Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 26
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 26
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 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." You
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."
As Paul describes his journey from being a strict Pharisee, who persecuted Christian believers, to his experience of meeting Jesus on the Road to Damascus, he is getting the chance to preach the Gospel to a wider audience. Festus tries to say that Paul is “out of mind”, principally because Paul claimed that Jesus rose from the dead.
But Paul stays calm and replies, “I am not insane what I am saying is true and reasonable.” I love that line because it reminds us that our faith is not just a feel good story/myth, but reasonable and based on the truth. The principal truth being that God came in the flesh in His Son, Jesus, and Jesus suffered, died and rose again.
And then Paul appeals to the King himself and says, “The King knows and is familiar with these things, as this was not done in a corner.” Part of the horror of the crucifixion was that it was done publicly, and yet when Jesus was raised from the dead it was also done publicly in the sense that no one could produce the dead body.
The King realizes Paul is evangelizing him and steps out with the Queen, I am sure curious and thinking surely this man does not deserve death, he is even caring enough to convert me. It even appears as if King Agrippa might have even let him go, had he not asked to be sent to Caesar, which he was a obliged to honor.
Again we see that God is in control, as Paul’s journey to Rome would be pivotal in bringing the Gospel there. (We will read about that more in our next book – Romans). This also reminds us that evangelism (spreading the Good News) is not so much something we do, but God does. As we open ourselves to be a witness to what God has done in our lives, God will use it bring others to Him.
When people start to feel like we are “evangelizing” them, often they will put up a wall. But if we allow the Good News to flow through us as a part of who we are and our story, it will usually turn out to be more winsome.
Gracious God, thank you for saving us according to the grace you have lavished on us through Your Son. As we have received the Good News, make us of aware of how we can be the Good News to those we meet. Use us to show others that it is truly Good News, not bad news! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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 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." You
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."
As Paul describes his journey from being a strict Pharisee, who persecuted Christian believers, to his experience of meeting Jesus on the Road to Damascus, he is getting the chance to preach the Gospel to a wider audience. Festus tries to say that Paul is “out of mind”, principally because Paul claimed that Jesus rose from the dead.
But Paul stays calm and replies, “I am not insane what I am saying is true and reasonable.” I love that line because it reminds us that our faith is not just a feel good story/myth, but reasonable and based on the truth. The principal truth being that God came in the flesh in His Son, Jesus, and Jesus suffered, died and rose again.
And then Paul appeals to the King himself and says, “The King knows and is familiar with these things, as this was not done in a corner.” Part of the horror of the crucifixion was that it was done publicly, and yet when Jesus was raised from the dead it was also done publicly in the sense that no one could produce the dead body.
The King realizes Paul is evangelizing him and steps out with the Queen, I am sure curious and thinking surely this man does not deserve death, he is even caring enough to convert me. It even appears as if King Agrippa might have even let him go, had he not asked to be sent to Caesar, which he was a obliged to honor.
Again we see that God is in control, as Paul’s journey to Rome would be pivotal in bringing the Gospel there. (We will read about that more in our next book – Romans). This also reminds us that evangelism (spreading the Good News) is not so much something we do, but God does. As we open ourselves to be a witness to what God has done in our lives, God will use it bring others to Him.
When people start to feel like we are “evangelizing” them, often they will put up a wall. But if we allow the Good News to flow through us as a part of who we are and our story, it will usually turn out to be more winsome.
Gracious God, thank you for saving us according to the grace you have lavished on us through Your Son. As we have received the Good News, make us of aware of how we can be the Good News to those we meet. Use us to show others that it is truly Good News, not bad news! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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