Paul's Testimony Before Agrippa

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 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. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 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; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 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. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 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. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 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: 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. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 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. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 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. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. - Acts 26:1-32

    Though Paul stood before a Roman tribunal in defence of his life, he seized the opportunity to tell both the court and his accusers what God had done for him and in him by his free and sovereign grace in Christ. In the thirty-two verses of this chapter, Paul describes himself, his life, his conversion and his ministry. In doing so, he faithfully fulfilled his responsibility as the Lord's servant (Isa. 44:8; Acts 1:8), preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified even to his captors. The preaching of the gospel always calls for sinners to become followers of Christ, trusting him as Lord and Saviour. Agrippa understood that from Paul's words and said, after Paul had finished speaking, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.' What did Paul tell Agrippa that so moved him?

    I . He had been a lost religious zealot (26:1-11)

    He said, 'After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee' (26:5). Saul of Tarsus never was a profligate, immoral person. He was from his youth an upright, religious man, a man of principle and integrity. Like the rich young ruler, he kept the law from his youth up. In so far as the letter of the law and its outward requirements were concerned, he was blameless (Phil. 3:4-6). Yet he was lost!

    Unlike most religious people, Saul was a very zealous man. He was devoted. He studied the Scriptures with diligence. He talked about the things of God with zeal. He was wholehearted, earnest and thoroughly committed. Saul of Tarsus never neglected the hour of prayer, the study of God's Word, or the house of God. So zealous was he in religion that, in accordance with Old Testament law, he relentlessly persecuted those who followed Jesus of Nazareth, believing them to be blasphemers. Saul was so zealous that most who truly worship God must blush with shame, when comparing themselves to him. Yet he was lost!

    Moreover, Saul of Tarsus was thoroughly orthodox in his doc trine. This man was no scoffer, sceptic, or liberal, and he certainly was not an Arminian! Even before he was converted, he knew and embraced doctrinal truth (26:4-8). I do not mean to suggest that he had spiritual understanding, but his doctrine was basically orthodox. Saul was a Pharisee. He believed in divine election, divine sovereignty, absolute predestination, total depravity, the inspiration of Scripture, the resurrection of the dead and even particular redemption. No Pharisee, or anyone else who understands the Old Testament sacrifices, ever dreamed of a universal atonement! Saul even looked for the Christ, believing all the Old Testament prophecies relating to him. His doctrine was right. Yet he was lost! Saul believed in Christ as a matter of doctrine, but he did not know Christ. He believed all that the Bible said about Christ; but he did not know him (John 17:3). He was a lost religious zealot.

    2. At God's appointed time, he was confronted, conquered and converted by the grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ (26:12-15)

    There is a time of love appointed by God for the saving of each of his elect (Ezek. 16:8; Ps. 65:4; 110:3; Gal. 4:4-6). For Saul, the appointed time and place of mercy was when he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the saints of God there. Suddenly, the Son of God stepped into his life. He was not seeking the Lord, but the Lord sought him. He was not looking for grace, but grace looked for him. He did not find the Saviour, but the Saviour found him (Isa. 65:1; Acts 9:1-20; 22:6-21).

    He was 'in the way'. Though he did not know it, Saul was in the way that would lead him to Christ, following a prearranged path, walking in a preordained way. Each of his steps was ordered by the Lord, predestinated and marked out before the world began (Prov. 16:9; Rom. 8:28).

    Saul of Tarsus was an object of God's electing love. There were many travelling the Damascus road that day, but only one was called by God's effectual power and grace because only one had been chosen and redeemed. The irresistible grace and call came only to the chosen (Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

    The proud Pharisee was conquered and subdued by the revelation of Christ. The Lord Jesus met him in the way, revealed himself in him and called him with a call he could not resist. He saw the Lord (26: 13), heard his voice (26:14) and surrendered to his will (26: 15). All who are saved by God's grace are saved by the same sovereign intervention of God into their lives (Eph. 2:1-6; Gal. 1:15-16).

    3. The Lord Jesus Christ himself put Paul into the ministry (26:16-18)

    God's preachers do not decide to go into the ministry and begin looking for somewhere to preach. Any man who goes looking for a place to preach will compromise to get it and compromise to keep it. God's preachers are made by God and put into the work of the ministry by him. Paul said, 'I was made a minister' (Eph. 3:7-11). God's preachers are sent by God with a message to proclaim to men. As it was with Paul, so it is with all who are called by God to preach the gospel. Their message and their method are determined by God. Paul was required to preach what he had experienced, no more and no less (26: 16). It was his privilege and responsibility to carry the light of the gospel into a world of darkness and superstition (26:18). The message he was sent to preach was clear and simple (26:18). The Lord Jesus sent Paul to preach to sinners the forgiveness of sin by his blood (Eph. 1:7), the hope of eternal life by his grace (2 Thess. 2: 16), and sanctification (holiness) by faith in him (1 Cor. 1:30).

    4. Paul was obedient to his Master (26:19-23)

    Wherever he went, he preached the gospel to all, Jews and Gentiles. His message was always the same (1 Cor. 2:2). He constantly preached repentance towards God (26:20), redemption by Christ (26:23) and the resurrection of the dead (26:23). He preached the first resurrection, which is spiritual regeneration by the power and grace of God the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; 5:25; Rev. 20:6), and the resurrection of the body at the last day (John 5:28; 1Thess.4: 13-18).

    5. Being called by God, Paul was far more concerned about the souls of men and the glory of God than his own comfort and welfare (26:24-32)

    He stood as a prisoner in chains before Festus and Agrippa. Yet he was not seeking freedom, or even to prove his innocence. Paul's obvious intent in this defence of himself was to make Christ known to his captors. Read the chapter carefully. Throughout these verses, Paul was pointing Festus, Agrippa, Bernice and his accusers to Christ as the hope of Israel (26: 6), the crucified Saviour (26:9), the light from heaven (26:13), the exalted Lord (26:13-15), the head of the church (26:15) and the sovereign God (26:16-23). He told them that forgiveness, eternal life, repentance, redemption, sanctification, resurrection and faith are all the gifts of God's free, saving grace in Christ. Festus considered him nothing but a madman (26:24-25). But Paul (26:26-32), sensing that he had caught Agrippa's attention, pressed the claims of Christ upon him person ally and urgently. Agrippa was, according to his own words, 'almost persuaded' to become a worshipper and follower of Christ — 'almost persuaded' but lost at last! Being reproved and instructed, Agrippa deliberately hardened his heart. Therefore he perished. All who follow his example should tremble with fear (Prov. 29:1).