Study of Acts, Chapter 26, Message 69, Week 32, Sunday

DAILY STUDY OF ACTS

MESSAGE SIXTY-NINE

THE PROPAGATION IN ASIA MINOR AND EUROPE
THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS (35)

WEEK 32 – SUNDAY

Bible Reading: John 8:12; 9:5; Acts 26:19-32; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6; 1 John 1:5

Read and Pray: “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,” (Acts 26:19)  

NOT BEING DISOBEDIENT TO THE HEAVENLY VISION

In Acts 26:19-20, Paul testified: “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, throughout all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.”  

Paul’s use of the word “vision” in verse 19 indicates that he was obedient not to doctrine, theory, religious creed, or theology, but to the heavenly vision in which he saw the divine matters concerning the Triune God being dispensed into His chosen, redeemed, and transformed people. All his preaching in Acts and his writings in the fourteen Epistles from Romans to Hebrews are a detailed description of this heavenly vision he received.

ALLIED WITH GOD

In Acts 26:21-22, Paul continues: “For this reason, the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day, I have had help from God, and I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass.”  

The Greek term translated as “help” in verse 22 also means “assistance.” The root of this Greek term implies “alliance.” This suggests that the apostle was allied with God and that divine assistance in this alliance was real to him.  

TESTIFYING THAT THE CHRIST MUST SUFFER AND PROCLAIMING LIGHT

In Acts 26:22, Paul did not say, “I live to this day.” Instead, he said, “I stand to this day.” Paul had stood firm before the Roman commander, before Felix and Festus, and now he stood firm before Agrippa.  

In doing so, he boldly stated that he testified to both small and great. The great ones to whom he testified included Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.  

Paul told Agrippa that he testified only to what the prophets and Moses said would take place: “That the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (v. 23).  

The Greek terms literally translated as “must suffer” mean “would be subjected to suffering.” Additionally, the Greek phrase rendered “by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim” can also be translated as “through resurrection from the dead, He would be the first to proclaim” or “being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim.”  

In Acts 26:23, Paul says that Christ proclaimed light to the people and the Gentiles. The term “light” here refers to God’s illumination, as God is light (1 John 1:5), shining in Christ, who is the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), through the preaching of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). Here, Paul spoke of light instead of life because both the religious people and the Roman politicians were in darkness. As if they were in a dark “cell,” Paul pointed out that Christ, being the first to rise from the dead, proclaimed light to the people and the Gentiles.

FESTUS’ REACTION AND PAUL’S REPLY

Acts 26:24 continues: “As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.’” The Greek term for “out of your mind” in verses 24 and 25 also means “insane,” “mad.” Festus, the host and not a guest like Agrippa, loudly claimed that Paul’s extensive study was making him lose his sanity. As the host, Festus should not have spoken out.  

In verses 25 and 26, Paul replied: “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him, I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”  

In these verses, Paul first told Festus that instead of being insane, he was very sober and was leading others to sobriety, speaking words of truth and reason. Then he said that Agrippa was aware of these matters.  

Agrippa, being of the Jewish religion, knew the things of the Old Testament and the resurrection. Paul seemed to say, “Agrippa already knows about these things because he is a Jew.” In verse 27, Paul addressed Agrippa, saying: “Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” As a member of the Jewish religion, Agrippa certainly believed in the prophets.  

In verse 28, Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said: “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains” (v. 29). Paul’s words in this verse are very eloquent.  

AGRIPPA’S JUDGMENT

Acts 26:30-32 says: “Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, ‘This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.’  

And Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’” Here we see that, in Agrippa’s opinion, Paul could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.  

However, without this appeal, the apostle could have been killed by the Jews due to Festus’ unjust handling of him (25:9), and thus his life might not have been preserved until that day.  

If Paul had not appealed to Caesar, he might not have had the opportunity to write the crucial Epistles of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Hebrews.  

In the section of Acts 21:27–26:32, a long narrative of the Jews’ ultimate and maximum persecution of the apostle, the true characteristics of all parties involved were revealed.  

First, we see the darkness, blindness, hatred, and hypocrisy of the Jewish religion. Second, we see the injustice and corruption of the Roman politicians. Third, we see the transparency, brilliance, faithfulness, and courage of the apostle. Finally, we see the Lord’s encouraging care for His witness and His sovereignty over the entire situation to carry out His divine purpose.  

Enjoy more: Hymn S-89