Paul is before King Agrippa, a ruler just below Caesar. Paul has spoken before the Sanhedrin and the high priest, then before Lysias and Felix. Finally Festus has brought Paul to Agrippa. A long line of commanders and rulers have been hearing Paul speak on Jesus, all because Paul was accused, earlier, of blasphemy.
Acts 26:1-11
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
Luke records this speech as if he, Luke, were in the audience. Paul begins, as before, by insisting that he is a good Jew.
Acts 26:12-18
"Then I asked, `Who are you, Lord?'
"`I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. `Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
This is the third time that Luke summarizes Paul's dramatic conversion.
Acts 26:19-23
"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
Paul, who insists he is a devout Jew, emphasizes that the Messiah Jesus is a continuation of God's plan through Moses. This is part of Paul's argument in his letter to the Galatians.
Acts 26:24-27
But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
Paul, who insists he is a devout Jew, emphasizes that the Messiah Jesus is a continuation of God's plan through Moses. This is part of Paul's argument in his letter to the Galatians.
Acts 26:24-27
At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
"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."
"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
Festus feels obligated to respond in some way to Paul's presentation. In his interruption, Festus concedes to Paul's training as a Jew. But Paul is focused on King Agrippa.
Acts 26:28-32
"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."
"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
Festus feels obligated to respond in some way to Paul's presentation. In his interruption, Festus concedes to Paul's training as a Jew. But Paul is focused on King Agrippa.
Acts 26:28-32
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
There is an American belief that Christians should seek power so that they can influence (for good) those below them. That is not a New Testament idea. Paul has been repeatedly placed in positions in which he has no power and must speak to those with power over him. In those positions (typical of the power reversal common throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus) it is the lowly one who is influencing those above him. The gospel spread throughout the first few centuries because various people, in chains, were willing to say, "Please join me and become a citizen of heaven, like I am" even though they had to occasionally add, "Well, except for these chains. I wouldn't wish that on you...."
Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
There is an American belief that Christians should seek power so that they can influence (for good) those below them. That is not a New Testament idea. Paul has been repeatedly placed in positions in which he has no power and must speak to those with power over him. In those positions (typical of the power reversal common throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus) it is the lowly one who is influencing those above him. The gospel spread throughout the first few centuries because various people, in chains, were willing to say, "Please join me and become a citizen of heaven, like I am" even though they had to occasionally add, "Well, except for these chains. I wouldn't wish that on you...."
Paul has spoken to Ananias, Lysia, Felix, Festus and Agrippa. Now Paul will go (in chains) to Caesar.
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