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Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson ACTS - In the Triumphal Procession of Christ
Studies in the Acts of the Apostles
PART 2 - Reports About Preaching Among the Gentiles and the Foundation of Churches From Antioch to Rome - Through the Ministry of Paul the Apostle, Commissioned by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13 - 28)
E - Paul's Imprisonment in Jerusalem and in Caesarea (Acts 21:15 - 26:32)
12. Paul Before Agrippa II and His Royal Retinue (Acts 25:13 - 26:32)ACTS 26:16-23 Christ did not allow the crushed Saul to become pessimistic and hopeless over the knowledge his sins. Instead, He told him to obey the faith immediately. He both commanded and encouraged him to make bold steps forward, for the appearance of Christ had meant to the stubborn murderer nothing less than the mercy of forgiveness, as well as a call and sending into service. Jesus did not choose Paul to be His witness in order to discuss theological issues, or merely feel the ebb and tide of sentiments. Much more, he was to tell the people how he had encountered the living Lord. Thus, the glorious Christ became the content of Paul’s testimony. His Lord assured him of His personal protection and presence, so that he might not go to the Jews and Gentiles alone, but filled with the name of Jesus in His divine power. He who worked against Paul or arrested him would be committing an aggression against God himself. Dear brother, did you hear Christ’s call to preaching? Did you recognize Jesus in His glory in the Gospel? Then study with us the Lord’s command to testify and serve actively in verse 18, so that you may understand Christ’s intent, and grasp the seven meanings of preaching.
Dear reader, did you become personally free from the power of Satan? Do you serve God with a purified heart? Did you confess your sins and leave them behind? Do you walk in the light of Christ? If so, the mighty Lord calls you to tell people about His salvation, that many may be saved through your testimony. Listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit says to you. Paul said to King Agrippa: “Christ’s appearance and instruction overcame me, and I obeyed the Lord of glory immediately. My meeting with Christ was the motive of my works. I had to preach the message to repent and turn to the Savior in Damascus, in Jerusalem, and in every place of the world. Christ is living. I had to preach and say to everyone, ‘Turn back from your dead works, and serve the Holy God. Die to your pride, and carry out the will of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do not continue in your selfish imaginations, and do not build your future on your illusory uprightness, but recognize that you are about to become devils. Then stretch out your hands to Christ, that he may save you. You professors and prominent lawyers are in urgent need of a savior. Sinners and criminals know spontaneously, however, their need of repentance and new life. Because of the testimony about people’s need of salvation, which was proclaimed by the crucified and risen Christ, the Jews hated Paul. The reason for the attack of the fanatics in Jerusalem had nothing to do with defiling the temple, nor sedition, nor denying the law. It came only as a result of his love for Jesus Christ, and his active testimony. This is why the Jews tried to kill him, for they did not believe that the crucified Jesus was living. They objected to this thought, as otherwise they would have had to confess that they were all killers of the Son of God and reprobates. The Lord Jesus kept his servant in the temple from the roaring multitude so that he might be able to continue to bear testimony to the divine truth before both kings and paupers, before wise philosophers and ignorant uneducated. His testimony was in full agreement with the Law and the Prophets. The Son of God did not come as a political savior, but as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. The reason why the Man Jesus was born of the Spirit of God was to reconcile men to God. No one else could do this work. He proved to be the Almighty One, for He overcame death, granted us freedom from the bondage of sin, and exempted us from the wrath of God. Salvation is not only for the Jews, but is available also to all Gentiles. Christ is the Triumphant One. His Gospel is carried to all countries, which nothing can prevent. His light shines in the darkness. QUESTION:
ACTS 26:24-32 The proud governor recognized that Paul, by his previous words, had declared all the gods of the Romans and the Greeks to be darkness, and had presented Christ as the only Light of the world. That was a difficult message for the haughty governor to bear, for the prisoner before him had said that a dead man had become the Savior of the world, and that this Savior was stronger than Caesar, and brighter than all the gods of this world. Festus, therefore, shouted at him before the audience, saying: “You are out of your mind, Paul. You have gone out of your mind. Your legalistic meditations and continuous prayers have darkened your eyes.” Paul knew that that the governor could not understand him, for no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. So he answered the proud governor: “I am not mad. I am speaking carefully the sober truth. I am neither overwhelmed with enthusiasm, nor in a trance. I am presenting the truth of Christ, who is both living and glorious. Suddenly, Paul motioned towards King Agrippa, and spoke to him as a witness who knew all these things. Every Jew knew that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified, and the Christians testified joyfully to His resurrection. Paul, the prisoner, spoke personally to the haughty king before his retinue, and asked him rightly: “Do you believe in the Gospel which is spoken of in the Prophets? Do you confess that Christ was tortured, and raised from the dead according to the Law?” Paul saw how the king’s heart trembled. He did not want to put himself in the wrong toward the truth revealed in the Old Testament. So he did not answer. The apostle responded for him: “I know, King Agrippa, that you believe.” Paul was a prophet. He could read the inward thoughts of the king, and wanted to draw him to confess his faith. But this king would only slowly respond. Ashamed of the crowd he muttered: “Perhaps I have become a believer. If you complete your message you may convince me, filling my head with your thoughts. I will then become a prey to your Christ.” Paul rejoiced in his heart. Seeing the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the king of his nation he cried out: “I am not the prisoner. You are slaves in your sins. Come to Jesus the Savior and he will set you free. I am free in spite of my chains. I would to God that you were granted the filling with the Holy Spirit, together with your sister Bernice, the Roman governor, and all the officers, officials, and prominent men of Caesarea. Paul confronted them all with his love. Out of his mouth came words like a raging fire, and out of his eyes came rays of mercy. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. The king subsequently stood up, answering Paul nothing. The power of the Gospel had hit him and moved his conscience. All the audience had perceived that Paul was an upright man, and they all testified that he was innocent. All those who left the court were impressed with this strange defense, one in which the prisoner condemned the examiners, whose message had hit all hearts with the word of God. At last, affected by the atmosphere and proceedings, the king said: “This man could have been released. But since he himself appealed to the emperor we have to send him to Rome.” This royal answer did not signify that Paul would have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar, for the highest council of the Jews did not agree to his release at all, and Festus, the governor, was compelled to cooperate with the representatives of the people. Consequently, Paul remained imprisoned in Rome, according to the will of his living Father. PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You, for You are living, and You have redeemed all men. Help us to communicate Your righteousness and Your truth to every nation, that many may be saved from their sins, and delivered from the violent power of Satan. Fill us with the patience and determination of your Holy Spirit, that we may go forth boldly and humbly, professing Your great Gospel. |