Acts 26

Acts 26:1

Wanting to help Festus find some charge to send to Caesar concerning Paul, Agrippa must have been eager to hear Paul’s defense. This was a salute, a sign of respect. Paul had the wonderful ability to respect the position of authority, even if the person holding it was unworthy. Being half Jew and half Edomite, the Herods had a tremendous fascination with all things Jewish. They studied Judaism. They read Jewish history. They were intrigued by Jewish culture. Paul knew this. “I’m happy to talk to you, King Agrippa,” he said, “because I know you understand our culture, our traditions, and our religion.” Agrippa didbut when push came to shove, this same Agrippa would, in A.D. 70, join Titus in helping to destroy Jerusalem and the temple. Thus, his interest was intellectual rather than heartfelt. “This might take a while,” said Paul, “but give me some time to explain the situation to you.”

Acts 26:4

“The Jews know where I’m coming from,” said Paul. “If they would come and testify, they would tell you, Agrippa, I was a Pharisee. The most orthodox of orthodox Jews, the most traditional, the most religious.”

Acts 26:6

“I stand here because of the hope of the promise made to our fathers,” said Paul. Agrippa knew that the promise to which he referred was Messiah. In other words, “The issue is my belief in Jesus as Messiah,” contended Paul.

Acts 26:7

“Oh, Agrippa, you who know the stories of the Bible, you who are aware of our history, why should it seem like an amazing thing to you that God could raise the dead?” asked Paul, referring to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The same question could be asked today. People have trouble with miracles because they fail to comprehend the power and the reality of God. You see, the difficulty of a task can only be determined when measured against the agent who attempts to accomplish it. J. B. Phillips was right in his contention that sometimes our God is indeed too small. If we get hung up on the problems and the challenges before us, it’s because we fail to realize the size, strength, and heart of our Father. The God who made billions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy and millions of galaxies at least the size of the Milky Way spans the entire universe between His thumb and little finger (Isa_40:12). Our Father is big, gang! Yet He is the same God who made the atoma miniature planetary system so small it takes one million bunched together to equal the thickness of a single strand of human hair. Now, do you think the God who made the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of the atom can raise the dead? It all depends on your view of God. Most of us do not doubt the power of God, but we doubt His willingness to intervene in our situations personally. Why should He care about us? The answer lies in the Cross. “If God did not spare His only Son that we might be saved, shall He not freely give us all things pertaining to life?” asked Paul (see Rom_8:32). He will supply everything that’s good for me. How do I know? Because He already gave me the very best when He gave me His Son, Christ Jesus.

Acts 26:9

Continuing his testimony, Paul said, “I went around wasting the church, imprisoning believers.” In other words, Paul said, “As a member of the Sanhedrin, I voted against these Christians, these heretics.”

Acts 26:11

The realization that he forced believers to blaspheme must have haunted Paul all of his days. “I was trying to find Christians wherever I could and do them in however I might,” continued Paul.

Acts 26:13

Goads were sticks farmers used to prod their oxen into submission. Therefore, when the Lord said to Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” He was implying that Paul was a dumb, stubborn ox who could be guided no other way. Stubborn indeedI’m convinced Paul was under conviction from the time he witnessed the stoning of Stephen, as he saw the vision of an angel on Stephen’s face and heard the words, “Father forgive them,” from Stephen’s lips (see Acts 7).

Acts 26:15

“I am making you a witness and a minister,” the Lord said to Paul. “The vision God gave me was that I was to open men’s eyes from darkness to light, and to turn men’s lives from Satan to God in order that they might receive forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of faith.” And in Paul’s vision, we see ours. Heavenly Vision A Topical Study of Act_26:16-18 When Bill Clinton was first elected president, political pundits weighed in with their theories on why President Bush didn’t win the election. Essentially, they offered two reasons. One was the lingering recession. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they cited the president’s failure to articulate vision. In fact, you might remember that President Bush himself told reporters upon taking office, “I have trouble with the vision thing.” In Pro_29:18 we are told that without vision, people perish. Literally, “People run wild,” or, as seen in some marginal notes, “people run naked.” Thus, vision is necessary not only for every President but for every personfor without it, people run wildly, aimlessly, shamefully. “Write the vision, Habakkuk,” said the Lord, “and make it plain so he that runneth by may be able to read it” (see Hab_2:2). In other words, “Write the vision so clearly that even the person who runs rapidly might be able to understand it"for without vision, people wander in mediocrity and meander in mundanity. Nowhere is necessity of vision seen more clearly than in the life of the apostle Paul. He had purpose and meaning because he understood from the moment of his conversion the heavenly vision for his life. Perhaps you’re saying, “Good for Paul. I’m glad he had a vision from heaven. But I have neither seen the Lord physically as Paul did nor heard His voice audibly as Paul did. So how am I supposed to get vision like Paul did? If vision is necessary for a productive, successful life, how am I supposed to receive vision personally?” I have good news for you. Paul the apostle, the one who had heavenly vision, was also the one who said, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (see 1Co_11:1). In other words, the vision the Lord gave Paul, recorded in our text, is the vision the Lord intends for you and me as well. Paul’s vision is to be our vision. What Paul Was to Be But rise and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness…Act_26:16 When the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, He said, “You are to be a minister and a witness.” The Greek word for minister means “under-rower.” It’s a word that described the guys in the belly of a large ship who, although they were unseen, unnoticed, and unapplauded, rowed steadily and moved the ship to its ultimate destination. And Paul’s commission is for you as well. You see, Jesus said, “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should bring forth much fruit” (see Joh_15:16). Whoever you areman, woman, teenager, young personif you are a believer in Christ, He has ordained you into ministry. We are not only to be ministers, but secondly, we are to be witnesses. A witness is one who goes into the courtroom and simply shares what he or she has seen. The Lord did not call you to be an attorney to argue the case, or a judge to hand down a verdict. The Lord simply called you to be a witness to tell people what He has done for you personally. When I don’t live up to that calling, my life becomes dull, incredibly ordinary, and meaningless. But when I minister and witness, a funny thing happens. I get back more than I givewhich shouldn’t be surprising, considering that Jesus said, “The measure that you give out shall be meted back to you” (see Luk_6:38). What Paul Was to Do To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God…Act_26:18 To Open Men’s Eyes Why do people need their eyes opened? Because they have been blinded by sin. As Samson laid his head on Delilah’s lap, he sinned by sharing with her the secret of his strength. “If you cut my hair,” he said, “I’ll be like any man.” Delilah reached for the scissors and began snipping. When Samson awoke, Scripture says he knew not that the Spirit had departed from him (Jdg_16:20). He thought he could take the Philistines on. Instead, they took him down. They placed him in fetters, poked out his eyes, and led him to the granary where, hitched to a grinding stone like a common ox, he went round and round in circles. That’s what sin does. It binds, it blinds, and it makes life a grind. “What’s my life about? Why am I here? Why should I get out of bed?” we say as round and round we go. Sin blinds people. First, it blinds people to their need for Jesus. “Do you enjoy being a preacher?” asked the cashier. “Yes,” I answered. “As a matter of fact, I love what I do.” “Well, I was raped two years ago,” she said as she started to cry, “and people have tried to get me to church, but church is a crutch.” “You’re right,” I said. “But it’s more than a crutch. Church is an ambulance, an emergency room, a hospital, a surgical team. It’s for people who realize they’re hurteither by their own sin or the sin of others. It’s for people who say, “I need a Helper. I need a Healer. I need a Savior.” I don’t know what she did, but I’m so thankful I was able to share with her the reality that Jesus is the Answer. Second, sin blinds people to the nature of Jesus. It’s amazing the misconceptions people have about our Lord. They think He is some kind of Cosmic Killjoy who looks down from heaven, worried that someone, somewhere might be having fun. But nothing could be further from the truth, for Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and life abundantly” (see Joh_10:10). Jesus came to set people freenot to put a religious trip on them. How? To be free, to get a fresh start, “you must be born again” (see Joh_3:7). A lady called her husband and said, “Honey, the car isn’t working.” “What’s wrong?” he asked. “There’s water in the carburetor,” she said. “Water in the carburetor? That’s impossible. The cooling system doesn’t touch the carburetor. There can’t be water in the carburetor.” “Yes,” insisted his wife. “There’s definitely water in the carburetor.” “Well, I’ll come home and take a look,” he said. “Where’s the car?” “At the bottom of the pool,” she answered. You might disagree with the divine diagnosis, but the Bible says that although you have been buried in the pool of iniquity and the sea of sin, it is the desire of the Lord’s heart to rescue you, to breathe life into you, and to put you on your feet once again. To Turn Men’s Lives Not only was Paul to open men’s eyes, he was to turn men’s lives from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. You see, two kingdoms dwell simultaneously on this earth: the kingdom of light and love, which is the kingdom of Godand the kingdom of darkness and death, which is the kingdom of Satan. Every man is in one of these two kingdoms. No one is neutral, for Jesus said, “He who is not for Me is against Me” (see Mat_12:30). Therefore, if you are not in the kingdom of God, if He is not your Lord and King and Leaderthen you are in Satan’s kingdom of death and darkness. Satan loves darkness. Most crimes are committed at night. The period in history when people didn’t worship God is called the Dark Ages. A continent that has not been exposed to the gospel is called a dark continent. Hell is called “outer darkness” (see Mat_8:12). Some people think hell is a bunch of guys playing poker and telling dirty jokes. Nothing could be further from the truth. Astrologists tell us about the existence of black holes so dense that nothing escapes their gravitational pullnot even light itself. When the guide turns out the lights in the Oregon Caves, there’s an absolute absence of light. So dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face, it’s a darkness that seems to have a substance of its own, a darkness you can actually feel. Hell is like that. In hell, no one will see a thingfor a day, a month, a year, a century, a millennium, a billion millenniums. Men who choose to live in darkness on earth will spend eternity surrounded by darkness in hell. That’s why Paul said, “My ministry, my job, my vision is to open men’s eyes and to turn men’s lives from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. “Wait,” you say. “I may not be a follower of Godbut neither am I dominated by Satan. I’m master of my own destiny, captain of my own fate.” The Bible says otherwise. According to the Word, people who aren’t walking with the Lord are actually opposing or hurting themselves through their lifestyles and attitudes, their activities and habits (2Ti_2:25). How are men freed from Satan’s grasp? “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” said Jesus (see Joh_8:32). “What is truth?” Pontius Pilate asked (Joh_18:38). “I Am,” said Jesus (see Joh_14:6). Gang, we have the privilege of opening men’s eyes to their need for Jesus and to the nature of Jesus. We get to turn men’s lives from the power of darkness and the devil to the power of light and the Lord. How? Through a principle of physics called the expulsive power of the greater force, which says, for example, that if you want to rid a room of darkness, you don’t fight against the darkness by trying to karate chop it, rebuke it, or yell at it. You turn on the light, and lightthe greater powerwill flood the room, expelling the darkness. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world” (Joh_8:12). Therefore, when a man or woman opens up his or her heart to Jesus Christ, the light of the Lord naturally drives out the darkness of Satan. It’s glorious! Men’s eyes are opened and their lives are turned by the power of the Spiritnot by programs, principles, or procedures. It is the power of the resurrected Lord that works change in a person. It’s God’s one-step program: Get saved, let the Spirit direct your lifeand you will be absolutely free. Men’s eyes are opened and their lives are turned by the prayers of the saints. You can witness to people until you’re blue in the face, but if their eyes are blinded, they won’t receive what you say. How is the blindfold removed? Ephesians 6 says the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but spiritual. Prayer is the number one weapon in our arsenal. We can do more than praybut we can’t do anything until we pray. Men’s eyes are opened and their lives turned by proclaiming the Scriptures. If someone is complaining, tell them the Bible says to give thanks in everything (1Th_5:18). If someone is upset because his candidate didn’t win, say, “The Bible says all things work together for good to them that love God,” (see Rom_8:28). Jesus said, “The words which I speak are Spirit and life” (see Joh_6:63). Share the Wordit’s powerful! A seminary student asked Charles Spurgeon how to defend Scripture against unbelievers, skeptics, and cynics. The three-hundred-pound preacher laughed aloud and said, “How do you defend the Scriptures? Son, that’s like asking how to defend a lion. Just let it out of its cage. It’ll defend itself.” How long has it been since you “let the Word out” and shared the Scriptures with an unbeliever? Share the Wordthat’s where the power is. Paul’s vision was to turn men’s eyes and turn men’s lives in order that men would experience the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of faith (Act_26:18). Forgiveness of sin is man’s greatest need and God’s greatest deed. If you’ve been saved for a while, this concept might have become dulled in your understanding because you live in the realm of forgiveness. But the world doesn’t. “Follow me as I follow Christ,” Paul says to you today. Be a minister. Be a sharer. Open men’s eyes and turn men’s lives in the power of the Spirit, by the praying of the saints, through the proclaiming of the Scriptures. They will experience forgiveness as they’ve never knownand you will be fulfilled presently and rewarded eternally.

Acts 26:20

Repentance is changing one’s mind. Regeneration is changing one’s heart. Redemption is changing one’s statetrading the kingdom of darkness and death for the kingdom of light and life. “This was my message,” said Paul.

Acts 26:21

Why did the Jews want to kill Paul? Because he preached repentance. Noah didn’t stand on the steps of his ark and say, “Something good is about to happen to you.” Amos was not confronted by priests who threatened to kill him because he was preaching, “I’m okay. You’re okay.” Jeremiah was not cast into the dungeon because he talked about the “power of possibility thinking.” Daniel was not thrown to the lions for saying, “Smile, God loves you.” John the Baptist wasn’t beheaded for having a “Honk If You Love Jesus” bumper sticker. The message of Noah and Daniel, Amos and Jeremiah, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, was singular. The message was: Repent. The message of repentance is not a popular message because it says people who think they’ve got it togetherdon’t. People who think they’re okayaren’t. People who think they’ll make it to heaven on their ownwon’t.

Acts 26:22

“Wait a minute,” Claudius Lysias could have said. “Help from God? I was the one who was there with my soldiers, risking our necks to save yours, Paul.” “No, it was God,” Paul would have insisted because Paul was a man who saw God’s hand in everything. I read about a preacher named Frederic Nolan. Fifty men were chasing him through a hilly area of North Africa. Trapped in a canyon, he saw the mouth of a cave and scooted in. Lying at the back of the shallow cave, the exhausted Nolan knew that within ten minutes he would be discovered and killed. But as he lay there, a spider appeared and began to quickly weave a web over the cave’s mouth. Twenty minutes later, when Nolan’s persecutors arrived, four or five guys stopped at the opening of the cave, saw the web, and said, “He’s not in there.” And Frederic Nolan went on to record something in his journal that I think is wonderful: Where God is, a spider web becomes a wall. But where God isn’t, a wall is like a spider web. Like Nolan, Paul knew it wasn’t chanceit was God.

Acts 26:23

“You’re crazy, Paul,” shouted Festus. “You’re talking about seeing a light, having a change of heart, God rescuing you, opening men’s eyes, changing men’s lives. This can’t be.” And there will be those who look at you and say the same thing. “It’s not that simple,” they’ll say. “Jesus can’t change a personwithout therapy, seminars, and counseling.” Let the scoffers say what they may. But let us stand by what Paul declared to be the heavenly vision. That is, God is capable and desirous to change men, to take them out of the power of Satan, and to place them into His glorious, gracious kingdom.

Acts 26:25

Realizing Festus was not tuned in to what he was saying, Paul returned his attention to Agrippa. With Agrippa’s knowledge of Scripture, I’m sure Paul thought he would be converted. “Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? Sure you do,” said Paul. What a salesman!

Acts 26:28

“Paul, could it be that my life of debauchery and immorality could be turned around like yours wasin an instant? You’re almost persuading me to become a Christian,” said Agrippa.

Acts 26:29

“I wish you would believe,” said Paul, “and not you only, but all who hear me.”

Acts 26:30

Agrippa was deeply touched by what he was hearing. It was ringing true in his heartand yet he bailed out. A computer whiz, a Boy Scout, and a minister were flying in a three-passenger plane. The pilot said, “It’s not looking good, guys. Our engines are cutting out and we’re going down. The problem is, we have only three parachutesand I’m taking one.” Realizing one of them would be left behind, the passengers looked at one another. Immediately, the computer whiz grabbed a chute, calling out, “Sorry, guys, but I’ve got to take this because I’m the smartest man in the world,” as he jumped out the door. The minister then turned to the Boy Scout and said, “I’ve had a good life. The Lord is real to me. I know I’m going to heaven. So you go ahead and take the last chute. I’ll go down with the plane.” “That won’t be necessary,” said the Boy Scout. “The smartest man in the world just jumped out with my backpack.” So, too, Agrippa had the opportunity to make it safely into eternity. But he grabbed the wrong bag. He grabbed Bernice. You see, every time Agrippa is mentioned (Act_25:13; Act_25:23; Act_26:30), he’s always with Bernice. She had a hold on him. An eagle swooped down and grabbed a rodent in its powerful talons. Pulling it to its chest, he soared higher and higher. Suddenly, however, he no longer looked majestic, but began to flap his wings rapidly before losing altitude and crashing into a rock. Upon investigation, a naturalist observing the scene discovered that the little rodent had its teeth imbedded in the chest of the mighty eagle. Although the eagle thought he was controlling the rodent, all the while the rodent was actually draining the life from him. That’s what happened to Agrippa, and that’s what happens in life. People think, I’m controlling him, or her, or it, as they tighten their grip. But in reality, the thing they cling to is the very thing that will drain the life from them. Sin does that to you and me. It’s a rat. It’ll drain you and keep you from being what God knows you could be.

Acts 26:31

In other words, Agrippa said, “Festus, you blew it. This guy hasn’t done anything wrong at all. If he hadn’t appealed to Caesar, he’d be set free.” Agrippa saw Paul’s trial as a mistake. Paul, however, used it as an opportunity to share the gospel. So, too, in whatever trial you face, may God give you grace to say, “Happily I stand here today, knowing this is an opportunity for me to share something of my faith and something of His life.”