Acts, Chapter 26 - Paul’s Defense before Agrippa
26 Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
- In Chapter 25, Festus gave an intro to King Agrippa and his wife Bernice and told them that the Jews wanted to kill Paul because of a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive (the entire issue is about the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ).
2 “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
- Paul considers himself fortunate that he is about to make his defense before King Agrippa
o This implies that he knows the Jewish laws and their religion (he is an expert)
4 “So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
- Paul declares “all Jews know my way of life since my youth”
o Which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem,
o Since they have known about me for a long time (his whole life)
o If they are willing to testify (tell the truth)
§ That I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion
§ In other words, Paul diligently followed God’s laws given to the Jews
§ These facts make Paul as Jewish as it gets
6 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day.
o Notice God made a promise to our fathers (the Abrahamic covenant)
For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?
- For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews
o What hope?
o The hope of the promise made to Abraham and through all the prophets
- Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?
o In other words, you should have known this is possible and would happen
9 “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death.
o Jerusalem means “in awe of peace”; “teaching peace”
o Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”
o Nazareth means “one separated” or “set apart”; “sanctified”
- And yet the names described in this paragraph tell the Gospel story:
o They were teaching peace with God (they were in awe of the peace available0
o That Jehovah is salvation (God saves)
o That Jehovah sent Jesus for the exclusive purpose which is why He came
Intro to Outbless Weekly
Thanks for listening to Outbless.com