent by God to
rescue the people of this earth. In Acts Chapter 7,
Stephen, a deacon of the early church, demonstrated a
clear, simple line of faith extending from Adam to
Christ. God was ALWAYS "nudging" the "fathers":
Someone is coming! I am sending a Savior to you. You
will be Rescued… Stephen told them Jesus was that
“Someone” and they killed him for his faith.
The Promise came to earth, and His Name is indeed
Jesus Christ. Abraham and the others had faith
in the Promise of God, but they knew relatively little
about the form that Promise would take. And yet
they followed God, trusting in Him and accepting the
little they knew. We have so MUCH. Most of
us know about the Lord Jesus - but do you believe?
Most are not prisoners like the Apostle Paul - but do
you use your freedom to tell others about the Lord?
Verse
7. “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.”
Notice in Paul's response to King Agrippa, that the
"TWELVE tribes" hope to attain the Promise of God.
James wrote his epistle (letter) to the "twelve
tribes" of Israel (James 1:1). Some religious
groups have had a lot to say about the "lost tribes"
of Israel, suggesting they went to Britain, or
America, or someplace else. And they often
suggest that THEY (the religious group) are somehow
representatives of those "lost" tribes. But they
weren't lost - many simply merged with the tribe of
Judah (called "Jews" today). Anna was of the
tribe of Asher, one of the supposedly "lost" tribes,
but there she was in the Temple (Luke 2:36-38)
authenticating the infant Jesus as the Messiah
(Christ) of God.
The Promise of Israel had come to the people of earth,
which offended the leaders of the Jews. This was
a very religious group of people, serving God "night
and day", as Paul stated, and yet they rejected the
Promise of God and "accused" those who accepted that
Promise. Why did it happen? Because God,
in His wisdom, bypassed the power structure of that
religion - He went to simple, ordinary people, which
offended the pride of those in charge. The
process continues to this day: "God has chosen
the foolish things of the world to put to shame the
wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Verse
8. “Why is it considered incredible among you people
if God does raise the dead?”
God gives LIFE to whom He chooses. As of this
writing, more than one million people die every day.
One Christian dies every three minutes somewhere in
the world, killed because of his or her faith in Jesus
Christ. Has God somehow forgotten those who die?
It seems like they are gone - forever! But Paul,
who was speaking at that moment, knew that "as in Adam
all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1
Corinthians 15:22).
"Death" is simply a doorway and through it we enter
into eternity. When I awoke this morning, a
dream which seemed so real, simply melted away like a
vapor. This whole life, which seems VERY real,
right now, will suddenly melt away, like that dream in
the night (Psalm 73:20). Your "death" and mine
is the entryway into something much larger than we
have previously known. It's time to recognize
that God does indeed raise the dead, and we are to
TRUST in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom there is
VICTORY over sin and death.
Verse
9. “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do
many things hostile to the
name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
There are many who are hostile to the name of Jesus
Christ (called Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the
Nazarene). Recently, I was invited to give the
invocation at a political event. I made sure
they knew that when praying, I would use the name of
Jesus Christ. They said, "that's fine," and I
used His name. After the invocation was given
and others had spoken, a lady came up behind me while
we were eating dinner, and said she was "deeply
offended" that I had used "that name". If I had
turned to look at her, my head would have bumped her
nose. Suddenly she was gone and I had no
opportunity to respond.
Paul had been of that mind. Just like the lady,
Paul had a compelling emotion to deny that name.
In the last few verses of Acts 7 and the first few
verses of Acts 8, we see that he had become quite
violent in his opposition to the name of Jesus.
I, too, opposed that name when I was in my 20's, and
like many others, was finally brought to my knees
before Him, realizing at last that, in Christ and only
in Him, are we able to receive the grace of God.
Verse
10. “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not
only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons,
having received authority from the chief priests, but
also when they were being put to death I cast my vote
against them.”
MANY died because of the actions of the Apostle Paul.
As a Pharisee named Saul, he had dedicated his life to
ridding the earth of the "Followers of the Way," as
Christians were called in the beginning. Because
of him, they were locked up, tortured, beaten,
deprived of sleep, and more. Saul, also known as
Paul, had been a nasty little man who did horrible
things, all in the name of religion.
His actions against the people of God, continued to
the point of death - he was affiliated with the Jewish
Council, the Sanhedrin, and as such, he voted for the
death of those who followed Jesus Christ. From
that perspective, the grace of God in this man's life
is incredible. If you feel you have "sinned too
much" and therefore can't turn to God, think about
Paul. He was clearly a murderer, and yet, just
as clearly, he was given the grace of God in Christ,
which is available to you right now.
Verse 11. “And as I punished them
often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to
blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept
pursuing them even to foreign cities.”
Centuries before the time of
these verses, Job's wife (like his “friends”) was fed up with what was
happening to Job (people like "winners", not "losers"), and she told
him these awful words: "Curse God and die" (Job 2:9). She was filled
with grief at the loss of her children and possessions, blaming Job
for it all. To "curse" God as she demanded, would be blasphemy.
Centuries later, Saul (Paul), not unlike Job’s wife, was pursuing
God's little ones, punishing them and demanding that they deny the
very Lord who gave life to us all.
Paul wasn't content with merely
attacking the Christians who were in his immediate neighborhood. He
obtained "legal" authorization from the Chief Priests in Jerusalem,
and went to other cities, dragging Christians from places of worship
such as the synagogues of the Jews. Whole families were separated and
ruined because of the actions of this angry little man.
Verse 12. “While so engaged as I was journeying to
Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,”
Saul (Paul) had been a young
man on the move. His had been a course of action that was pleasing to
his superiors, for he acted with resolve to stamp out a group of
people thought to be dangerous to the leaders in Jerusalem. He was
performing acts that were technically illegal, for the Jews were not
the Law in that place - the Romans were. But up to that point,
nothing had gone wrong, and the young man Saul continued to be a
leader of those who were taking action against the "People of the
Way."
"Upward Mobility" is a phrase
that has often been used in business to describe the person who is on
the "cutting edge” of his profession. This phrase describes someone
who will take the quasi-legal risks that are necessary to deal with a
given situation that is thought important by his or her superiors.
Saul was that man, and, flushed with victory from repeated actions
against Christians, he was on his way to the City of Damascus, Syria,
to make even more trouble for the people of the Lord.
Verse 13. “at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light
from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those
who were journeying with me.”
Bruce Springsteen wrote a song
containing obscure lyrics some years ago, which included the phrase, "Blinded
by the Light.” There was nothing obscure about what had
happened to Saul, the man who was speaking of these events to King
Agrippa II. Jesus Christ had said of Himself, "I
am the light of the world" (John 8:12)) and it was His light
that had suddenly shone into the eyes and life of the man who had now
become known as the Apostle Paul.
Jesus Christ intends to get
your attention. He has a purpose for your life, and He will do ALL
that is necessary to save you from a misdirected lifestyle. Some will
not turn, no matter what, but Saul (a.k.a. Paul) did, and you can,
too. The result of sin in our world is that we are like creatures
stumbling around in a darkened room. Most have no idea what life
MEANS, because they cannot see the truth. Turn to Jesus, and just as
it happened for the Apostle Paul, He (Jesus) will be the light of your
life as well.
14
"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.'"
Do you notice that Jesus Christ
really WANTED Saul (the Apostle Paul)? Not to harm the man, but for
his benefit and also to rescue those he had been persecuting. It is
also apparent that Jesus identifies Himself utterly with His people.
Paul had been persecuting Christians, which Jesus regarded as an
attack on Himself. If you harm a Christian, you harm the Lord. And
He doesn’t like bullies – He takes to account those who harm others.
Also note that Paul had been
wearing himself out, working against the Lord and His kingdom. Jesus
tells us, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you REST" (Matthew 11:28).
Have you worked against some person or group in the Body of Christ?
You've come against the Lord! And you've worn yourself out doing it,
for NOTHING! But, He will forgive you and He will give you His rest.
Verse
15. "And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said,
'I am Jesus whom you are
persecuting.'"
Paul was a prisoner and as
such, was on trial for his life. He was giving his testimony at the
request of Herod Agrippa II, a minor king who ruled a small area on
the east side of Galilee. The man had been appointed by the Caesar of
Rome and was to be the last one in his line. All those who were
present at the moment, including Herod, were listening intently to the
words of the Apostle Paul.
Paul (Saul) was relating his
shock and surprise at encountering the Lord Jesus, some years before
(Acts Chapter 9). A loud voice, speaking Hebrew (probably an Aramaic
version of Hebrew), addressed him by name (the Lord knew Saul, just
like He knows you). Saul had reasonably asked, "Who are you, Lord?"
The Voice answered, "I am Jesus, the very Person you have been
persecuting." People sometimes are against the very God they pretend
to serve. And, as stated, if you are against the people of God, you
come against God Himself.
Verse
16. "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;"
Can you imagine this? Saul (Paul), who had
been a minor "Adolph Hitler" of the place and time in which he lived,
was called by the Lord. He was responsible for the death of many
Jewish Christians and now he would become one himself. The Lord had
suddenly knocked him down (literally) and then raised him up, to be
both a minister and also a witness of all that Jesus had done! Paul's
words right at that moment were as a faithful witness for the Lord in
a human Court of Law. The unfaithful one was now God’s minister.
At the time of Paul's conversion, he had, at
one moment, been the enemy of God, and in the next, he was reborn and
made to serve the very Jesus he had been persecuting. In his
subsequent ministry, Paul (Saul) had a lot to say about the grace of
God. And we should listen to him, for he had personally SEEN and
abundantly experienced that very grace in his own life.
Verse 17. "rescuing
you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending
you,"
This was pertinent, for Paul the Jew was on
trial for his life at the moment, surrounded by Jewish enemies who
wanted to kill him. He was also a Roman inside a ring of Gentile
soldiers who were ostensibly keeping him safe, because they were sworn
to uphold Roman Law. Jesus had told him from the beginning that he
would be rescued from Jews and Gentiles, and he was, for the LORD was
really the One who rescued Paul.
Around him at all times, saving him from Jews
and Gentiles alike, were the angels of God, sent by his Lord.
Subsequent to the Book of Acts, Paul would be killed by the very
Gentile forces that ostensibly protected him right now. That was the
outward event, but actually, it would be time for Paul to go and be
with his Lord. Trust in the Lord. He will protect you; and then, at
the proper time, He will bring you home to be with Him - forever.
Verse 18. "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."
The Lord has an ultimate intention for your
life and mine. He intends that we will be taken out of darkness and
brought to the light. All of us have a dimness of sight that has
nothing to do with our physical eyes; a "blindness" that is
"spiritual" in nature. And all have been, to some extent, controlled
and manipulated by the one called "Satan," the enemy of God. From the
Lord's perspective, all in humanity have been blinded to the truth.
As Jesus had told Saul, his ministry would
"open their eyes," enabling people like you and me to perceive our
need. Ever since that time, people have learned through the writings
of Paul, that in Jesus, we have a way to receive "forgiveness of (the)
sins" we have committed. And, if we accept the forgiveness He offers,
we have an "inheritance" in Him that never ends. All this and a clean
life (sanctification) is offered, if we simply place our faith in
Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
Verse
19. "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly
vision,"
Paul had been presented with overwhelming
evidence that he had been wrong, during all those years he had
persecuted Jesus' people. He thought he had been sufficiently
"religious" and had pleased God in what was done. In fact, the
opposite was true. He had grieved the heart of the very God he
pretended to serve. The Jesus he had been persecuting (verse 15) was
the One he should have been serving. Those he had attacked were the
people of God.
Suddenly, he knew the truth. He was struck
down, physically, emotionally, and most important, spiritually, by the
person and words of the Lord Jesus Christ. It isn't our religious
"correctness" that will save us, but instead, our trust in the One who
died for you and me. Paul's previous actions had been terrible, but
then he honestly understood the truth. Since that moment, he had not
been "disobedient to the heavenly vision."
Verse
20. "but 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."
Paul had been wrong about the Lord Jesus; dead
wrong, for his words and actions had literally resulted in the deaths
of many innocent people. Now that he knew the truth, he responded to
the "heavenly vision" by telling others. We need to respond to that
vision, also. You may feel self-sufficient, but it is important to
see things from God's perspective. We are not sufficient. Paul is
telling EVERYONE that we ALL need to repent and turn to God. And out
of true repentance, the Lord will bring actions appropriate to our
words.
People sometimes say that Paul's words are in
conflict with the teachings of James. Paul taught that we are saved
by grace through FAITH and yet, James said, "faith by itself, if it
does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). And that is Paul's
position also, as seen in this verse in Acts. Real faith involves
true repentance of who we are and what we have done. That kind of
faith will result in a changed life. If it doesn't, then the faith is
not true. James and Paul were in complete agreement, and we must
agree with them, through God’s Holy Word.
Verse 21.
"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and
tried to put me to death."
Sometimes, people don't like us because of the
"heavenly vision" (verse 19) that God
has entrusted to us. Sometimes, it's because we're just plain
obnoxious, and it's hard for us to tell the difference. We shouldn't
be TOO hard on ourselves, though, and it's important to see that Paul
was probably, to some extent, a mixture of both - faithful and
obnoxious. Paul's personality was carefully and wonderfully made by
Almighty God, and not just so that he would have a lot of friends
(though he certainly did have them).
The point of his life was that he would find
true faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ, and having achieved
that eternal goal, bring others with him. That is not unlike the need
for us all. God the Father has in mind that you will ENTRUST yourself
to Him, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Your calling may not be the
same as Paul's. It may be that you will not take "missionary
journeys" and directly lead thousands, millions to the Lord. But each
of us has our part - Just trust in Him, and He will accomplish His
work in you.
Verse
22. “So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day
testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the
Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;”
Paul received “help
from God” in the form of Roman soldiers. We’ve heard of God’s
Providence, in which He sends assistance from an unexpected
direction. As a people, we’re awfully quick to blame God when things
don’t go well, and to credit “luck” (or our own skill) if they do.
Paul saw what really happened – He was about to be killed and God
intervened, sending Roman soldiers, of which few to none had a
personal relationship with the Lord. God can send anyone He wants,
whether they trust in Him or not.
It was thought by the Jewish leaders that
Christians taught AGAINST the Law of Moses. That was precisely the
shout in the Temple, when the mob discovered Paul and tried to kill
him. They yelled, “this is the man who
preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law”
(Acts 21:28). Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus Himself
authenticated the Law, stating, “whoever
annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others,
shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and
teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”
(Matthew 5:19 & context). Paul thought the same way and so should we.
Verse
23. “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.”
I remember the first time I read the Bible.
It made no sense. Then I prayed, for the first time in my life, and
He opened His Word to my understanding. The Jews had precisely that
problem – they were attempting to interpret the Word of Almighty God
with a human intellect. It’s like an ant trying to understand a man;
there’s not enough information for the ant and the perspective is
simply not sufficient. We must pray, and the Holy Spirit of God will
enable us to see.
The Jews had read Isaiah Chapter 53 and Psalm
22, along with the many other Scriptures showing “that
the Christ was to suffer”, die and experience “resurrection
from the dead”, but in hardness of heart, they misunderstood.
So it is with you and me. We must read prayerfully, openly, and with
a willingness to have faith. When we do, He will “proclaim
light” to us all, and we will understand.
Verse
24. “While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud
voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving
you mad.’”
Governor Festus was well aware that Pontius
Pilate had not done well as the former Governor of Judea. And Festus’
predecessor, Felix, had ended his role in disgrace. The latter
Governor nearly ended up a prisoner in Rome over his actions, and only
slipped away through the intervention of his influential brother.
Festus was personally experiencing the persuasiveness of Paul’s words
at the moment, being prompted inside himself, by the urging of the
Holy Spirit of God.
At the risk of being redundant, I can’t help
wondering what Festus would have done, if he had known he only had a
couple of years left to live? It did not matter how well he did as
the Roman leader in Judea. In two years, he would lose everything.
All of us need to live as though time was short for us, for indeed, it
IS short. Very soon, we will be in front of Almighty God. What will
we say to Him when that happens? Festus declared that Paul was “nuts”
– the alternative for him was to believe in Jesus Christ, which he
refused to do.
Verse
25. “But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus,
but I utter words of sober truth.’”
As humans, we have a strong tendency to
structure reality – we want to believe familiar, comforting things,
and don’t like it when our foundation is rocked. That’s what was
happening to Governor Festus at the moment. The difference between
Paul and Festus can be summed up in one word – “will”. Paul could
have continued in unbelief, even though he had been blinded and Jesus
audibly spoke to him (verse 15 and forward). But he was willing to
receive the Lord. Now, he uttered words of sober truth to Festus,
about what he had seen and heard.
There are always two parts to the gift of
“evangelism” which is given to the church. We know about the speaker,
that he is filled with the Holy Spirit of God and is given words to
say. But the same Holy Spirit is working within the hearts of the
listeners, telling them, “Listen… That’s right... you need Jesus
Christ… turn to Him...” God was speaking to Festus at that moment,
just as surely as He is speaking to you. But Festus would not receive
Him. Will you trust in the Lord right now?
Verse 26.
“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.”
Paul turned his attention to King Herod
Agrippa II, and began to speak directly to him. Agrippa’s wife
Bernice was there also, as were many of the Jewish leaders from
Jerusalem, and some of Paul’s friends likely were nearby. The
Mediterranean Sea was behind them, but no one was looking at the
scenery, for every eye and ear was trained on the Apostle Paul.
Paul was right. The same curiosity that grips
people in our “modern” world, was a part of them, as well. Those in
our culture are fascinated by sports figures, actors and politicians.
It was much the same at that time. King Agrippa would have been very
much “up” on the gossip of his day, and Paul was a notorious figure of
the Early Church, someone talked about by everyone, friend and foe
alike.
Verse
27. “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”
The Lord looked into Agrippa’s heart,
imparting information to the Apostle Paul. He was shown that King
Agrippa had, in fact, read at least a portion of the Old Testament
Scriptures, and tended to believe the words of the prophets. What is
presented here is a “Gift of the Holy Spirit” called “Word of
Knowledge”. Paul simply knew something he could not know, except the
Holy Spirit of God imparted the information to him.
This is not unlike what happened to King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, centuries before. Daniel the Prophet knew
the King’s dream, without having been told by King Nebbie, what the
dream was. It should encourage all of us to have better thoughts, for
God tends to reveal us to those we encounter. It is well that we give
ourselves to Him, for He will cleanse our thoughts so we won’t be
ashamed when others know us for what we are.
Verse
28. “Agrippa replied to Paul, ‘In a short time you will persuade me
to become a Christian.’”
King Agrippa II was under “conviction”. The
Holy Spirit of God was touching his need through the words of Paul,
and he was experiencing a strong urge to give up trusting himself and
start living for the Lord Jesus Christ. Just a few more words and he
would become a Christian (a “Follower of the Way,” as they were called
at that time).
It is amazing that God gives us such
incredible free choice (to choose Him or not), but it’s less
surprising, when you consider that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). To
capture another and hold them against their will is not love. God
sets us free, offers us the gift of love in Christ Jesus, and then
lets us choose whether or not to receive that gift. Agrippa would not
be forced; but instead persuaded as you and I have been, for God is
love.
Verse
29. “And Paul said, ‘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.’”
Many say something like this: "You'd think
differently, if you walked in MY shoes!" Paul had suffered, probably
more than most people we have ever met, and yet, his concern was for
those around him, not for himself. He understood that Christ was
taking care of him in every way - now and forever. He was therefore
set free to care about the needs of others.
His hands were chained at the moment, and yet,
his heart was free in Christ. No matter WHAT happened to Him, his
future was bright and his freedom was assured. It was not so for King
Agrippa. His hands and feet were free from chains, but his heart was
bound. And his future was bleak. If he received Christ, he would
have been as free as Paul, but if he chose the “treasures of this
world,” (Matthew 6:19) then imprisonment awaited him – forever.
Verse
30. “The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who
were sitting with them,”
By standing up,
King Agrippa II was declaring that his part of the proceedings was
over. Paul would not testify any further on that particular day,
before this minor king. What was really a problem though, was that
Agrippa, by ending the proceedings, was refusing to hear any more
about the Lord. Jesus Christ died for kings, just like he did for
everybody else. He loves you and me, no matter what our station in
life.
Agrippa, his
wife, Bernice, and all those with him, stood up and got ready to
leave. He was "almost" persuaded to personally receive the Lord.
“Almost” isn't enough, for we desperately need Jesus Christ. He will
satisfy your every need, now and for all eternity. It's time for you
to LISTEN. Prayerfully read His Word, be open to the urgings of the
Holy Spirit, and RECEIVE the Lord. You'll be glad you did.
Verse 31.
“and when they had gone aside, they began talking to
one another, saying, ‘This man is not doing anything
worthy of death or imprisonment.’"
King Herod Agrippa, his wife Bernice and the
others, saw part of the reality in Paul’s situation, but missed the
point. The Apostle indeed was innocent of the charges against him.
Actually, his innocence was greater than they even remotely
understood. To be innocent in a human court of law, which is where
Paul was at the moment, is a good thing. To be innocent in the sight
of our Holy God, is infinite in nature.
Paul did not start the riot in the Temple that
caused his imprisonment. His accusers, the Jews did. He did not
start the process that led him to Christ. The Lord did it all. Both
the riot and Paul’s rescue were allowed by the Lord. The outcome was
designed to bring many to Christ. When Paul was born again, he
acquired the innocence of a new born child, in the sight of God. Paul
was seen, not only by man, but also by God, as “not doing anything
worthy of death or imprisonment”, and so it is for all those who
receive the Son of God.
Verse
32. ‘And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free
if he had not appealed to Caesar."
King Agrippa was right. From a human
perspective, there was no evidence that would convict anyone of the
capital charges brought against Paul. But, the Apostle had appealed
to the Caesar in Rome, and it was one of those things that once done,
would not be undone. He was to remain in custody and be transported
to the City of Rome.
Paul, King Agrippa, Governor Festus and the
rest, were (for the most part unknowingly) playing the parts assigned
to them; working out God's intention from before the beginning of
time. Paul would go to Rome because God meant for him to be there.
The Lord had personally told Paul, "you must
also bear witness at Rome" (Acts 23:11) and to Rome he would
go.
It's interesting that God works through human
processes in accomplishing His will. He could have "raptured" Paul to
Rome (or anywhere else) in an instant. When "stuck" in difficult
human circumstances, you might remember this: God works His will
through plain people in ordinary settings. He did it in Paul's life,
and He is doing a similar work in your life and mine.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA
90809-2131 USA
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
