Acts. Acts 26 What s Your Testimony?

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1 Acts Acts 26 What s Your Testimony? S ince I ve been talking about God s sovereignty a lot of late, and gave you an assignment accordingly, it seems God decided that I needed an example share. So He gave me one. And in order to share I need to give just a little background of this last week. Now as most of you know the family has been dealing with my mom s deterioration. So the emotional fallout of that has been hanging over stuff for about a month or so. There are also some other family issues. To add to that on Tuesday and Wednesday I was fighting with my internet service provider over the problem they created with my network, and yes I won and they fixed it. But it was extremely frustrating, increasing my stress levels. Then Thursday morning I was ill, but recovered enough to go to the pastors luncheon. Of course only one person showed up. It was Pastor Verne, which was okay because we had a good lunch. So I left the restaurant, when out to my car, and the steering was gone. I called AAA and waited for an hour meanwhile reminding myself, God s in control. After all I d been talking about His sovereignty so I had to respond accordingly. (I hate it when I have to listen to my own stuff.) Okay, here it comes. When the driver arrived he decided to look in the engine and found the problem, but couldn t fix it, meaning he had to tow me from Rancho Cordova to the backside of Roseville. And during that time the driver told me his story, of how over the last few months there had been four deaths directly and indirectly tied to his family. His mother committed suicide in a horrible way, his daughter s mom died, and a couple of other family members as well. He wasn t tied to any specific church. He was engaged to be married in three months. And taking all this into consideration his life was in emotional chaos. So I gave some suggestions for his spiritual wellbeing, his need to be settled in a church for support, my card, and said I d pray for him. Just a coincidence, the car breaking down, having to wait for an hour, and then a tow truck drive who needed the Lord in his life. Okay, God I do get it! And by the way, I ll send You a bill for the car. But as a bonus He had an old client, who I don t even remember, write to me on Friday morning to tell me how she was finally turning her life around and thanked me for planting some seeds. So are you planting any?

2 The point is, if we are available, or not, God is in control of the circumstances of our life. He is sovereign. If we are to be useable we need to be able to go with the flow, trusting Him when we don t even get it. And to the Uttermost Parts of the Earth IV Paul and the Gospel to the Gentiles Chapters 12:25-28:31 B. Paul s Imprisonment and Journey to Rome 21:17-28:31 2. Paul s Imprisonment in Caesarea 24:1-26:32 h. Paul and Agrippa - Introduction Verses 1-11 i. The Call Verses j. The Mission Verses k. The Response Verses Introduction: Last time we talked about the fact that Paul was presenting the Gospel to individuals who had never even heard of Jesus. Consequently, he had to begin with his own testimony because he had no other place to start. (More on that in a moment.) Last time I suggested you work on your own testimony. The focus was to be on how God s sovereignty, His working through circumstances, has played out in your life. I noted that I d give you an opportunity to share the results if you were so moved. So are you? h. Paul and Agrippa Introduction: As last time we see the formality of this non-trial. Paul, having been given permission to speak opens with the perfunctory greeting. In it he notes that it was especially appropriate that he was speaking before Agrippa who was aware of Jewish custom and theological debates. Keener notes: Agrippa s interest in the law was known, and his realm became a safe haven for Jewish practice after the Jewish-Roman war of As king, Agrippa controlled the temple treasury and the vestments of the high priest and could appoint the high priest. He was consulted by the Romans on religious matters. This is one of the reasons Festus wanted him to assess Paul. 2 Accordingly, Paul moves into his background as a Jew. Here his approach is quite interesting in what he actually says, and in what he says by implication. He starts by noting that his background was growing up not only Jewish, but a strict Jew, a Pharisee. And the reason that he is on trial is because he believed God s promises made to the fathers. This was a promise made to all of Israel, and was available to be appropriated by any who would worship Him. What was that promise? that God would resurrect the dead. Who did God resurrect? Jesus of Nazareth. Consider what Paul was actually saying here. If one is to be faithful to the God of our fathers, then there is no choice but to follow Jesus. He was telling the Chief Priest, the Elders, the Pharisees, all the Jews present, that if they are to be obedient to the promises of God, to hold to the faith of the Fathers, then they too had to follow Jesus. 1 Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Downers Grove, IL, Archaeological Study Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, ) 382 (

3 Essentially, our message is the same. If people are to follow Truth, then they have only once choice, that is to follow Jesus. Any other path is a lie, leading to death and destruction, no matter how attractive that path may be. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Now Paul didn t start out on God s path. He reminded the Jews present that he had been known for his hostility towards followers of the Way. He arrested them, he persecuted them. He served the cause of the very people who where no accusing him. But i. The Call: God had a different plan for Paul. So, here we find his testimony as he recounts his experience on the road to Damascus. Each time the story is recorded it is a bit different. Stern notes: Here is a composite consistent with all three versions. The light surrounded both Sha ul and his companions. They all saw the light, but only Sha ul saw Yeshua. They all heard some sort of sound, but only Sha ul heard distinct words. All fell to the ground, but Sha ul s companions got up again. Understood as what it is described as being, a supernatural event, no further explanation is needed. But some who do not believe in supernatural events have attempted to demythologize Sha ul s conversion experience as a combination of coincidences, psychotic or epileptic seizures, and embellishments. (The very term conversion experience subtly prejudges the matter by focussing on subjective aspects, whereas in all three reports Sha ul emphasizes the objective.) 3 Paul starts with noting a heavenly light shone around him. This was the glory of God. And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking (Ezekiel 1:26-28). Next Paul heard a voice, the voice of Christ, speaking to him in a Semitic language, probably Aramaic, but possibly Hebrew. Here Paul notes a phrase he hadn t previously, It is hard for you to kick against the goads. This is a proverbial statement the Romans probably knew, meaning that one cannot ultimately resist God s will. Goads were sharp sticks used to prod oxen, and if the oxen kicked in resistance, the drivers would keep them in line by using the goads more severely. 4 3 Stern, David H., Jewish New Testament Commentary, Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc., Clarksville, MD, Dennis, Lane T. and Wayne Grudem, eds., English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, IL, ) 383 (

4 Paul expands upon this call itself, not only speaking of his protection from the his own people and the Gentiles, but of his testimony of Christ. He was to speak of things he d seen, and things had shone him in visions. In this statement Paul also noted God was to use him to present the message which would move people from darkness to light, from Satan s power to God s. As people make this move they receive forgiveness of sins and sanctification. Paul s testimony is a perfect example of, no matter how awful the prolog to your life, and no matter how long that prolog lasted, once Christ comes into it, you have moved into a whole new story. The story remains complex with failures and successes. But where there once was no real direction, now there is direction, tied to God rather than against Him. j. The Mission: Once Christ called Paul he felt he had no option but to follow that calling. Consequently, he presented the Gospel to those in Damascus, Jerusalem, the world, to the Jew and to the Gentile. And it was giving God s Word to the Gentiles that led to much of the trouble and attacks that finally have brought Him in front of Agrippa. Paul wanted Agrippa to understand that everything he taught was from Scripture. It was the prophets who told of the crucifixion, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ. Oh and by the way, in spite of the Jewish leadership s reaction, God had also foretold that His message would go to both Jew and Gentile. Thus ends the lesson. k. The Response: Festus initial response to Paul was that Paul was a nut job. It s hard to know exactly what Paul meant, possibly that he d gone way beyond what could rationally been drawn from Scripture. Here we need to remember that Festus didn t know anything about the Jewish faith. So it may be that his response represents what would have been a typical Roman response, at least for that day. Today, in a much more subtle way, many are saying that all religion is insanity, that Christians are mentally out of it, weak minded, etc. But then again the same charges were made against Christ. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, He is out of his mind (Mark 3:21). The Jews answered him, Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? (John 8:48). The Jews said to him, Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. (John 8:52). Many of them said, He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him? (John 10:20). We shouldn t be too surprised when we have to deal with the same stuff. Consider just how messed up the lost actually are, or as Paul said: ) 384 (

5 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18). Paul then backed Agrippa into a corner by appealing for his opinion. Since Agrippa is very familiar with scripture Paul suggests that he knows Paul s position is not off the wall. He would have known the events and history around Christ. He would have known the prophets, which according to Paul would have lead one directly to an acceptance of Christ. But Agrippa s position was that just because Paul could make an argument from logic, that didn t mean he was going to become a Christian. Keep in mind all this is going on in front of a huge crowd. It would be extremely unlikely he would have made a commitment, even if he wanted to, in this setting. It would have been politically inexpedient to do so. But Paul made it clear he wanted all people to be saved including Agrippa. Keep all this in mind when you make that erudite argument for the truth of the Gospel, one that was so clear and logical it couldn t be objected. Oh, and it was. It is the Spirit that the argument which brings someone into the committee. We are to bring the apologetic, but we don t save. always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). The next scene feels a bit like So You Think You Can Dance when the judges going back stage to decided who they re kicking off. Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice go off scene where reality sets in. They know Paul isn t guilty. They would have let him go except he had appealed to Caesar. Of course God had nothing to do with that. It was just a coincidence that He had said He was sending Paul to Rome and Paul was going to Rome. Conclusion: What is the one most important truth here? The Resurrection. Christ s resurrection defeats any argument against Christianity. It defeats any argument for any other religion. Verse 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? Verse 23 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. After all isn t this the message we are to bring? For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3 4). If the Resurrection drives the Gospel, what is to be the response to the Gospel, the one Agrippa didn t show? Repentance, which includes acceptance. ) 385 (

6 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2). And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you (Acts 8:22). The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:7) But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die (Ezekiel 18:21). ) 386 (

7 Acts Acts 26 What s Your Testimony? And to the Uttermost Parts of the Earth IV Paul and the Gospel to the Gentiles Chapters 12:25-28:31 B. Paul s Imprisonment and Journey to Rome 21:17-28:31 2. Paul s Imprisonment in Caesarea 24:1-26:32 h. Paul and Agrippa - Introduction Verses 1-11 i. The Call Verses j. The Mission Verses k. The Response Verses Introduction: h. Paul and Agrippa Introduction: (John 14:6) i. The Call: (Ezekiel 1:26-28)

8 j. The Mission: k. The Response: (Mark 3:21; John 8:48, 52, 10:20; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 3:15) Conclusion: (Acts 26:8, 23; 1 Corinthians 15:3 4; Matthew 3:2; Acts 2:38, 8:22, 17:30; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 55:7; Ezekiel 18:21) Personal Application: In light of God s sovereignty, what are the implications of sharing, or not sharing the Gospel with someone? Why are we to give it out if God is sovereign? Prayer for the Week: Father, fill me with Your Spirit so I will be aware of those whom You place in my path, those who need to hear Your truth. In Jesus name, amen.