Acts 26:12-32 Paul's Account of His Conversion and Commission

Paul's Account of His Conversion and Commission
Acts 26:12-32

When have you had to publicly appear before an important or powerful person and put your fate in his/her hands? 

#God                  #People           #Time                #Place              #Obedient faith          #Sin    #Key Idea

Acts 26:12-32 (ESV)

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12“In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,^a ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”^b 29And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

30Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

 

Hashtags
#Paul (aka-Saul) (along with those who were with him on the journey)
#Jews ‑ the whole Jewish people
#Festus
#chief priests
#Agrippa the king
#Bernice
#Gentiles
#the prophets and Moses
#the saints
#Caesar

Places
#Jerusalem
#Damascus
#region of Judea

Topics
# Servant – vs. 16
#Mission and calling for Paul
#Salvation (Repentance)
#defense vs. 24
#believe
#persuade

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Compare 26:20 with 20:21. How could you tell someone what it means to be a Christian from these two verses? 
• How does faith in Jesus relate to a repentant change in lifestyle? Would you describe Paul's speech as a legal defense or a personal testimony? How are the two related? Do you think Paul's primary goal in this speech is to convince Agrippa of his innocence, or of the truth of Christianity's claims? Why? 
• From 25:19 and 26:24, how convinced is Festus regarding the resurrection of Jesus? How might Paul's response In verses 25-27 surprise Festus? 
• If you were in this hall, what impressions would you have of Paul as he concluded his speech? 
• Up to this point, the Romans considered Christians and Jews as basically one and the same. From this speech, can the Romans begin to see some differences?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
• How does verse 18 fit as a description of your spiritual journey? Which other images describe what coming to faith was like for you? 
• In verse 14, Paul adds a comment not found in his conversion story in chapters 9 or 22. When has God pointed out to you that your struggle has been against him all along? How has he redirected you since then? 
• Paul considered himself a servant and a witness. In what way is God's call to you similar to or different from his call to Paul? 
• Paul's obedience to Jesus resulted in a trial very similar to Jesus' trial. How has your obedience to Jesus resulted in similarities to Jesus' experience?
• How has Christ brought light into your life? How can you pass on that light to someone else this week?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

==============

Chris Stinnett

April 3, 2020 at 9:05 AM · True And Reasonable

About the year 621 BC Josiah, the young king of Judah, began a comprehensive renewal of religious practice under the Law of Moses. He ordered the purification and refurbishment of the Temple, including removal and destruction of all kinds of idolatrous gifts that earlier people had installed. This included statues of horses located near the room “of an official named Nathan-Melech” (2 Kings 23:11). Less than a generation later, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and burned the Temple and official buildings.

For years archaeologists have been digging in the City of David, on the east side of Jerusalem. Last October, they uncovered a small “signature stamp” from about 600 BC that reads, “of Nathan-Melech Servant of the King.” This little blue stone seal was found within the remains of a two-story administrative building that was destroyed by an intense fire. The writing, the pottery fragments nearby, and the level of destruction all point to the same time period recorded in 2 Kings. It seems reasonable to conclude that the seal served as the official “signature” of the same Nathan-Melech mentioned in the Bible. As the discoveries continue, it seems that the events of the Bible—astonishing though they may be—are true and founded solidly in demonstrated fact.

“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The 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” (Acts 26:25-26 NIV).

As Paul explained himself to the Roman governor and to King Agrippa, he naturally mentioned Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This was such an “impossible” idea that Festus accused him of madness. Paul’s response pointed toward the facts that were widely known and reported. Since all the supporting information was available, it seemed clear that everything Paul said was true and reasonable—even if it were startling and contrary to all expectation. 

The Bible is a book that is rooted in genuine history. Real places, real people, real times and real events are recorded as God interacted with His people. Everywhere we can test the Bible, it is revealed to be true and accurate. That gives us immense confidence in the reliability of the Scriptures, just as we would trust any witness who was proven to be truthful and credible. People who slander the Bible as a collection of fanciful tales of wishful thinking have clearly never examined the facts. There has never been a book so thoroughly scrutinized by skeptics trying to find fault as the Bible has been. And no book, ancient or modern, has been so completely vindicated again and again by demonstrated fact. Even the resurrection of Jesus is found to be true and reasonable—and that undeniable fact demands our attention. If He is raised from the dead, He is the Son of God and actually has all authority in heaven and on earth. That’s not ignorant delusion; that’s true and reasonable, a fact we all must deal with.

=============

“SIGHT TO THE BLIND”

Lewis G. Hale

 

When Jesus visited his hometown synagogue in Nazareth, he stood up and read from the prophet Isaiah. He said the Spirit of the Lord had anointed him to preach to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, “and recovering of sight to the blind.” Luke 4:18-19.

                Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be blind? What a great blessing for a blind person to receive the gift of sight!

                When the blind man of Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” When Jesus asked, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?”, the blind man said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Jesus immediately healed him. He must have experienced unspeakable joy. Can you image a blind man who would refuse to accept the gift of sight? I seems to me that no person in his right mind would say, “I prefer to remain blind.”

                Yet, there is another kind of blindness that is even more serious - spiritual blindness. Our sin and ignorance of God is called blindness. When Christ called Saul to be an apostle, he said he would send him to the Gentiles “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light (from blindness to sight), 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,” Acts 26:17-18. This the true sight which Christ came to give.

                In spite of the fact that Christ came to give us sight, many deliberately choose to remain blind. When the disciples of Jesus asked why he spoke in parables, he said it was because some did not want to hear nor see, so parables concealed the truth from them. He then quoted from Isaiah, “By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time the should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them,” Matt. 13:14-15.

                This means they would have no forgiveness of sins and would have no inheritance. How sad. How unnecessary.

===========

ACTS 26:28

 

evn      ovli,gw me        pei,qeij                 Cristiano.n         poih/sai

In       little       me      you persuade     Christian          to make

 

 

KJV:	Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
RSV:	In a short time you think to make me a Christian.
NASB:	In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.
NIV:	Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?
ASV:	With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.
LAMSA:	With little effort you almost persuade me to become a Christian.
LO:	You almost persuade me to be a Christian.
Spanish:	Por poco me persuades a ser criastiano.
HEB:	עוֹד מְַעַט וּפתּיתַנִִי לְְהְיוֹת נְצְִרִי
============

                                                               Acts 26:28

                                                            By Mark Moore

 

NIV:                Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?

Literal:             In a little you are persuading me to make a Christian

 

This is a difficult passage to interpret because of three questions which we may never be able to answer. First, does the word little refer to time, the number of words Paul spoke or some other factor? Second, what was Agrippa‘s tone? Was he serious or sarcastic. Third, is this a statement of fact or a question? The following paraphrases suggest a few possibilities.

 

Sarcasm:

Ø  What is this? Do you think that you can convert me in just 30 minutes?

Ø  What is this? Do you think that I‘m going to become a Christian on the basis of such meager evidence?

Ø  Come on Paul! You've hardly expended any effort on me. You‘ll have to do better than this if you want me to convert.

 

Serious:

Ø  Paul, you almost had me. With just a little more evidence I could accept what you are saying.

Ø  Paul, I‘m pretty close to becoming a Christian. If I let you keep talking a little longer I would probably convert.

Ø  Wow! You've drawn me in quickly. Is it possible that I would change my mind so soon?

Ø  You are an amazing man! With such little effort on your part, I've come so close to accepting your position. 

Acts 25:23-26:11 Paul Before Agrippa

Paul Before Agrippa
Acts 25:23-26:11

When have you had to publicly appear before an important or powerful person and put your fate in his/her hands: (a) Defending yourself in a tax audit? (b) Asking for a pay raise or an allowance hike? (c) Asking parents for approval and blessing to marry? (d) Asking for liability damages? (e) Submitting to the dentist or surgeon? 

How did you feel as you thought about what to say?

#God                  #People           #Time                #Place              #Obedient faith          #Sin    #Key Idea

Acts 25:23-26:11 (ESV)

 

23So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

1So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Hashtags
#Paul
#Jews – the whole Jewish people
#Festus
#chief priests
#Agrippa the king
#Bernice
#Prominent men
#the emperor
#twelve tribes
#the saints

Places
#Jerusalem
#foreign cities

Topics
# resurrection

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• What is the problem Festus faces? Why doesn't he simply let Paul go? How could Agrippa be in a position to help (26.3)? 
• According to Paul, what issue is the real source of his conflict with the Jewish leaders (see 23,6; 24:21; 26.6-8)? Why do you think his adversaries never directly bring this out (see 18:15)? How does his conviction about the Resurrection differ from that of the Pharisees, who in theory believed in a general resurrection as well? 
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
• What difference does make to you that Jesus truly rose from the dead? What would be different about your faith if that were not the case? 
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

Acts 25:13-22 King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus

King Agrippa and Bernice Visit Festus
Acts 25:13-22

If you could be king or queen for a day, what new law would you enact?

#God                   #People            #Time #Place               #Obedient faith            #Sin     #Key Idea

Acts 25:13-22

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

 

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• How fair is Festus in describing the case? How much does he seem to know about Judaism? About Christianity? How would this have affected any decision he would have made in the case? Do you think he is honestly trying to find the truth in this matter? Why? 
• This Agrippa was the son of the Herod in 12:1-23. Why would he be especially interested in hearing from Paul?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
• When you have questions about your faith, to whom do you turn? Why? How else do you seek input?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

NERO

By Mark Moore

1.           Nero Claudius Caesar Germanicus was the fifth emperor.  He was born 37 _A._D. and reigned from 54–68 _A._D.

2.           He was the son of Agrippina's first husband, Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a vicious and corrupt man.  His mother was a schemer who cared little for his moral development but much for his social standing.  At the age of 34 (in 49 _A._D.), she married emperor Claudius who was 59.  He was a life-long victim of cerebral Palsy and in his later years an inept and cowering leader.  He had a limp from an earlier injury and drooled saliva, which made his contemporaries consider him a half-wit.  However, he had spent much of his time in the imperial palace reading and studying—he was apparently quite bright.  He was the one responsible for expelling the Jews from Rome [Suetonius, Claudius, 25.4; Acts 18:2].  Pallas, Seneca and Burrus helped her plot her son into office.  Claudias died in 54 _A._D., presumably by poison.  For their efforts on Nero's behalf, they were all repaid with traitorous murder.

3.           The first five years of his reign were rational—these are called the quinquennium.  This is primarily due to the fact that his affairs were under the direction of two men:  Seneca, whose brother, Gallio is had been the governor of Greece (Acts 18:12); and Burrus, the prefect of the Praetorian Guard.  He was 16–21 years old during this time.  Even then, however, his private life was licentious.  It is interesting, however, that during this time he expressed great concern and reservation that he would likely have to put people to death.  Later he overcame this feeling and put people to death without qualms.

4.           "Nero's marriage to Poppaea opened the second period of his reign.  He killed his mother, his chief advisers Seneca and Burrus, and many of the nobility to secure their fortunes."  This was in the year 62 _A._D. [Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 581]

5.           Burrus died in 62 _A._D. (there was some suspicion of poison).  Seneca thereafter retired, knowing that he alone could not control the young monarch.  Later Nero ordered him to take his life (65 _A._D.) apparently only so he could obtain his wealth (which Seneca had already given over to him).  These two were replaced with Tigellinus, who brought out the worst of Nero's avarice.

6.           In 62 _A._D. he had his wife, Octavia murdered so he could marry Poppaea.  Poppaea successfully plotted the elimination of Agrippina, Nero's mother, by convincing her to have her murdered in 59 _A._D., as well as Octavia, Nero's wife, even while she was married to Otho, the brief successor to Nero.  Later she, herself, fell prey to his viciousness:

"Having killed Poppaea by a kick when she was with child, (66 _A._D.), Nero proposed to marry Antonia, his adopted sister, and on her refusal ordered her to be put to death.  He then married Statilia Messalina, whose husband Vestinus he had assassinated for marrying Messalina after the emperor had cohabited with her."

[Baker's Bible Dictionary, p. 789]

7.           It was during this time (c. 63 _A._D.) that Paul made his defense before him (Acts 25:10–11).  

8.           In 64 _A._D. a large section of Rome was destroyed by fire.  Many suspected Nero of starting the conflagration, including the historian Tacitus.  He needed a scapegoat for the mishap and found it in the Christians of Rome.  Tacitus, certainly no friend of the church, said this about the persecuted Christians:

"Their death was made a matter of sport; they were covered in wild beast's skins and torn to pieces by dogs; or were fastened to crosses and set on fire in order to serve as torches by night . . . Nero had offered his gardens for the spectacle and gave an exhibition in his circus, mingling with the crowd in the guise of a charioteer or mounted on his chariot.  Hence, . . . there arose a feeling of pity, because it was felt that they were being sacrificed not for the common good, but to gratify the savagery of one man.‖

[Tacitus, Annals, 15.44]

9.           Nero was the first to enact official Roman persecution against the church.  Both Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom under his hand.

10.       His private life was full of scandal.  He entertained himself with the basest forms of depredation including murder, homosexuality, sadomasochism, and unimaginable violence.

11.       Conspiracies dogged his later years.  He was advised to take his own life but he did not have the courage to do it.  The senate, in fact, decreed his death.  His final traitorous act was to put many of the senators to death.  Finally, on June 9, 68 _A._D., he took his own life.  His final words were these, "What an Artist dies in me."  (He fancied himself a musician and artist and athlete).  Thus died the last of the line of Julius Caesar.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

—	Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987, pp. 26–28.
—	Grant, Michael. Nero. London, 1957.
—	Griffin, M. Nero:  The End of a Dynasty. New Haven, 1985.
—	Walter, G. (ed). Nero. London, 1970.
—	Warmington, B. H. Nero: Reality and Legend. London, 1969.

===============

Meet the Herods!

By Chad Ragsdale

 

1.            Herod the ―Great‖ – The head of this twisted family, Herod was the son of Antipater II.  He was the king of the Jews from about 40–4 B.C.  To history, he is known as a great builder (including the Jerusalem Temple and the port of Caesarea).  To the Jews, he was despised as an Edomite and friend of Rome.  To his family, he was feared for his murderous paranoia (He had at least three of his sons and one of his wives – Mariamne I – killed).  This paranoia also led to his killing of the infants in Bethlehem upon hearing of the birth of the new king (Matt. 2:1–22).

2.            Herod Archelaus – (Herod the Ethnarch) One of Herod‘s sons with Malthace, he succeeded

Herod briefly after his death (Matt. 2:22).  He had perhaps the worst reputation of any of Herod‘s sons (not least for marrying the widow of his half-brother), and his reign was short-lived.

3.            Herod Antipas – (Herod the Tetrarch) He was Herod‘s younger son by Malthace, and inherited the Galilean and Peraean portions of his father‘s kingdom.  He appears several times in the gospels.  He is responsible for the death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14–28).  He had divorced a previous wife in order to marry Herodias who was also the wife of his half-brother, Philip – and also his niece.  John denounced this marriage.  After a particularly creepy dance-party involving his wife and step daughter Salome, he concedes to have John killed.  Antipas also had a brief and ultimately worthless encounter with Jesus as a part of his trial (Luke 23:7ff.).  He was deposed as a leader in 39 as a result of the accusations of his nephew, Agrippa.  

4.            Herod Agrippa I – He was a son of Aristobulus (killed by Herod), nephew of Antipas, and grandson of Herod the Great.  He was also the brother of Herodias and the father of Agrippa II and Drusilla (Acts 24:24).  He was made king by his friend Gaius (Caligula). 

He took over Antipas‘ territory in 39 and was given rule over all Judea and Samaria by Claudius in 41 – ruling over territory equal in size to Herod the Great‘s.  Agrippa I is noteworthy for executing James the apostle and imprisoning Peter (Acts 12:2ff.).  He died suddenly and rather unpleasantly at the age of 54 in the year 44 (Acts 12:20ff.; see also Josephus, Ant. 19.343ff.).

5.            Herod Agrippa 2 – He was the son of Agrippa I and the brother of Drusilla and Bernice (with whom he was sometimes accused of being incestuous), and he was the last of the

Herodian kings.  He was only 17 when his father died suddenly.  He was given the title ―king‖ by Claudius, and by the year 56, he had been made the ruler over a large territory including parts of Galilee, Perea, and Judea.  From 48 to 66 he had the right to appoint the Jewish high priest.  He remained loyal to Rome during the Jewish rebellion (66–70) and was rewarded with an increase of territory.  It was before Agrippa II that Paul made his case in Acts and offered his testimony (Acts 25:13–26:32).