Acts 26 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 26

• Context:
  • Paul is still under arrest; still being held in the City of Caesarea on the coast of Palestine. Paul is held without being charged by the Roman Government for anything. Really he was held because of political considerations. Paul has been heard by the former governor Felix and held for 2 years. Now under the new governor Festus who was pushing Paul to go to Jerusalem and have his trial there to please the Jews who were planning on killing Paul.  All these plans were derailed by appealing to Caesar which was his right as a Roman citizen.  Festus doesn’t even know what to write about Paul as he sends him on to Caesar. Festus is visited by the neighboring King Agrippa and his sister who is much more familiar with the culture and ways of the Jews.  The King’s mother was a Jew.  So Festus arranges an interview with Paul to see if Agrippa can make sense of what is going on. Now it is time for Paul to speak to tell his side of the story to King Agrippa.
• Acts 26:1-3
• Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
  • Why does Paul consider himself fortunate to give his defense before King Agrippa?
    • Because his knowledge of the Jews customs and controversies. Paul has before him someone competent to comprehend the issues of His case.
  • What does Paul plead for from the King?
    • Patience.
• Acts 26:4-8
• 4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope. 8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
  • How does Paul prove his connection to the Jews?
    • See Verses 4-5  Evidently there were people around who could verify the Jewish background of Paul. 
    • We need to remember that standards of Paul’s day was that his character was inherited thru his family
  • What Jewish religious group does Paul identify with?
    • Pharisees… What is the hot issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees?  Then resurrection in a general sense and additionally for Paul the resurrection of Jesus.  
  • What does Paul say is the reason he is on trial today?
    • See verses 6-8  What were the 12 tribes hoping for? The Messiah… Paul has in real sense realized this hope already.   Paul identifies with the Jews.
  • Look at the question Paul ask in verse 8, Paul directs this it everyone there why does Paul ask it?
    • For the Jews all that God did for them and God raised people from the dead by way of the prophets and it was something Jesus did as well. Resurrection was a hard sell to the Romans and the Greeks.  Even for the Pagan, logically if God is God why can’t he raise the dead. 
    • Keep in mind Paul as a Pharisee believed in the resurrection of the dead but he too at one time would not believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
• Acts 26:9-11
• 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
  • Why did Paul tell of his history of persecuting Christians?
    • He is building up to his own dramatic conversion but again he is identifying with many of the Jews.
• Acts 26:12-18
• 12 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
  • How many times have we heard the conversion story about Paul in the book of Acts?
    • This makes the 3rd time. 
  • Did Paul turn his own personal conversion experience into an opportunity to share the Gospel? How did he summarize the gospel message?
    • Speaking of the resurrection- then seeing Jesus alive- forgiveness of Sin   found in Jesus- Faith in Jesus and repentance.
  • What does Jesus tell Paul he will be doing?
    • Telling people about Jesus turning them to the light, from Satan to God…so that they will be forgiven and sanctified
• Acts 26:19-24
• 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place— 23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad.”
  • How did Paul see himself in fulfilling the mission Jesus gave him?
    • He said he was not disobedient to what Jesus commanded.
  • How does Paul see repentance?
    • It should be evidenced in deeds. This is what Paul must have preached in the synagogues he visited. 
  • What did Paul attribute his trouble with the Jews to?
    • See verse 21-23 
    • The resurrection of the dead in general and specific to Jesus  
    • His ministry to the Gentiles
  • What does Paul point out as verifying what he has been saying?
    • Moses and the Prophets…he appeals to the O.T. 
  • Why do you think Festus blurt out, “You are out of your mind, Paul? Your great learning is driving you insane.”?
    • It must have sounded like nonsense to him…pulse this is the 1st time Festus has heard the conversion experience of Paul. And there was not room for the resurrection in his Roman mind
• Acts 26:25-32
• 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” 29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.” 30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
  • Paul claims not to be insane but who does he turn to him back this up?
    • Verse 26  King Agrippa.
  • What does it mean to say these things were not done in a corner?
    • These things were done out in the open. In other words King Agrippa would have been aware of these things.  Think about all the teaching about Jesus that happened in the Temple Court and Synagogues.
  • Do you think King Agrippa was close to becoming a Christian?
    • Not even close would be my guess. I doubt the king would confess his faith in front of the Romans. The KJV uses the phrase almost persuaded.
  • What did Agrippa and Festus conclude of Paul’s situation?
    • Not guilty deserving of freedom…If Paul had been set free what do you think would have happened? The Jews would try to kill him. 
  • What is going to keep in chains?
    • His appeal to Caesar.
  • What does Paul know that Festus and King Agrippa do not know concerning his going to Rome?
    • That God told him he would appear before Caesar.
• TAKE AWAY
  • What can we take away from this event in Paul’s life?
  • Paul was true to the gospel and to Jesus. And presented the gospel when he had opportunity. How are we doing?
  • Do we let politically correct speech keep us quiet about who we are in Christ?
  • What might say to those who have trouble accepting the truth of the resurrection?
  • How many times should we offer the gospel to people who do not believe?