Paul Defends the Truth of the Gospel

Transcript

GR1635
3-25-12
Paul Defends the Truth of the Gospel
Acts 26:1-32
Gil Rugh

We are going to be in Acts chapter 26. This is a very interesting chapter because here we have the Apostle Paul making an extended presentation of his ministry of the Gospel entrusted to him before some very important people – people of prominence in the world at that time, people who have power and influence and God has placed the Apostle Paul in a difficult situation and yet a very strategic position.

His ministry on this occasion will focus on the resurrection of Christ from the dead. That has been a repeated theme in the book of Acts. It started back in Acts chapter 2 with the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost. He clearly went through with the Jews gathered in Jerusalem the evidence from the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus had to die and be raised from the dead and that He was the only One who could fulfill the great promises given to David; that theme and emphasis on the resurrection continued. We won’t take the time to go back but the repeated emphasis in chapter 2 was followed up with an emphasis in chapter 3, 4 and 5.

Turn back to chapter 10. We will pick this up as we really close the ministry of Peter coming up to the ministry of Paul shortly. In Acts chapter 10 we see an example of Peter. He is at the house of Cornelius with the Gentiles. He continues the same theme. Verse 39: “We are witnesses of all the things that He, Jesus, did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,” particularly to special witnesses. That emphasis – He died but He was raised and we are credible eye-witnesses of the resurrected Christ.

Paul will continue that emphasis on the resurrection and his ministry. It comes up in his preaching in chapter 13, chapter 17, and chapters 23, 24, 25 where we come up to chapter 26 now; the resurrection, the resurrection. This is the evidence and assurance that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of Israel, the Savior. Paul wrote to the Romans and said, “Jesus was delivered up because of our transgressions. He was raised because of our justification because He had paid the penalty for sin and righteousness had been provided.” His resurrection is a seal of that finished work. As such, all must bow before Him. He is the Savior. He is the Judge. We have seen in the preaching of earlier chapters.

God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. “Having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead;” the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ. And so as Paul will stand before important people of the world he presents to them the One before whom all must bow, Jesus, the resurrected Christ.

He has been arrested because he preached the resurrection. This situation of Paul as a prisoner of Rome began back in chapter 21 when the Jews stirred up opposition to Paul and the Romans had to intervene to keep the Jews from killing him. That began, we have noted would be a five year imprisonment. It’s gone on thus far for about two years. Obviously, Luke is presenting to us an abbreviated version of the events.

At the end of chapter 25 Paul has been transported to Caesarea for his own protection because of the plots of the Jews in Jerusalem to have him killed and there he appeared before the Roman governor, Felix in chapter 24 and in chapter 25 he appeared before Festus. Then Festus doesn’t know what to do with him so Agrippa appears on the scene. We have moved from Felix, a Roman governor replaced by Festus.

The Roman governors, particularly Festus now, is relatively unfamiliar with the issues involved. The preceding governor, Felix, knew about the truth concerning Christ. He didn’t become a believer. Paul presented it to him repeatedly. He knew about it before Paul presented it – Luke had told us. When Felix is replaced by Festus, Festus hears Paul present his case in chapter 25. He doesn’t know what to make of it. Now, as the Roman governor since Paul has appealed to Caesar he is required to write a cover letter. Here is a prisoner I am sending to Rome. Here are the charges. He has appealed to Caesar. Well Festus is concerned because he doesn’t have any charges to write. It seems like some religious disagreements among the Jews. It’s hardly something you send a prisoner to Caesar to deal with so when Agrippa, this is Agrippa the second. We have talked about the relationships back in Acts chapter 12. His father, King Agrippa the first was seen. He is the one who had James executed, Peter imprisoned and then dies under the judgment of God for accepting the glory of God when people declared his speech to be the speech of a god, not of a man. So this is his son, Agrippa the second.

Agrippa the Second comes from being raised in Rome in the context of the royal household so he is well connected. When his father dies he was only 17 you remember. So the Caesar gave him some of his father’s territory and over time that territory will be enlarged so he has territory adjoining Judea. He doesn’t rule that area. That is not under him. Jerusalem and the surrounding area are under a Roman governor but Festus doesn’t have much knowledge about the issues here and about Jewish matters. So when Agrippa comes to pay respects to the new governor and visit with him, Festus takes that opportunity to ask Agrippa what he thinks he should do with this Jewish prisoner and he tells Agrippa, “I listened to him and I’ve listened to the charges” and in verse 25 he said, “I have found that he has committed nothing worthy of death but since he appealed to the emperor I decided to send him.” The reason that Paul appealed to the emperor is Festus didn’t want to make a ruling just like the previous governor. He knew that Paul was innocent but he wanted to please the Jews. So Festus asked Paul if he would be willing to be transported back to Jerusalem for a trial, buy why? He has already presented his case to the Roman governor who has the authority to decide so Paul appealed to Caesar. So Agrippa says, “Yes, I would like to hear the man.” So that is where we are.

The setting began in verse 23 of Acts 25. It is a rather formal setting, great pomp and ceremony because you have two rulers in the region, Festus and Agrippa and Agrippa’s sister, Bernice is traveling with him so they are here. There is a lot of pomp and ceremony and chapter 26 opens up: “Agrippa said to Paul, ‘you are permitted to speak for yourself.’” So here Paul in this setting, Festus has said, “You know, I haven’t been able to sort out what the issues are here.” So Agrippa is the one who speaks to Paul because in effect, Festus has turned this over to Agrippa and Agrippa is to conduct the inquiry here because Festus has already been through it so Agrippa speaks up here and tells Paul: “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” “Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense.”

I think it is an interesting chapter because we talk about Christian apologetics and that is the Greek word translated “defense” here. That is where we get the word apologetics from and here is Paul’s apology, if you will - his defense. It is rather simple and clear. It is a presentation of the truth of the Gospel with a strong emphasis on the resurrection because that is the issue that has stirred up things. He begins by showing proper respect for the authorities and particularly for Agrippa. “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews…” This is a Jewish matter. The accusation had come from the Jews. There are no Romans bringing charges against Paul, a Roman citizen so “In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.” That is an accurate statement from what we know of Agrippa the Second. He was thoroughly versed in the matter of the Jews. Caesar had appointed him even though he is not given authority over the region of Judah and Jerusalem itself. He is given authority over the temple in Jerusalem and so he has the authority to appoint the high priest to be in charge of matters related to the priestly ministry so Caesar and Rome had made that concession if you will, because that’s much more acceptable to the Jews than having a Roman governor making decisions regarding their temple and so on. That didn’t mean that they didn’t do that at times but in the present situation I say that because Paul is not just flattering him, he is speaking what is true. He recognizes Agrippa will have a much better understanding of Jewish issues than Festus does and be able to sort through these things. When we get to the end, Paul’s observation is correct.

“So then, all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth up.” So here is where he is going to start. Down through verse 11 he is going to talk about his life in Judaism and he is going to show he was raised a good Jew and he will go on to show then following that that he has continued to function consistently with what the Jews taught but first his life in Judaism. “All Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.” Now Paul was converted about 20 years, over 20 years now, close to 25 years. About earlier, back in the mid-thirties. We are about 60 A. D. now but still the Jews there know about Paul’s past and they could testify. “He was raised and lived as a Pharisee.” So they were strict in their adherence to the Law of Moses and to Jewish practices. That transfers quickly. “And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.” You see how quickly Paul moves to the issue. Not a long elaboration about his former life, they can testify to that fact that I was a Pharisee.

Agrippa the Second is well familiar with the Pharisees; their strict observance of strict Jewish law and so on. But he transitions immediately. “I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.” You see what he is saying here. “I am really on trial for believing the hope that the Jews have.” So the contradiction that is here, “The promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this hope, O King, I am being accused by the Jews.” He is on trial for the hope of the resurrection. All of the 12 tribes of Israel had this anticipation, this hope.

Just one passage, Daniel chapter 12 since we have been there rather recently in other studies; Daniel chapter 12, verses 1-3: “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever.” The hope of Israel, the 12 tribes of Israel that future resurrection from the dead, sharing in the glories of the kingdom of their Messiah; that is Jewish hope. All 12 tribe, Paul wants to make clear. This is not just part of a minority sect of troublemakers in Judaism. I believe what all 12 tribes, all of Israel basically believes as a Pharisee. We have the Sadducees, the minority party but Agrippa can understand here. The dominant party is the Pharisees. The Sadducees will pass off the scene in coming years. So Paul is saying, “I am a Pharisee. I have the hope of a future resurrection like all 12 tribes of Israel do.” “They serve God day and night with a desire to attain to the resurrection that is promised in passages like Daniel chapter 12. “And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by the Jews.” You see what he is saying. “The Jews are being inconsistent here. They are accusing me for believing what every good Jew believes. Why is it considered incredible among you if God does raise the dead and we have people included there because the “you” is plural. So he is not saying, “You, Agrippa,” singular. In Greek you can have singular you and plural you. They have a different form. In English you have to tell by the context so here why is it considered incredible among you people, you Jews, if God does raise the dead. He is transitioning to the issue of Jesus Christ of Nazareth because the Jews who claim to believe in the resurrection and that is their hope were upset with Paul because he is declaring that the Jewish Messiah has come and has been raised from the dead. So if your hope is the resurrection from the dead as Jews why is it considered incredible among you if God does raise the dead? You say your hope and what you hope to attain is to the resurrection of the dead and I come and tell you about one who was raised from the dead and you want to kill me. Why is it considered incredible if your hope is the resurrection of the dead, why is it incredible that God raised somebody from the dead?

“So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus.” So Paul now talks about his life in Judaism and as one who believed what the Jews believed, generally throughout the 12 tribes, the coming resurrection and that is what he has been preaching. That is why Jews are upset and now he is going to show that he at one time also was a persecutor of anyone who taught that Jesus of Nazareth had been raised from the dead. So he showed that he was a Jew according to the strictest practice of the Jews and I also was inconsistent myself. “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” This identifies him here, his Jewish connection and home town. “This is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” We just get a summary.

We know back at the death of Stephen in Acts 7 Paul was present though called Saul but he was present at more than one of these kinds of events. He was a man on a mission of destruction and the Jews would know his background and be part of what they would know about him since they knew he was raised as a Pharisee they also knew something of his practices so he is reiterating this for Agrippa and he did all these things. He was pursuing them even to foreign cities and moving out because he was on his way to Damascus, remember and then what happened?

Verse 12: “While so engaged.” Now I was raised a good Jew according to practice of Judaism, believing what the Jews believed and I also persecuted the followers of Jesus of Nazareth even as they are doing. What happened? Well, “while I was journeying to one of those cities outside the region, journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me,” so enveloped in this bright light.

It takes you back to Acts chapter 9. This is the third time in Acts that we have had the events of Paul’s conversion presented to us at the initial event in Acts chapter 9, Paul repeated it again, in Acts chapter 22 when he gave his testimony and now here again in chapter 25. “A bright light shining all around and when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” This is a picture that they would all be familiar with that goad, the pointed stick they used to prod the oxen when they wouldn’t move as they were supposed to. The stubborn oxen if they kicked and fought back would just got prodded all the harder. If they would submit and follow the lead of their master they wouldn’t be getting prodded all the time so that is the picture. Christ confronts him as the Lord and Master and you keep kicking against My prodding. It’s hard for you to do that. You are fighting against Me and My will for you.

“And I said, ‘Who are you Lord?’ and the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” You see the resurrected Christ appeared to him, spoke to him. Paul is an eye-witness as he told the Corinthians in I Corinthians 15. “Having seen the resurrected Christ.” Christ said to him, “Get up, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister [the word means servant] and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you.” In other words, you will be a witness of what you have just seen and heard and I will be appearing to you again and telling you additional things. I will be communicating to you again. It’s like Galatians chapter 1. Paul says, “The Gospel that I preach I wasn’t taught it by men but by a revelation from Christ.” So that ongoing communication given to him.

Christ appeared to Paul to set him apart for a particular realm of service for Him, to testify to the truth concerning Christ and to testify that He is alive. Note what this will include, verse 17: “Rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,” something of great offense to the Jews. Paul declares, “I have to rescue you from the Jews and from the Gentiles.” And remember, Paul’s ministry will be particularly to the Gentiles. Those are the ones to whom he is sending him. Paul has a ministry to the Jews to be sure. Or course he is known as the apostle to the Gentiles. What will he be doing? What is he to do? “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” What a clear, direct statement of the ministry of the Gospel. He will come under the protection of God and he will tell them, “Be an instrument so that their eyes can be opened so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” And thus realize the hope of the Jews that Daniel 12 talked about, the resurrection to life, to shine brightly in the kingdom of their Messiah. That is my ministry. It ties back. It is a ministry that is consistent with the hope of the Jews. It was given in the Old Testament prophets.

This is very similar to the call of Jeremiah in many senses. In Jeremiah chapter 1 God called Jeremiah, gave him a commission to go and give forth the Word that God put in his mouth, the message that God gave to him and he tells Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you to protect you.” This is the same thing that God tells Paul here. Isn’t it interesting, God entrusts His Word to His servants. He assures them of His protection, His rescue. Paul has no doubt here, no confusion because you see he is standing as a prisoner testifying before those who have authority over him in the human realm. Paul never loses sight. He is in the hands of the One that he serves. God will rescue him according to His plan. Now he has already been imprisoned for two years and the outcome of this presentation will not be his being set free. But God is rescuing him, protecting him, keeping him until he completes his service. He has three more years left in this imprisonment; another year to travel to Rome and two years of imprisonment in Rome when the book of Acts closes. As we have said, he will be released and go on ministry for a while before he is rearrested and executed about 68 A.D.

The ministry of the Gospel; the beauty of it in verse 18. He is addressing Festus, the Roman governor. He is addressing Agrippa who rules as a minor king and his sister, Bernice to “Open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” What a ministry to be entrusted with. The power of the Gospel which is the power of God for salvation. Verse 18 is a great verse. “So King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision.” How could you disobey the Lord who appeared to you in this dramatic fashion? He had entrusted you to this ministry and message. “So King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea and even to the Gentiles.” He started in Damascus because that is where he was on the road to Damascus when he was struck blind and then was told to proceed on to Damascus. There he received his sight and immediately began to talk about the revelation given to him and then he talked among the Jews and he talked even to the Gentiles. What did he tell them, that they should repent and turn to God, perform deeds appropriate to repentance. This is the ministry of bringing light to those in darkness; of bringing freedom from the dominion of Satan and being transferred to the dominion of God; bringing those bound and under the condemnation of sin the message of forgiveness and life and an inheritance among those who belong to God. They must repent; turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. It is consistent even here presenting the Gospel message to these unbelieving rulers. You must understand, you must turn from your sin, repent of your sin, turn to God and when you do that your life will change. Now you will do those things that are consistent with a person who has repented of their sin and turned to God and now belong to Him. They should perform deeds appropriate to repentance.

Remember the ministry of John the Baptist to the Jewish leaders who came out to be baptized by him and what did he say? Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? If you have genuinely repented you ought to be bring forth what, the fruit of repentance. Their lives indicated there had been no genuine repentance. The confusion on this sometimes causes Christians to be reluctant to talk about the changed life but when you place your faith in Jesus Christ and you are brought out of darkness into light and He washed you from the defilement of your sin, makes you new, brings you under His authority as His child, your life will be different. I mean to say well, your life won’t change. That is not the salvation that the Bible talks about.

Turn over to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, I Thessalonians chapter 1, the testimony that the Thessalonians had, look at verse 9. Their testimony has gone outside their own city and Paul is reporting back how people talk about their saving faith and in verse 9: “They themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” You see the impact of Paul’s ministry in bringing the Gospel to the Thessalonians. They “turned to God from idols to idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who rescues us from wrath to come.”

Come back to Ephesians chapter 2. This is repeated emphasis in Scripture. We lose sight of it pretty soon and we talked about this in our earlier study today. The church becomes corrupted as we see in some of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 because we play down any emphasis on a changed life, a holy life, a people being holy because God is holy and soon the church just becomes a mixture of all people who have been somewhat Christianized which means what? They come to our church, this building and sit and so everybody is accepted but the reality of a changed life. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works that no one may boast for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” The order here makes the difference between heaven and hell. We are saved by grace, not as a result of works. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus as new creations as Paul wrote to the Corinthians. So now we walk and live the life that God has ordained for those who belong to Him, new lives, a new way of living. We are to be holy for He is holy.

Come back to Acts 26. So Paul is clear here. He is addressing an ungodly Roman ruler. He is addressing an ungodly Jewish ruler so has serious questions about the morality of the relationship he has with his sister who is traveling with him. Both among the Jews and the Romans there was discussion about this. A woman who would go on to be the mistress of Titus, the days when Titus would lead the siege and destruction of Jerusalem; who would travel to Rome and live with him before he becomes Caesar and Paul makes clear as he addressed these people, I am presenting to you a message of being “brought out of darkness to light from the dominion of Satan to God, receiving forgiveness of sins and an inheritance from God. You must repent and turn to God from your sin and when you do you will live lives that are appropriate to repentance.” We can trace something of the life of Bernice down through the years. There was no change there of Agrippa for another 40 years. We don’t know of any change that takes place.

Paul now brings to the point of why he was arrested. Verse 21: “For this reason, some Jews ceased me in the temple and tried to put me to death.” Here we are, there it is. That’s what it is all about Agrippa. I have preached this message and the Jews have seized me, desiring to put me to death. “So having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great stating nothing but what the prophets and Moses said was going to take place, that the Christ was to suffer and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Here’s what it is all about. The Jews wanted to kill be but God rescued me. You know, Paul doesn’t say the Romans intervened and rescued me, no. Paul just sees the hand of God in that as God promised He would in verse 17: “Christ said, ‘I will be rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles.” And so, verse 22: “Having obtained help from God, the Jews were not able to kill me.” I say, “Well God didn’t help you a lot, you are still a prisoner.” No, but Paul here, why am I here? Isn’t this amazing? Here you have Festus sitting here, you have Agrippa sitting here and Bernice sitting and other high officials sitting here all quietly listening to Paul give this clear presentation of the basic facts of the truth concerning Jesus Christ. This just fulfills what Moses and the prophets said that Christ was to suffer, that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. Festus is overwhelmed. “While Paul was saying this in his defense Festus said in a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind, your great learning is driving you mad. Paul, you have gone over the brink.’” They acknowledge Paul as a learned individual but for the Romans the concept of bodily resurrection – no. The Jews should have understood it and supported it, understood Paul’s message. “Festus, this is madness – talking about a Jewish Messiah, the Christ, the anointed One, had to suffer and then be raised from the dead so that light, the truth of God’s salvation could be proclaimed to the Jews and Gentiles to a pagan Roman; this is madness.” Paul is controlled in all of this. What does he respond? Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus but I utter words of sober truth,” of truth and soberness. They are serious matters. This is the truth. “For the king knows about these matters and I speak to him with confidence since I am persuaded that none of these things escaped his notice for this has not been done in a corner.”

You appreciate the clarity, boldness and respect of Paul. He refers to Festus, “Most excellent Festus.” I mean it honors those that God has put in authority even when they are not functioning with the honesty that they should. I mean if Festus had done what he should of, Paul wouldn’t be in this position. He would have set him free but he wasn’t willing to do that but he still shows the respect to him. “I utter words of sober truth for the king knows about these matters. [Referring to Agrippa] I speak to him also with confidence.” These things haven’t escaped his notice. Paul is sure that Agrippa has heard about this before. He knows about the crucifixion of Christ. He knows about the issues, about the disappearance of the body and that some are going around proclaiming He was raised from the dead and the Jews are hostile to this. I mean this is the grandson of Herod the Great. His father ruled the region including regions where we have Roman governors now. So he is well aware. Paul is confident that Agrippa knows this. This is not the first time he has heard these facts. So he is familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures, Paul is confident. So he turns it now in a direct appeal to Agrippa. “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?” You know, the boldness of Paul. Festus has just basically come out of seat, “Paul, you are a mad man, you are going crazy.” Now Paul turns to Agrippa and says, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do.” I mean, he is confident that Agrippa really does believe the prophets even he hasn’t believed in the fulfillment of the prophetic message. “Now is your opportunity. What the prophets prophesied that you know has been fulfilled. The truth of what I am presenting is a fulfillment of what the Jewish Scriptures say.” Do you believe the prophets? I know you do. I am confident that you do. That if you do what? You will have to believe the message that I am telling you. Agrippa is somewhat taken back. He said to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” I don’t know that it is sarcastic but he is deflecting the question. I don’t think that it is sarcastic because his attitude toward Paul in what follows doesn’t reflect a disdain for him but I don’t think you will convince me Paul with a short message like that. Paul’s response – “I would wish to God whether in a short time or a long time not only you but all who hear me this day might become such as I am except for these chains. I would long for you to be like me, to know what it means. To come out of darkness into light; to be removed from the domain of Satan to the domain of God; to know forgiveness of sins; to know genuine repentance; to know what it means now to live for the resurrected Christ. I would love that for you and everyone here.” You see, Paul sees he is presenting a presentation to Agrippa but also to Festus and Bernice but everybody else who is a listener is there to hear. It’s over. The king stands up. That means the meeting is over. “The king stood up, the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.” What an austere group.

You talk about the providence of God. Isn’t it amazing? How could you get in and have the Roman governor sit down and listen repeatedly to a presentation of the Gospel and then have Agrippa and Bernice who are here on a state visit if you will, don’t want to elevate it to that level, but to visit the new governor and what do they do? They all sit down and bring the important people that are with them sit down and listen to Paul present the Gospel, the hand of God, the clarity of Paul. He presents it clearly but his apologetic approach, his defense is what? Tell them the truth of the Gospel. Tell them the Gospel. The only apologetic is the Gospel for the unbeliever. Paul tells them the facts of the case but what has come to the fore here, the real issue, the facts of the Gospel, why I have been arrested, the truth of the Gospel. What do you need to hear and believe, the truth of the Gospel. You Agrippa, king of the Jews, don’t you believe the prophets? I am confident that you would believe the prophets. The prophets said what? “That Christ must suffer and by reason of the resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jews and to the Gentiles and I would desire everybody here would be like me, would come to bow in repentance before Christ.”

Pick up with verse 30: “The king stood up, the governor and Bernice, those who were sitting with them. When they had gone aside, they began talking to one another.” So here you have everybody of importance now assembled here, the king, the governor, Bernice and those who were sitting with them. They go off by themselves to talk about things here and what do they agree on? This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment. “Then Agrippa said to Festus, ‘this man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’”

So now we have had Felix, the governor testify to his innocence, before that you had the Roman commander in Jerusalem testify to his innocence, now you have Festus who has testified to his innocence, now you have Agrippa testify to his innocence but Paul is still not going free.

There were occasions when a Roman governor could set a prisoner who had appealed to Caesar freed but you had to be very, very careful because you could not put yourself in a position like you had intervened to usurp Caesar’s authority because the Caesars were very jealous about their authority and position. You have the Jews here and Agrippa would have to be careful as well. Of course, he didn’t have the authority. It would have to come through Festus now that Paul’s appealed to Rome. They agree they can’t. The charges of the Jews will carry Paul to Rome but what? He is innocent. That is where it is left.

You know, it’s amazing. We have talked about this and here we have again, Paul has made such a powerful presentation of the Gospel, could it be any clearer? There is no indication that anyone gets saved here. That doesn’t mean that the grace of God didn’t save someone that Luke did not include for whatever reason but from what we know, there is no record of conversion here. Festus doesn’t respond. He just can’t make heads or tails. Paul sounds like a mad man to him saying you ought to believe in a Jewish Messiah who was crucified and buried and supposedly raised from the dead, you are a mad man.

Festus is only two years away from his own death. He heard the Gospel, heard it again and again. Heard it from Paul then heard it while Paul presented it with Agrippa present. From what we know, he dies never having responded.

Agrippa is going to have a long life. He is going to live another 40 years but we don’t know that he ever trusted Christ. There is no evidence of that. He lives out his life rather comfortably and in positions of responsibility proved by the Romans.

Bernice, as I mentioned, going on her own place in history because of her involvement with a man who would become the future Caesar who would not continue involvement with her after he became Caesar because of opposition to that kind of relationship with a person in her position.

You know, here they are. They don’t know this is the most important day of their lives. This is the most important event that will take place in their life. This is the most important man they will ever talk to. Not the Caesar in Rome, but Paul bringing them the most important message they will ever hear. But they don’t know that. This is just a Jewish, Roman citizen who is now a prisoner on his way to Caesar and will be on to more important things but nothing more important than this one day when they hear the Gospel from Paul and a good reminder to us. When we present the Gospel this is the most important thing going on. There may not be another day like this for the people we share the Gospel with. Did they ever hear it like this again? We don’t know. The opportunity we have.

It was God’s plan that Paul present the Gospel here. He had to be faithful. Back in verse 16 Christ appointed him a minister, a servant and a witness of these things and as we carry on the role of representing Jesus Christ our role is to be faithful. Paul will have to give an answer. I put you in that position to give testimony, a savor of life to life and death to death and he had to do it faithfully.

And so, we have that same privilege to do what is the most important thing done on the face of the earth, tell others the message of the resurrected Savior.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for the ministry of the servant that You raised up, for the clarity of the Gospel. Lord what a powerful defense the presentation of the message which is Your power for salvation for everyone who believes. Thank You for the message entrusted to us, the message of the truth concerning Christ. May we be bold and clear in presenting it to others that You might accomplish Your purposes in these days. Thank You for the fellowship we are about to enjoy. Bless our time. Give us a greater appreciation of Your grace in our lives we pray in Christ’s name amen.