Paul before Agrippa

Q: What does the Bible say about being almost a Christian?

The Bible warns that being 'almost persuaded' is not sufficient for salvation. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa's response to Paul, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,' highlights the grave danger of intellectual assent without true faith. While Agrippa understood the truth communicated by Paul, he did not fully embrace it, demonstrating that mere acknowledgment of the gospel is inadequate for salvation. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that almost believing or being on the fence spiritually results in condemnation, illustrating that genuine faith requires a complete and active commitment to Christ.

Q: How do we know that God calls us to faith?

God's calling is evidenced by His voice penetrating our hearts and leading us to repentance. In the sermon, it is highlighted that God's call is effectual and transformative, as seen in the Apostle Paul's experience on the Damascus road. Paul heard the voice of Jesus asking, 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?' (Acts 26:14). This encounter illustrates God's sovereign grace, wherein He communicates directly to our hearts, prompting us to respond in faith and repentance. Furthermore, whether through dramatic experiences or more subtle means, such as Lydia's heart being opened to the gospel (Acts 16:14), God's call is evident in the lives of those who truly believe and follow Him.

Q: Why is the testimony of Paul important for Christians today?

Paul's testimony illustrates the power of God's grace to transform lives. The testimony of Paul serves as a vital reminder for Christians of God's unmerited favor and His ability to change even the most hardened hearts. In Acts 26, Paul boldly recounts how he went from persecuting Christians to becoming a fervent witness for Christ. His experience demonstrates the transformative power of grace, affirming that no one is beyond the reach of God's mercy. Additionally, as Christians reflect on their own testimonies, they are encouraged to share their experiences of faith and divine intervention, thereby inspiring others to seek the same transformative relationship with Jesus.

Q: How should Christians respond to rejection of the gospel?

Christians should respond with grace and persistence, as modeled by Paul. In the sermon, the Apostle Paul's response to Festus and Agrippa demonstrates a model for how Christians can handle rejection or skepticism regarding the gospel. Rather than becoming defensive or angry, Paul remained calm and articulated the truth of the gospel with clarity and conviction. This highlights the importance of witnessing faithfully, even in the face of opposition. Christians are encouraged to demonstrate grace and patience, praying for God's Spirit to work in the hearts of those who may resist the message of Christ. Ultimately, the responsibility of conversion lies with God, but believers are called to share the gospel boldly and lovingly regardless of the outcome.

May it please Almighty God to bless us as we meditate in his holy word this morning. Let's turn to the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 26, and we'll read verse 28. The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 26, and reading verse 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. I think this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible, because here was The King, King Agrippa, an educated man, and God in his goodness had privileged him to hear the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who was able to give a very clear truth of his own conversion and what it meant, and directed those that were listening to very clearly the work of the Savior.

And yet, we come down and we see, first of all, that Festus, he wasn't for it. And he told Paul, he said, you're mad. You're beside yourself. Much learning doth make thee mad. Well, the Apostle Paul was able to respond in a very measured way in its It's good for us to note these things in our own life, because sometimes if we're spoken against, we can get rather annoyed, but the Apostle Paul very measuredly said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness, confirming what he'd said. For the King knoweth 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. So we see the faithfulness of the Apostle Paul in answering and addressing King Agrippa in a very measured way and then we see the Very sad response when he comes and says, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Many people, many, many people throughout time have been in exactly the same position. Many people have heard the truth of God. And as they pondered it, they've come to such a conclusion as this. Almost. Thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

We could see the truth, and yet, you see, Satan was so powerful, he wouldn't allow them to believe the great truths that they'd heard. And my friends, that's the same today. We live in a world where Satan is always active to try and stop us believing the great truth of God. Because the Apostle Paul had spoken to King Agrippa and he asked him this great question. Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. And then he, Agrippa answers such a statement. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Well, my friends, almost will not get us to heaven. Almost would land us in hell. It's a terrible consideration, isn't it?

It's a very solemn thing, especially when we see here King Agrippa and Festus and others were wonderfully favoured to hear the clear work of God in the Apostle Paul's life. He was very faithful in what he said. He was very honest in what he said. He didn't pretend to be what he wasn't. He was forthright, and yet he told Agrippa quite clearly what he'd been told on that Damascus road when Jesus met with him. What a wonderful blessing that was for the Apostle Paul. And of course, it completely changed his life. Completely changed his life. And what a thing, and what a mercy if Jesus has spoken to us and completely changed our life. How wonderful it was.

As the apostle quite clearly spoke and said what he'd been doing, he'd been walking contrary to God. We're told, I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. and how many people are in that camp today. How many who follow false religions are in that camp today.

But we're told, which things 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 off. in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities." So he was very honest. He didn't pretend to be what he wasn't. He gave the king a very clear view of what he'd been doing.

And so we're told, whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priest to continue that work, then the appointed time from almighty God, the appointed time had come. And it had come not to, the hymn writer says, not to propose, but to call by grace. the exact time had come in the Apostle's life when God was to act. And the Apostle Paul would be affected by it.

And it's quite amazing to see. He tells us, at midday, at midday, purposely at midday, because I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Well, we can't get a brighter light than the sun shining at midday. And yet here was a brighter light than that. It was a light which emanated quite clearly from heaven. And it was such a light, he tells us, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and then which journeyed with me And when we were all fallen to the earth, what an effect he had, what a light.

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. What had happened really? The Spirit of God had come. had shone down with power from on high, and therefore it had made all those people, Paul and all those with him, fall to the ground. But you see, there was a voice that came and penetrated into the heart of the Apostle Paul, and that voice said, why? Persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

That really means that in his life, he'd had many pricks in his conscience that he was doing the wrong thing. Perhaps in our lives, we can look back and perhaps see an occasion, perhaps see many occasions when we were doing wrong things. And there was that voice speaking to us and warning us that we were doing the wrong things. And yet, you see, we rebelled against such correction and we carried on.

That's what Paul had done. He'd heard that voice and he kicked against it. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't want to obey it. But you know whether that's true in your life, in my life, whether we've kicked against the word of God, we haven't wanted it because it's spoiling our little life. Because it's spoiling what we want to do. What's going against what our ideas are? Well, the Lord was very gracious. And what do we see? We see the grace of God shining so powerfully into the apostle's heart. And what is the grace of God? It's the free unmerited work of the Spirit. And that's what occurred on this occasion.

And he heard that voice, the voice from God, and he asks, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord responded, I am Jesus, whom thou have persecuted. 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." That was, if you read it carefully, a wonderful statement from Jesus to the Apostle Paul.

And how wonderful to think that Paul, who had been so against the Lord Jesus Christ, heard then such a word from that one who he had so greatly offended and greatly spoken against. Now, these things are recorded for our instruction, because sometimes we need to recognize that they're a record, but also such words speak to our heart, speak powerfully to our heart. Well, we have the result of those words to the Apostle Paul. And it'd be good if in our lives, we have the same response. What do we read?

Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. God knows what heavenly vision, perhaps, you and I have had in our lives. and whether we rebelled against it, as the apostle had done. He didn't want to listen against all those kicks he'd had. We're told, hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

But the time had come, the set time, God's time, when he was no longer able to rebel because God very clearly spoke to him and told him very clearly the commission that God had for him. And that word came with divine power into the apostle's heart. Well, it's a great blessing when God's Word comes into our heart. And we recognize it's the Word of God. And it's a great blessing if God then gives us the ability, the willingness, just like the Apostle Paul, to turn right round. right round and go in the completely opposite direction to that which he'd been going in.

And he tells us, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. And we see then, he'd said that, it was true, and then what had happened, what he did, He didn't just say, well, I'm just gonna carry on for a bit longer and just see how I go. No, we're told, whereupon our King Agrippa was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but showed first unto them in Damascus, that's where he was going, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coast of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God. and do works meet for repentance."

What a powerful word that was that had arrested him on that Damascus road. He knew it was Jesus speaking to him. Jesus spoke to him very clearly, the work he got to do, and he was willing to do it. And he followed the heavenly vision. the heavenly vision.

Well, you and I may not have had a vision, perhaps, in the same powerful way that the Apostle Paul did. But I always like to counter that statement with the one we have in the Acts of the Apostles, where we have the case of Lydia. And as you may know, she was a seller of purple, quite a wealthy lady. And she was down by the river and she heard Paul preach. And the effect was, we're told, her heart was opened to receive the words that the apostle spoke.

It wasn't a great demonstration of an almighty light from heaven. But what we can say is this, They were both effectual calls from God. That means both those calls had an effect, changed their lives. And what a great blessing it is for you and me. If the Lord speaks to us, perhaps in a powerful way, more likely to be just like Lydia, that our hearts have been opened to receive the word of God.

That means in both cases, their path, their walk was changed. They went in an opposite direction. They didn't follow the powerful words of the devil. It followed the powerful words of Jesus. One was outwardly so powerful, the other was no less powerful, but it was inward to that woman, Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened.

Now, my friends, you and I all need to have the evidence that God is working in our heart, that God has worked in our heart in one way or another, that God has done that for you and me, which we could not do for ourselves. And when that occurs, we must never deny the work of God. We must never pretend that he hasn't spoken. We must always acknowledge what he's done and how merciful he's been in looking upon us. Because it is an absolutely amazing wonder to think that almighty God should have looked down from heaven with all the billions of people buzzing around on this earth and should condescend to speak directly to our hearts and to think just like the apostle here, to not be disobedient. I'm not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. He followed that direction. He followed that instruction from almighty God.

And he continued, therefore, addressing the apostle, sorry, addressing King Agrippa, and very clearly he tells him, and it's good for us to note the words he speaks. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, We only do these things with the help of God. Because in and of ourselves, we're weak, we're sinful. And yet the apostle was able to declare so very plainly. Having obtained help of God, that's the only way. And it's good if you and I in our little lives can see God helping us. God's standing with us. God's strengthening us to say and to do things.

And my friends, he's the same today as he was in the days of the Apostle Paul. We're told, I am the Lord, I change not. And also I'm the same yesterday and today and forever. We today can look to the same Jesus that converted the Apostle Paul on that Damascus road.

And you and I can desire that we might do those things that God commands us to do. To honour him, to acknowledge him, to bless him for his great and wonderful favours toward us. And so to be able to say, therefore, having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day. I wonder whether you and I can be honest and testify of those things, because it is.

God honouring. You know the Apostle then goes on to give us a few more details. He tells us this, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. And then he gives a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. the wonderful Saviour. And the testimony was very important. He speaks directly about the Saviour. And how good that is. In our lives, if we are able and willing to speak about the Saviour, that we are, the Word of God tells us clearly in Isaiah, ye are my witnesses. You and me, we're those whom God has spoken to, we are the witnesses.

And we're not to pretend we're not, we're not to turn away. You know, it's very easy, isn't it? When you and I are involved in discussions perhaps at school or university or work about the things of God, and when it gets a bit difficult and a bit hot, and it's a bit personal, we perhaps change the subject. so that we're not involved, so that we don't have to state our case. Well, what a blessing if God gives you and me grace, remember his unmerited favor and strength to acknowledge whose we are, whose we serve, and to never be ashamed of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

So he speaks about Christ in very glorious words. He says, Well, first of all, he tells us he's obtained help from God. And now he says, I continue witnessing both the small and great saying other things that those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. That's a good start, isn't it? That's a good test, isn't it? People will no doubt mock us and say, you don't believe the Bible. You don't believe all those old things, do you? Well, it's good to stand firm and say, yes, I do.

And then it goes on, that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. And my friends, if God has spoken to you and me, it's because he's shown us the light. the glorious light of the gospel, and that light which will never go out. God's light is eternal. God's light is eternal in the lives of his people. It doesn't go out. What a mercy it is.

And so he says, and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. Well, what a good thing it was. and He brings in the Saviour. And how necessary it is in this dark age in which you and I live to never be ashamed of bringing forth the Saviour. Just ponder that for a moment. Jesus wasn't ashamed to die for His people upon that cross. He wasn't ashamed. He suffered openly. so that you and I might be blessed indeed, and you and I might receive the wonderful favor of the forgiveness of sins through His sacrifice, through His death, the only one that could relieve us of the burden of our sin, that we not come and say, what a Savior. What a glorious Savior.

And so we recognize that here we have then Festus couldn't stand anymore, hated it, cried out and told Paul he was mad. Well, it's good that he was able to acknowledge it and say he wasn't mad. And then King Agrippa responds and in answer to Paul's statement, And he asked the question, Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. And Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Well, we're here this morning, privileged as we are to hear God's word read and spoken upon. Well, are we like Agrippa? Are we almost persuaded? And yet when we look at it and we realise the cost, we realise what our friends would think and say, and therefore we don't speak. And therefore we're silent. And therefore, really, we're no different to King Agrippa. Almost.

Thou persuadest me to be a Christian. How does Paul respond? He responds very positively. He said, I would to God, but not only thou, but also all that hear me this day were both almost And altogether, such as I am, that means a converted man, a man who'd been able to declare what God had done for him, he goes on to say, except these bonds. Obviously, he did have difficulty. He was bound, but we're thankful he was able to speak so clearly and so positively.

And you and I today have a record of this occasion. What an occasion it was, wasn't it? What a wonderful time for the Apostle Paul. And my friends, it's recorded as a testimony. It's recorded as an example for you and me today. You see, we are on the earth today. The Apostle Paul was on the earth then. I sometimes think of those very able and suitable words we read in the book of Esther.

She was in a similar condition. She was told to go before King Hasuerus and tell him the edict which had been sent against all the Jews. And she knew it was a great thing And she knew she might well lose her life if she went into the presence of the king and he didn't hold out the golden scepter. But her uncle, Mordecai, was a faithful man. And he told her very clearly that perhaps she was in that position as queen She wasn't born at all in the royal line, but God had brought her there. And he said, perhaps she'd come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And God today puts you and me in positions for such a time as this. God had put Paul in this position. There he'd been on the Damascus road.

He hadn't forgotten it, he couldn't forget it. And my friends, when God speaks to you and me, we don't forget it. We don't forget it. Because it's imprinted on our heart. The Bible has a very apt expression. when it says with an iron pen written in the rock. That's like God's word to our hearts. It's a powerful word. It speaks and it's there. We don't lose it. You won't want to lose it because it's a message from heaven and what a blessing it is. But if we've been favoured with such a message from heaven. We might say an awakening. a word which made our soul alive.

Just like the apostle when he wrote to the Ephesians, you can read it in the second chapter and he starts with these words, and you hath he quickened, that means made spiritually alive, who were dead, spiritually dead, in trespasses and in sins. Well, what a mercy for us today. If we can understand and look back and realize that by the grace of God, we've been made spiritually alive, we've been quickened, and therefore that word applies to us. And you hath, he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and in sins.

If our God has done that graciously for us, what a debt we owe, don't we? It's a debt you and I will never be able to repay. But it's a debt that we must acknowledge. We mustn't hide. We must testify, as the Apostle did here, so clearly to that austere company that he was before. He didn't falter. He went faithfully through to honour and glorify his God. who had done such great things for him on that Damascus road.

Well, my friends, you and I know the work of God in our lives. I hope we do. I hope we have the evidence of it. If we don't, I hope we pray for it earnestly, that we may have the evidence that we indeed are made spiritually alive. That God has come and touched our heart.

We have those two evidences of the Apostle Paul and Lydia. And by God's grace, may we be able to align with one or the other and to praise God for it. And therefore, to have that confidence and that confidence to do those things which are God honoring in our life. and to not be like King Agrippa who said, almost, thou persuadest me to be a Christian. You and I must answer before God, but I pray none of us may come under that category where we're just an almost Christian, but to recognize that we are a true believer.

We are a true Christian. And if that is true, then we have a good prospect. We have a good prospect of one day being with Jesus in heaven forever and ever and not cast out. as a camera of the ground and end up in eternity in hell. Well, my friends, we're thankful to God that he has recorded such a wonderful account. And may we take it to our heart and truly bless and praise God for it. Amen.

Paul before Agrippa

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being almost a Christian?

How do we know that God calls us to faith?

Why is the testimony of Paul important for Christians today?

How should Christians respond to rejection of the gospel?

Sermon Transcript

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Paul before Agrippa

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about being almost a Christian?

How do we know that God calls us to faith?

Why is the testimony of Paul important for Christians today?

How should Christians respond to rejection of the gospel?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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