Honesty is the Best Policy

Topic: Honesty

Passage: Acts 26:1–11

March 8, 2021

Commentary

One of the extraordinary things about the great Christian leaders in the New Testament was they were not afraid to confess what once they had been. In the presence of the king, Paul frankly confessed that there was a day when he had tried to blast the Christians out of existence. In this passage we see Paul before King Agrippa. Agrippa tells Paul that he can now speak for himself (v. 1). Paul then explains that he was particularly pleased to be able to state his case to King Agrippa (vv. 2-3). Of all the government officials in the country, nobody knew better the precepts, principles and passions that motivated the Jewish people. Fetus might not understand, but Agrippa could.

This is the third time Paul’s conversion experience is recorded in the book of Acts. He also spoke of his life as a Pharisee and how sincerely he had tried to live a blameless life (v. 4-5) and follow the promise God made to the Jews (v. 6). Paul explains how day and night the twelve tribes have earnestly served God, waiting for his promised blessing (v. 7). Why should anyone doubt that God raises the dead to life (v. 8)? Because of this hope the Jewish leaders have brought charges. This was why he had worked so hard to persecute the heretical sect of the followers of Jesus (v. 9-11). Just as in the case of Paul, no one can doubt the sincerity of most religious people. They are convinced that they are saved by following the religious beliefs and codes in which they have been raised. Human religion is man’s thoughts about God, sin, salvation etc. rather than what God actually says about Himself and what he says about man from His Word.

Application

What can I learn about sharing the gospel from this passage? If I have an opportunity to tell my story before government officials, how would I do it? This would be a good time for me to be open and honest about my life before Christ and talk about changes since I came to know Him.

Acts 26:1– 11 (NET)

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

² “Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, ³ because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversial issues of the Jews. Therefore I ask you to listen to me patiently. ⁴ Now all the Jews know the way I lived from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. ⁵ They know, because they have known me from time past, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, ⁷ a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, Your Majesty! ⁸ Why do you people think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead? ⁹ Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. ¹⁰ And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were sentenced to death. ¹¹ I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged at them, I went to persecute them even in foreign cities.