Acts 26 - Paul's Conversion from Legalism to Grace!
26 Then 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, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
This was a partial fulfillment of what the Lord promised Paul at his conversion: Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15) (Guzik)
Herod Agrippa II, also known as Agrippa II, was the son of Agrippa I. He ruled over Jewish territories as a Roman client king, though he focused on areas outside of Judea. He respected Jewish religious practices, but his kingdom was mainly populated by non-Jews. (Google AI)
Because King Agrippa was of Jewish descent, Paul hoped he would be able to understand the defense of his actions against the accusations of the Jews. Paul asked him to listen patiently which infers he was going to have a lot to say.
4 “The Jewish people 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. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
First of all Paul establishes his credibility as someone who grew up with Judaism and was a die hard Pharisee, the Pharisees being the strictest form of Judaism as it related to keeping the Mosaic Law. Paul reason that he is on trial for the hope he has in what the Hebrew bible prophesied about. God promised the Messiah and now Paul was going to testify about his encounter with him. Paul's hope is based on a promise of God that every person in every tribe of Israel should have known. This hope Paul has in God's fulfilled promises are why Paul is on trial today. In addition, as it pertains to the resurrection, is not the God who created the heavens and the earth and formed a covenant with the Jewish people not capable of raising the dead.
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
Paul brings instant credibility by sharing that he wanted to do everything possible to snuff the Christian movement and the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He put many people in prison and did not object to them being put to death. He was so zealous that he often hunted the Christians down. This background certainly gave credence to the transformation which was about to take place in his life. No one could have made this story up!
Some of the most powerful testimonies come from atheists and others who were opposed to the Christian faith and then came to Christ.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We 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 and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to 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.’
As Paul was going on one of his trips, his trip got interrupted by a light from heaven. The blinded Paul and his companions and then Saul heard voice of Jesus asking him why he was persecuting HIM! Why is this important? Because it means that whatever was done to his followers was done to him. It shows that Jesus lives in every believer and when something happens to us, Jesus takes it personally.
When Saul was persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Jesus. Then, Jesus gave Saul a very specific call. Jesus called Saul to be a witness of what he had seen and WILL SEE. I think this is in reference to Jesus' return when he will meet us in the air. Ironically Saul will be persecuted and Jesus will rescue him both from his own people (the Jews) and from the Gentiles.
Specifically God was calling Saul to go the Gentiles though he would try to reach His own Jewish people first. The same light that fell on Saul would turn these people from darkness to light. And from the one who is darkness, Satan, to the one who is light, Jesus. The light would open their eyes to their need for forgiveness through Jesus, and would set them apart as those who have faith in Him.
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