Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa
Acts 25:22-27 KJV 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear
the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23 And on the
morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was
entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal
men of the city, at Festus' commandment Pa.ul was brought forth. 24 And
Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye
see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with
me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any
longer. 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of
death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined
to send him. 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord.
Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee,
O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to
write. 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not
withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Introduction
Agrippa and Bernice were paying a congratulatory visit to Festus, who was recently appointed as the governor of Judea. After Festus had finished telling them about Paul, Agrippa decided that he wanted to hear Paul himself. This would not be a formal trial but simply an opportunity for Paul to tell his side of the story. He had already appealed to Caesar, so this was not an official trial. That appeal could not be undone so there was nothing official about this hearing.
Paul’s Testimony Before Agrippa and the Court
It was with great show, parade, and splendor that Agrippa and Bernice entered the hearing place. This was the same facility that the judges heard and tried causes. There were a great number of dignitaries also present. It 322
was before this body that Paul would bring his final defense in Israel. This would in no way change what had happened previously, but he would take great advantage of this opportunity to be able to share the gospel of Christ.
Festus, as the hosting dignitary, introduced the reason that the assembly was being held. Festus made it seem like that because of the mitigating circumstances of the case, he wanted an additional piece of counsel before Paul was sent to Rome. He seemed unsure as to what to write concerning Paul, as is indicated in verse twenty-seven.
Acts 26:1-23 KJV 1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to
speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for
himself: 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for
myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused
of the Jews: 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs
and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to
hear me patiently. 4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the
first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which
knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most
straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am
judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 Unto
which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night,
hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the
Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God
should raise the dead? 9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do
many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I
also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison,
having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put
to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in
every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from
heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and
them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue,
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Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the
pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom
thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared
unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of
these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will
appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which
are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was
not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them
of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea,
and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do
works meet for repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the
temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of
God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying
none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should
come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that
should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to
the Gentiles.
After Festus’ introduction, Agrippa gives Paul permission to speak for himself. Since this was an “informal” gathering, there were no legal representations in attendance. Because of this, Paul would have this golden opportunity to speak as he felt led to this assembly.
Verse one states that “Paul stretched forth the hand.” This
was the usual posture of orators or public speakers. We have
seen many statues of ancient orators portrayed in this manner. Paul knew how to make his presentation powerful
according to ancient custom. Paul begins by stating that he
is happy to be able to give an account of why he is in his present situation. He states that he knows that Agrippa is an expert in the customs and questions of the Jews. Since Agrippa was a Jew, he was familiar with the rites,
institutions, laws, etc., and everything pertaining to the 324
Mosaic rituals. He knew the… Subjects of debate, and of various opinions. The inquiries which had existed between
the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, etc. Paul could say this of Agrippa without falsehood or flattery. Agrippa was a Jew;
he had passed much of his time in the kingdom over which
he presided; and though he had spent the early part of his life chiefly at Rome, yet it was natural that he should make himself acquainted with the religion of his fathers. Paul did not know how to flatter people, but he was not unwilling to
state the truth, and to commend people as far as truth would
permit.1
Paul continued,
Wherefore - On this account because you are acquainted with those customs. The Romans, who regarded those
customs as superstitious, and those questions as matters to be treated with contempt, could not listen to their discussion with patience. Agrippa, who knew their real importance, would be disposed to lend to all inquiries respecting them a
patient attention.2
Paul’s Testimony
Paul’s testimony can be broken down into three different sections. After his introduction, verses one through three, he begins to relate his early years, which was known by most of the Jews, verses four through eleven. He remembers how that he had reacted to the message of Jesus and those that disciples that followed Him. He relates how he had persecuted those disciples by shutting them up in prison and even having them put to death.
He concludes this section by stating, And I punished them oft in every
synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
This statement laid the foundation for him to begin his personal testimony of how he came to meet Jesus. We would consider this the second section 325
of his testimony, verses twelve through twenty-one. He relates how that Jesus struck him down on the road to Damascus where he intended to arrest more of the Lord’s disciples. He gives a bit more insight on what Jesus said to him than he did in other testimonies of his conversion. He reveals that the majority of his commission was to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, to which he was faithful. Because of his efforts for the Lord, the Jews set about to kill him many times. Their actions resulted in him standing before Agrippa and his court.
Now Paul comes to the third section of his testimony, presenting the gospel, verses twenty-two and twenty-three. Even though this part is the smallest of all of his testimony, it is the most important. We can see how that all that Paul said before this laid the foundation for the gospel to be presented. It gave credence to Paul’s stand before God. It showed that Paul was like any other before his salvation.
Acts 26:24-25 KJV 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with
a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee
mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the
words of truth and soberness.
Festus interrupted very loudly by stating that Paul really did not know what he was talking about, he was just bewildered and confused. Paul’s much learning had made him insane, a raving maniac. He had too much writing or literature knowledge. The Greeks did not have any literature to compare in nature and content with the Old Testament, upon which Paul had definitively been documenting his defense against the charges of treason, heresy, and desecration or pollution of the Jewish temple.
Paul’s respectful reply was that he was not mad but spoke the truth of which Agrippa had knowledge. He would know because he was familiar with the Jews, their ways, customs, etc., and the things mentioned by Paul were of common knowledge. Festus, newly come into the area, would not have known these things.
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Now comes the moment of decision. This was what we would call, The Invitation. In verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight, Paul brings it personally to Agrippa. “Do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Paul did not have to say anything further to get a response from him.
Verse twenty-eight gives, perhaps, the saddest statement of all times:
…Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian. Almost, but lost. Too how many has this been applied down through the seceding centuries? Many thousands, I am afraid. Almost, but not quite.
Paul’s reply, … I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear
me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these
bonds.
Conclusion
Just some concluding thoughts. How many times have children of God, when asked if they could tell someone about Jesus, replied, “I don’t know how.” Number one, that is most sad for anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Number two, it is not that difficult. All we need to note from this lesson is that Paul simply gave his testimony before the large audience that day. No one knew it as well as he did. No one knows your testimony as well as you do. Tell them what Jesus did for you. Tell them how you came to accept Jesus as your Savior. Try it, you just might like it!
1 Rick Meyers, e-Sword version 13.0.0, Albert Barnes’ comments on Acts 26:3
2 IBID
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