Truth Brings Conviction to Agrippa
July 14, 2020
Commentary
Paul gave a vivid description of his conversion on the road to Damascus (vv. 12-18). Light from Heaven had sone around him and his companions, and they all fell to the ground. Paul alone had heard voice of the Savior reprimanding him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v. 14). Jesus had not come to kill Paul but to recruit him. “I have appeared to you because I have chosen you to be my servant. You are to tell others what you have learned about me and what I will show you later” (v. 18). Paul called men to repentance, to return to God, and to do deeds to match their repentance (v. 20). The Jews had repeatedly tried to kill Paul because of his mission: preaching the good news of the Gospel to the Gentiles (vv. 21-23).
Festus then interrupting Paul’s testimony, telling him he was insane, that his education had gone to his head and scrambled his brains (v. 24). This charge came after Paul’s declaration that Jesus had risen from the dead. Paul answered him in a courteous manner, and then he turned his attention to Agrippa, as he noticed the Lord was bringing conviction to his heart (vv. 25-26). Festus was a newcomer, but Agrippa knew the truth of the matter because of his background. Paul put the king on the spot, saying “King Agrippa do you believe the prophets” (v. 27)? If he accepted the prophets, he would be forced to admit that Jesus Christ had fulfilled their prophesies. Agrippa replied, “Are you trying to persuade me to be a Christian?” (v. 28). Agrippa did not want to give up his sins, have a radical change in lifestyle, and run the risk of Jewish spite, Roman snobbery, and Greek scorn. Paul answers, “Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish you and everyone else who hears me today would become just like me! Except, of course, for these chains” (v. 29). The meeting was over, and they filed out. Paul had already been declared innocent by others, and Agrippa had said that he could have been set free, if he had not appealed to Caesar (vv. 30-32).
Application
Lord, help me to be a person who speaks truth with conviction. I know that people will not be drawn to Christ if I present truth as fiction. I want to speak the truth with compassion and boldness.
Acts 26:12– 32 (NET)
12 “While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests, 13 about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews, after they seized me while I was in the temple courts, were trying to kill me. 22 I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: 23 that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24 As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely to him, because I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”
30 So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, 31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”