In Acts 25:23 we find that Festus, the new governor has invited King “Agrippa and Bernice (his wife) (who) came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city”. And they are all there to hear Paul’s defense. This is the moment that Paul was here for. This was the time for him to present the gospel. As he talks about the charges against him, he lays the first piece, the resurrection, which King Agrippa understands is a point of division among the Jews, but also spoken of in the Law and prophets. Then Paul describes the encounter, the vision, that he had with Jesus that he calls “the heavenly vision”. As Paul concludes in
Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
Festus reacts badly, and Agrippa says “you almost persuade me” and after one final plea from Paul, his moment with them is over (see the message: You Almost Persuade Me).
Listen to Me With Patience
Acts 26:1–8
Paul had been held in Caesarea for two years on the word of the high priest and elders and Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. The new governor, Festus, could not find charges to send him, as a roman citizen, to the judgement seat of Caesar so asks for help from King Agrippa.
As Paul says, King Agrippa was, in Acts 26:3 “are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews”. Then Paul describes his life as a Pharisee in Acts 26:4-5 which is, in Acts 26:6 “I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers” and that hope, as Paul asks them in
Acts 26:8 (LEB) Why is it thought incredible by you people* that God raises the dead?
It is this question of resurrection from the dead that is a central part of the gospel and this is a foundational part of Paul’s presentation. But this is not a new thought that began with the ministry of Jesus. This was spoken of long before by the prophets.
I Saw A Light From Heaven
Acts 26:9–18
Paul describes, in Acts 26:9, how he was “opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene” and the actions, in Acts 26:10-12 against the believers including pursuing, punishing, and executing them. You might think that there would be a response to these actions of Paul because he had been persecuting and abusing the believers but this didn’t seem to bother them. “(See on Ac 9:1, &c. and compare Ac 22:4, &c.)”1
Paul describes the encounter he had with the Lord in Acts 26:13-18 in vs. 15 “And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”. Then the Lord commissions him in vs. 16 “I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you” which makes it clear that Paul had already been a witness of many things, but this was not the end, Jesus told him he would appear to him as his life’s work unfolded. And finally, in vs. 18, is the message, the goal, which is
Acts 26:18 (LEB) to open their eyes so that they may 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.’
I Was Not Disobedient To The Heavenly Vision
Acts 26:19–24
In Acts 26:19 Paul refers to his heavenly vision which happened to him, as he mentions in Acts 26:20, on the road to Damascus. This is the authority he has to speak. And the message is “repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance”. It is, in
Acts 26:21 On account of these things the Jews seized me ind the temple courts* and* were attempting to kill me.
Paul says he has this message from “the Lord” who, in the vision in Acts 26:15 said “I am Jesus”.
Acts 26:22 “and I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen”.
This is always Paul’s approach to the Jews, that God has spoken to them through the Law (Moses) and the prophets. And this is his message, the gospel of Jesus Christ:
Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”
This is why Paul was here. This is why Paul had subjected himself to chains for these two years. And Paul was doing all he could to bring these leaders to a place of accepting Christ.
Sadly, Festus reacted badly in
Acts 26:24 (LEB) And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
Do You Believe The Prophets?
Acts 26:25–32
Paul assures Festus, in Acts 26:25 (LEB) “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality”. Then Paul reached out to King Agrippa saying in
Acts 26:26–27 (LEB) For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped his notice, because this was not done in a corner. 27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
Agrippa then responds in Act 26:28 (KJV) “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”.
Paul makes one final plea, as Acts 26:18 said, “to open their eyes so they may turn”, to bring these men to faith in Jesus
Acts 26:29 (LEB) And Paul replied, “I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!”
Then the moment was gone. In Acts 26:30 Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And their conversation turned to Paul’s situation and in Acts 26:31 they say “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment” and then in Acts 26:32, Agrippa says, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.” But Paul was not looking to be released, he was on a mission to declare the gospel in Rome as Jesus had said to him.
They Handed Over Paul
Acts 27:1–12
Paul, in Acts 27:1-2 is on a ship to Italy. His time in Caesarea is over. Though Paul was in custody, it seems he had good favor as it says, “Aristarchus” (who was a traveling companion in Acts 19:29) “was with us” which also indicates the writer was traveling with Paul. then in Acts 27:3 it goes further saying “And Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for”.
However, as the trip became difficult in Acts 27:4-9 because of the late time of year as in vs 9 “the Fast was already over”, Paul speaks a warning in Acts 27:10 “I perceive that the voyage is going to end with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives!”. Whether the centurion thought Paul was just wanting to delay or he felt his own pressure to deliver Paul quickly, he, in Acts 27:11 “was convinced even more by the shipmaster and the shipowner”. And the shipowner and shipmaster had their own desire to deliver cargo sooner, because that is how they would be paid.
We often find ourselves in the hands of others as decision makers, and they are not always making the best decisions. Even in these situations, we may find ourselves right in the middle of God’s will and plan, just as Paul did, he is on the way to Rome.
All Hope Was Abandoned That We Would Be Saved
Acts 27:13–20
In Acts 27:13-17 we find seamen at work, doing what they must to weather the storm. This is not likely their first, and though in vs. 15 “they were driven along”, in vs. 16 it says “we were able with difficulty to get the ship’s boat under control”.
But in Acts 27:18-20, they were again “driven along”, “violently battered”, “jettisoning cargo” (what they were paid to deliver), and in vs. 19 “they threw overboard the gear of the ship” (the very tools they needed to run the ship under normal circumstances). And still, in vs 20, there was “neither sun nor stars for many days” and “finally all hope was abandoned”.
You Ought To Have Followed My Advice
Acts 27:21–26
“I told you so”, in Acts 27:21 may not have been the best thing for Paul to have said, but it was the truth. They had lost the cargo and lost the tackle (gear) and now were likely to lose the ship and their very lives. Paul does go on to assure them in Acts 27:22-25. It doesn’t say that Paul was praying, but he must have been because in Acts 27:24 it says, “God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you”. This sounds like a request that Paul made to the Lord, that was granted. Paul does encourage them, and shares the angelic visitation he had in Acts 27:23-24.
Study Verses
- Acts 26:9–18
- Acts 26:19–24
- Acts 26:25–32
Today’s Reading
- Acts 26:1-32
- Acts 27:1-26
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 215). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.