Lesson 32 : Paul’s Defense Before King Agrippa & Leading Dignitaries (26:1-32)

1. Lesson 32:Paul’s Defense Before King Agrippa& Leading Dignitaries (26:1-32)

2. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul greeted King Agrippa as he began his defense (26:1-3). • As the Lord promised almost 25 years earlier (9:15), Paul was testifying before a king. • Receiving permission to speak, Paul happily began his defense (Gk, apologeomai). • Agrippa was an “expert” in the laws, practices and issues of the Jews (26:3). • Paul begged Agrippa to hear “patiently” (compound Greek word: “long” + “temper”).

3. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul rehearsed his early life contrasted with his present struggles with the Jews (26:4-8). • Paul affirmed that he was raised & taught among the Jews and they knew it (26:4-5). • Paul affirmed that the hope of the resurrection was the reason he was on trial (6-8).

4. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • The promised hope that sustains every Christian is that God raises the dead! • “It is appointed for men to die once” (Heb. 9:27). If that’s all there is, there’s no hope! • Christ is “our hope” (1 Tim. 1:1)! Having been raised from the dead by the power of God (Rom. 1:4) to live in us (Gal. 2:20), Christ is “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). • As Christ was “the first to rise from the dead” (26:23), others would, too (1 Cor. 15). • “We were saved in this hope” (Rom. 8:24), that we will be raised from the dead! • We have the “hope of eternal life,” “promised” by God, “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).

5. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul rehearsed his zealous persecution of the church and the Christian way (26:9-11). • Paul was not predisposed toward Christianity in any way before his conversion! • His persecution of the “saints” (i.e., living disciples of Christ) was notoriously evil! • The accusing Jews had forgotten that Paul was once Christianity’s greatest enemy!

6. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul rehearsed his encounter with Jesus and his conversion to Christianity (26:12-18). • The conversion of Paul is found three times in the book of Acts (chapters 9, 22, 26). • When Paul encountered Jesus, he was on his way to persecute the church (26:12). • At noon (22:6), “a light brighter than the sun” demanded Paul’s attention (26:13).

7. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Conversion is not a single-act event but a series of steps clearly delineated by God! • To be converted, people must “open their eyes” to gospel (26:18)—by faith (26:18b). • To be converted, people must “turn from” sin (26:18)—when they “repent” (26:20). • To be converted, people must “turn to” God (26:20)—in baptism (3:19; 11:21). • To stay converted, people must “do works befitting [their] repentance” (26:20).

8. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • Through obedience and conversion to Christ, one obtains all of His blessed promises! • “Forgiveness of sins” (26:18)—the guilt of sins, separating us from God, is removed. • “An inheritance” (26:18)—the promise of eternal life is granted (cf. Eph. 1:11). • “Sanctified” (26:18)—one is made holy, set apart for service to God (cf. Eph. 5:25-26).

9. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul rehearsed his response to the vision and his preaching to the Gentiles (26:19-23). • Paul was persuaded by the evidence he saw on the road—hoping the king would be. • Paul’s preaching included God’s plan of salvation, step-by-step (26:20). • Paul’s preaching was not hostile toward the O.T. but rather built on it (26:22-23). • Paul’s preaching was merely the work of the Lord through him (26:23; cf. v. 18).

10. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul’s defense compelled very different responses but a united decision (26:24-32). • Paul boldly spoke “truth & reason” (26:25)—words which call for rational response. • Festus was unwilling to be convinced: “Paul, you are mad (Gk, mania)!” (26:24). • Agrippa already “knew” (26:26) and “believed” (26:27) the content of the message. • As with each of his previous judges, King Agrippa and the dignitaries concluded that Paul had done “nothing deserving of death” (26:31; cf. 23:9, 29; 24:22; 25:11, 25). • However, their united (and unavoidable) decision was to send him to Caesar (26:32).

11. II. • Significant Truths from this Passage for Our Understanding • “Becoming altogether a Christian” requires that one be altogether persuaded! • The name “Christian” is found only 3 times in the N.T. –Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. • By believing alone, one does not “become a Christian”! Agrippa believed (26:27). • One “becomes a Christian” when he is fully persuaded by the evidence (26:28), repents (26:20) and is baptized to become a disciple/Christian (11:26 + Mt. 28:20). • One who is “altogether a Christian” lives that way every day, even when it’s not easy!

12. I. Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study • Paul’s arrest, his trials and his defense are given considerable space in the book of Acts. • This one event (or series of events) opened the door for the gospel throughout Rome. • This one event (or series of events) took the gospel to the highest ruler on earth. • This one event (or series of events) helped to validate the Christian religion.

13. III. Practical Points of Application for Our Lives • When we have opportunity to defend the faith, let us do so happily and confidently! • Following one’s heart to do what he thinks is right is a recipe for disaster and death! • Let us not be disobedient to the revelation of God’s will for our lives! • Let us help others to open their eyes, turn from sin, turn to God and do faithful works! • Let us strive to be “altogether Christians” and not merely “close enough” Christians!