ACTS LESSON 56
In the last lesson, Paul had begun to tell Agrippa about his
encounter with the Light (Jesus Christ) on his way to Damascus to
persecute the Christians. The Light knocked Paul to the ground and
blinded him. The men with Paul saw the Light, but did not hear the
voice. I will repeat verse 14 and 15, so that we can get all of Jesus'
words.
Acts 26:14 "And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a
voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the
pricks." Acts 26:15 "And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am
Jesus whom thou persecutest." Acts 26:16 "But rise, and stand upon
thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee
a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen,
and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;"
This was a dramatic call of Saul (Paul) to the ministry of God.
Many people would say, why would God do this, knowing that Paul had
been so aggressively against the Christians? Paul thought he was
doing God a favor. He was trying to follow God, he just didn't
understand. God is patient and long-suffering, especially when He
feels that we are doing the best we know how to do. God speaks to us
in many ways. Sometimes it is an audible voice in our ear. Sometimes
it is in a dream or a vision. Sometimes it is through his Word
(Bible). Sometimes He speaks to us through one of His prophets. Paul
did not separate these ways out here, telling all of this to Agrippa.
It doesn't matter anyhow. It is the voice of God, the Word.
Acts 26:17 "Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee," Acts 26:18 "To open their eyes,
[and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of
Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
Abraham was acceptable to God, because of his great faith.
Sanctified, here, means made holy. The thing that makes them holy is
because of their faith in Jesus Christ. God had never really been
offered to the Gentiles. They were living in darkness, because they
had never been offered the Light. Paul is to present this Light to
them, which does away with all darkness. The faith is in Jesus.
Sanctified (set aside for Jesus) is the condition of the believers in
the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was to bring this message to the Gentiles.
Verse 17 promised that God would protect Paul from the Jews and
Gentiles who opposed him.
Acts 26:19 "Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto
the heavenly vision:"
Paul says this in such a way that he is saying to Agrippa, how
could I not follow through on this visitation from God the Son? I
could not have experienced this heavenly visit without being changed
by it.
Acts 26:20 "But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet
for repentance."
Paul is giving a short description here of where he had witnessed
this experience. Paul loved the Jewish people and he did not give up
on them entirely ever, even though God had really called him to the
Gentiles. It was the Jews who stoned him and tried to kill him over
and over again. He would say he was giving up on them, but he really
never did.
Acts 26:21 "For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and
went about to kill [me]."
Paul does not go into detail here about why the Jews were after
him.
Acts 26:22 "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto
this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things
than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:"
Paul was never afraid to go anywhere, if he felt God had sent him.
He knew that God was with him and would protect him. The Lord had
spoken to him several times and had even told him not to fear, that he
would still go to Rome and witness for Him there. Paul knew that death
was not immediate, because he has not yet visited Rome. The Old
Testament prophets had prophesied the very same thing that Paul
preached.
Acts 26:23 "That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the
first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the
people, and to the Gentiles."
The suffering of Christ was to us-ward that he might save us from
our sin. Had Christ not suffered and His body died, then we could not
have everlasting life. We will rise to life eternal, because our
leader rose first. He is our Saviour. We read in I Corinthians 15:15-
23, I Corinthians 15:15 "Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God;
because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he
raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." I Corinthians 15:16
"For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:" I Corinthians
15:17 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet
in your sins." I Corinthians 15:18 "Then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ are perished." I Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
I Corinthians 15:20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and]
become the firstfruits of them that slept." I Corinthians 15:21 "For
since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the
dead." I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive." I Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his
own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at
his coming." The light that shines is the hope of eternal life. This
is to the Gentile, as well as the Jew.
Acts 26:24 "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a
loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make
thee mad."
This is just what happens always when the good news of the gospel
is preached. By the foolishness of preaching, some men are saved. The
world who does not accept Jesus as Saviour thinks the minister who has
brought the message is mad. Festus doesn't believe and says Paul is
mad.
Acts 26:25 "But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but
speak forth the words of truth and soberness."
Paul here has to defend his sanity. Miracles of God, such as these
Paul experienced are not believed by people who have never experienced
miracles. They believe if it were real, it would have happened to
them.
Acts 26:26 "For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also
I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are
hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner."
Agrippa was a Herod and his ancestry had given Jesus problems at
his birth, trying to kill Him, and, also, Herod killed John the
Baptist, who was proclaiming Jesus. This Agrippa was a Roman, as well
as a Jew, and knew well about the Nazarene name of Jesus.
Acts 26:27 "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest."
Paul has seen that something he said has touched Agrippa, and he
believes.
Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me
to be a Christian."
We see here, that Agrippa is convicted in his heart. He has
believed what Paul has said. The Spirit of God is drawing Agrippa, and
he is holding back. The word almost tells us that he does not humble
himself and receive God. He is tempted, but does not quite bring
himself to do this.
Acts 26:29 "And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but
also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such
as I am, except these bonds."
Paul is a true minister of God here. He wants everyone to be
saved. He wants all to have the closeness of God that he has
experienced. Of course, he does not want himself or anyone else to be
in chains.
Acts 26:30 "And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:" Acts 26:31 "And
when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying,
This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds."
This is the same opinion the chief captain in Jerusalem had, the
same opinion Felix had, the same opinion Festus had before Agrippa
came, and now the opinion of Agrippa and Bernice. Why do they not just
let him go? In the next verse we see why.
Acts 26:32 "Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have
been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar."
Caesar would not like someone else deciding a case that had been
turned over to him. The real reason, of course, is that God wants Paul
to witness in Rome of Him.
Notes
Acts 56 Questions
1. Who was Paul telling Agrippa about?
2. For what purpose had Jesus appeared to Paul?
3. Who did God promise to deliver Paul from?
4. Verse 18, says to open their eyes and turn them from ___________.
unto __________________________.
5. How are believers sanctified?
6. In verse 19, Paul tells Agrippa that he was faithful to what?
7. Where are some of the places Paul ministered first?
8. What did Paul tell them to do?
9. Who caught Paul and tried to kill him?
10. Who protected Paul?
11. Who had previously said all that Paul was saying?
12. Why did Paul know for sure they would not kill him at this time?
13. Verse 23 said, Christ should _________ and________ from the grave.
14. I Corinthians 15:17 says, if Christ be not raised, your__________
is in vain.
15. What is Christ called in I Corinthians 15:20?
16. As in Adam all ___, in Christ shall all be made ________.
17. What did Festus say much learning had done to Paul?
18. In verse 25, Paul said he was not mad but spoke what?
19. Why did Paul say he knew Agrippa knew these things?
20. What question did Paul ask Agrippa in verse 27?
21. What did Agrippa say Paul almost did?
22. Who did Paul say he wished could be like him except for his
chains?
23. Who went aside to talk about Paul?
24. What verdict did they come up with about Paul?
25. Why did they not release Paul?
Notes
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