PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA

1. PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA ACTS 25:23-26:32

2. THE SETTING So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.” Acts 25:23-27

3. Herod Agrippa II • Herod the Great: great-grandfather; murdered the children of Bethlehem trying to kill the infant Jesus • Herod Antipas: great-uncle; murdered John the Baptist • Herod Agrippa I: father; murdered James and imprisoned Peter; eaten by worms • Bernice: sister; previously married to her uncle; incest with her brother; mistress of Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus

4. PAUL’S INTRODUCTION So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. Acts 26:1-3

5. THE ISSUE: CHRIST’S RESURRECTION “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? Acts 26:4-11

6. THE ISSUE: CHRIST’S RESURRECTION • Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the hope of Israel • Jesus Christ’s resurrection proves Him to be the Messiah • The Old Testament scriptures are fulfilled by the living resurrected Jesus Christ • The living resurrected Jesus Christ made a personal appearance to Paul • Paul’s transformed life proves Jesus Christ’s resurrection is true.

7. THE RESURRECTIONFAITH’S REASONS • The Scriptures • Jesus died by crucifixion • Jesus was buried in a public known tomb • Jesus’ followers lost all hope • The tomb was empty • The grave clothes • Many eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive • The changed lives of the apostles • The conversion of James, Jesus’ half brother • The conversion of Paul • The Christian Church was established • Central Jewish beliefs were abandoned

8. JEWISH BELIEFS CHANGED BY CHRIST’S RESURRECTION • 1. Offering animal sacrifices to atone for one’s sins • 2. Obeying the Mosaic law for salvation • 3. Separating from non-Jews • 4. Meticulously keeping the Sabbath changed to celebrating “the Lord’s day” on Sunday • 5. Belief in monotheism changed to Trinitarianism • 6. Belief that the Messiah would be a political deliverer changed to an atoning Savior who is God • Jesus is the Messiah and His resurrection proves it

9. PAUL: SINCERELY WRONG • “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:9-11

10. PAUL’S CONVERSION & COMMISSION “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:12-18

11. DARKNESS & LIGHT In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

12. FORGIVENESS OF SINS And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Romans 4:5-8

13. FORGIVENESS OF SINS • Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

14. FORGIVENESS OF SINS And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:11-14

15. AN INHERITANCE Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

16. PAUL’S OBEDIENCE “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 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.” Acts 26:19-23

17. LOVE DISPLAYED BY OBEDIENCE • “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 • Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” John 14:21 • Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. John 14:23-24

18. LOVE DISPLAYED BY OBEDIENCE Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

19. FAITH FOLLOWED BY WORKS • For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

20. CHRIST’S SUFFERING & RESURRECTION • But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6 • For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 16:10

21. PAUL TO FESTUS & AGRIPPA And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “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.King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And 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.” Acts 26:24-29

22. BARRIERS TO BELIEF • Great learning • Pride • Postion

23. AGRIPPA & FESTUS 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.” Acts 26:30-32

24. PRINCIPLES • Jesus Christ is the Messiah who fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophesies and illustrationsand His resurrection proves it • Christ followers should be committed and able to speak no matter who is in the room • Those who are followers of Christ have life changes to prove it • All of scripture is God’s inspired inerrant word

25. APPLICATIONS • Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? • What evidence does your life have to prove it? • Do you believe the resurrection intellectually only or practically? • Do you believe all of scripture is God’s inspired inerrant word? • What evidence does your life have to prove it?