Friday, July 21, 2023

Acts 25:23-26:11 Paul Before Agrippa = July 21

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.







No comments:

Post a Comment