Defense Before Agrippa

Acts of the Apostles (53)

Introduction

In this chapter, we learn the basic structure of Paul’s evangelistic message. What was the content of the gospel that he preached? He touches on that here (v. 23). And what was the process through which unbelievers were brought to faith? In this passage, we get a good glimpse at the latter.

The Text

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently . . .” (Acts 26:1-32).

Summary of the Text

Agrippa invited Paul to speak, and Paul extended his hand and began (v. 1). He began by counting himself blessed to be able to answer the charges of the Jews (v. 2). He acknowledged Agrippa’s expertise in these religious matters (v. 3). He said that all the Jews knew his manner of life, from his youth up at Jerusalem (v. 4). If they were willing, they could testify that he had lived as a Pharisee, the strictest sect of the Jews (v. 5). And it has come to the point now where he is accused for believing the promised hope of Israel, the resurrection of the dead (vv. 6-7). Note the reference to twelve tribes (v. 7). Why should resurrection be thought incredible (v. 8)? Paul used to think it was his duty to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth (v. 9). He imprisoned Christians in Jerusalem (v. 10), and when they were executed, Paul either voted (or testified) against them (v. 10). He attacked them in the synagogues, forced them to blaspheme, and in a mad heat persecuted them in foreign cities (v. 11). Once, on his authorized way to Damascus (v. 12), around midday, he was surrounded by a light brighter than the sun (v. 13). He heard a voice from Heaven speaking in Hebrew, and saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v. 14). Kicking against the goads is hard. Paul asked who this was, and the answer was “Jesus,” the one he was persecuting (v. 15). So get up, the Lord said, because I am going to make you a minister and witness (v. 16). The Lord promised deliverance from the people (the Jews), and from Gentiles to whom he is being sent (v. 17). The charge was three-fold—to open eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (v. 18). The result would be forgiveness and the inheritance of those who are sanctified by faith (v. 18). Paul tells Agrippa he was not disobedient to this vision (v. 19). He preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and among the Gentiles, that they should repent and then prove it in their lives (v. 20). Because of this, the Jews caught him in the Temple and tried to murder him (v. 21). With the help of God, Paul has testified down to the present exactly what Moses and the prophets had predicted (v. 22). Christ would suffer, and be the first back from the dead, and bring light to the people and to the Gentiles (v. 23). As he spoke, Festus interrupted loudly: “You read too much!” (v. 24). Paul answered him soberly—this is the simple truth (v. 25). Paul appeals to Agrippa’s knowledge of these things. The resurrection of Christ did not happen in a corner (v. 26). He asks if Agrippa believes the prophets, already knowing the answer (v. 27). Agrippa replies, perhaps ironically, that Paul was getting kind of close to home (v. 28). And Paul answered, sincerely, that he wished that all men were just like him, apart from the chains (v. 29). When he said this, Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice, and those sitting with them, all got up to go (v. 30). Their consensus was, recorded by Luke, was that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or chains (v. 31). And Agrippa told Festus that Paul could have been set free apart from his appeal to Caesar.

Paul’s Testimony

This is the third time in Acts that we are told the story of Paul’s conversion. The first two are in Acts 9 and Acts 22. Since we have been here before, I am just going to touch on a few things that are unique to this account, or that we haven’t covered before. The other accounts mention the light, but this time it says that the light was brighter than the sun (v. 13). This account mentions that the Lord spoke to him in Hebrew (v. 14), which probably means Aramaic. The proverb about kicking the goads is unique to this account. That proverb occurs in Euripides’ play The Bacchae, and there is something similar in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. In this account, the Lord commissions Paul directly without mentioning Ananias (Acts 9:15-16; 22:14-15) or the later Temple vision (Acts 22:17-21).

From the Power of Satan to God

There are two elements to faithful evangelism. The first is the objective content of the gospel. This is the gospel as it exists outside of us. This is seen here in v. 23. This is what would have remained true had none of us ever been born. Paul summarizes this content in more detail in 1 Cor. 15: 3-6. 1. Christ died; 2. For our sins; 3. According to the Scriptures; 4. He was buried; 5. He rose on the third day, also according to the Scriptures, and 6. He was seen by multiple witnesses, hundreds of them in fact. This is the objective content of the message. This is the imperishable seed (1 Pet. 1:23).

But what does germination of this seed look like? How shall we describe the subjective process of repentance and belief? We see Paul’s summary of it here. The end result of that process is forgiveness and a divine inheritance (v. 18). There are three steps in getting there. 1. Open their eyes; 2. Turn them from darkness to light; 3. The actual transfer from the power of Satan to God.

The third step is where the Holy Spirit issues the effectual call. This is the place where the Spirit quickens the heart, regenerating the person. But what is happening in the first two steps? This is the process of conviction of sin and the beginning of repentance. It is important for us to note the order of this. First, open their eyes. Second, show them the light. The law of God is that which shows us our need. The law opens our eyes, and we see at that point that we cannot see. We are in the dark. Prior to that point we are in the dark as well, but we do not know that we are. The light is the gospel, but it only after eyes have been opened that gospel makes any sense whatever. Turning them from darkness to light before their eyes are opened does no one any good at all.

In Christ, we are offering the world a Savior. But they cannot see the Savior when they do not know that they need saving. And so we should endeavor to follow the Pauline pattern. Christ is the one who transfers them from the power of Satan to God, but there is an order than enables them to see Christ.