Acts 26:1-32

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.

“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?

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 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. 11 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.

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 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. 14 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.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 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, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 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.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 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. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 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: 23 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.”

24 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.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 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. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 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.”

30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

💡How to do your quiet time


Paul stood before governor Portius Festus and his guest, King Agrippa. Paul considered it fortunate to give his defense to King Agrippa because he was well acquainted with Jewish customs and was culturally related to Paul. Paul began with his background and how the Jews who accused him knew that he was raised according to the strict regulations of the Pharisees. Paul presents his case, not just as a defense of his innocence, but in a skillful presentation of the gospel. He stood on trial because of his hope in the promise made by God to their ancestors which all the tribes of Israel, including his accusers, hoped to attain. Paul’s question includes Agrippa when he asked, “Why is it considered incredible by you (plural) that God raises the dead?”

Paul then explained how he too reacted negatively to the message of Jesus Christ. He originally had opposed those who believed in Jesus, locking up many of the saints in prison under authority from the chief priests. He was in agreement when they were put to death. He tried to force them to recount their belief in Jesus (“tried to make them blaspheme”). He dragged them from the synagogues. And he pursued them and persecuted them in foreign cities. To this end, he had journeyed to Damascus when he was confronted by a bright light. In this account (also Acts 9:1–19; 22:1–21) he included the fact that Jesus spoke to him in Aramaic (the Hebrew language). When Jesus asked why Paul was persecuting Him, He also said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” This was a reference to God’s work in his life. Goads were used by farmers to prod animals in the direction they should go. God persuades unbelievers, guiding them with prompts and prods in the direction they should go, but without forcing them. They always have the free will to resist and go their own way. Paul explained that the voice was that of Jesus and how he had been given the mission to be His servant and witness of the gospel to the Gentiles. The Lord also promised him protection both from his own countrymen and the Gentiles to whom he was being sent.

Paul explained how he obeyed the Lord’s commission beginning right there in Damascus, then Jerusalem, then Judea, and also to the Gentiles. Everywhere he declared the message that they should repent and turn to God and then do good works befitting their decision. In speaking to a primarily Jewish audience, Paul’s reference to repentance most likely refers to changing one’s mind about God which is also indicated by the phrase turn to God. Paul’s message here is consistent with Ephesians 2:8-10, where salvation is by grace alone through faith alone and the result should be good works that flow from that. It was because of Paul’s witness of Christ’s resurrection and taking that message to the Gentiles that he was seized in the temple and the Jews tried to kill him. Paul acknowledged God’s help in keeping him alive. He declared before small and great a message that was consistent with what Moses and the prophets had predicted would happen, that the Christ must suffer and as the first to rise from the dead would be the pattern for all who believed to follow.

While Paul was directing his defense to King Agrippa, it was Festus who exclaimed that Paul must be out of his mind. But Paul declared that he was not out of his mind but was speaking truth that was rational—it can be tested and verified as true. Then Paul pointed out that none of what he had said had escaped Agrippa’s notice. Finally, Paul asked the king, “do you believe the prophets?” Skillfully avoiding any potential embarrassment by forcing the king to answer, he continued, “I know that you do believe.” King Agrippa believed what the prophets wrote about the Messiah. Agrippa asked Paul if he expected him in such a short time to be convinced to become a Christian. His question seems to evade making a decision. Paul pressed on undeterred, whether it took anyone a short or a long time, Paul’s only hope was that everyone who heard him would believe and commit to following Jesus openly. After conversing briefly with Festus, Agrippa determined that Paul was innocent and, had he not appealed to Caesar, he could have been set free.

Paul used every opportunity to share the gospel. Being in chains gave him access to those in authority which might not have been possible otherwise (similar to Phil 1:12-14). You to can use the position God has placed you in to further the gospel. Who can you begin a gospel conversation with today?


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Heroes of the Faith: Hebrews 11-12