Acts 26
Acts 26 depicts a scene in which Paul states his faith and makes his defense before the Roman governor Festus and King Agrippa of Judea. Paul openly reveals his past and testifies about how his life was transformed after encountering Jesus Christ. This chapter clearly shows why he preaches the gospel and what the center of his faith is.
1verseAgrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
2verse“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews,
3verseespecially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4verse“Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem;
5versehaving known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6verseNow I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
7versewhich our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa!
8verseWhy is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead?
9verse“I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10verseI also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
11versePunishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12verse“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,
13verseat noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
14verseWhen we had all fallen to the earth, 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.’
15verse“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16verseBut arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you;
17versedelivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,
18verseto open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19verse“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20versebut declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21verseFor this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22verseHaving therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
23versehow the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”
24verseAs he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
25verseBut he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
26verseFor the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.
27verseKing Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
28verseAgrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”
29versePaul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
30verseThe king rose up with the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them.
31verseWhen they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
32verseAgrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
The Flow and Structure of the Passage
- Verses 1-3: Paul takes the opportunity to speak in front of King Agrippa and pays his respects.
- Verses 4-11: He describes his past—his time of zeal in keeping the laws of Judaism and persecuting Jesus’ followers.
- Verses 12-18: He declares what happened when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, along with his calling and the mission of an apostle.
- Verses 19-23: He emphasizes that he lived by obeying that calling to proclaim the gospel, and that his message matches what Moses and the prophets testified to.
- Verses 24-32: This is the concluding section, including Festus and Agrippa’s reactions to Paul’s defense and the outcome that follows.
Key Message and Meaning
- Personal transformation: Paul emphasizes that it was not by his own strength, but that after meeting Jesus Christ, he came to live a newly transformed life.
- The essence of the gospel: His defense does not logically argue that the gospel contradicts Jewish tradition; rather, he explains that it fulfills the law and the writings of the prophets. It highlights again the gospel’s universality and authenticity.
- Courage of faith: Even amid threats to his life and feelings of injustice, he shows the courage to confess his faith boldly and to proclaim the gospel.
Points for Reflection
- I reflect on my faith and the story of my change.
- Even in difficult circumstances, I think about whether I can confess my faith boldly like Paul, and about the courage of faith.
- I reflect on what the essence of the gospel means for my life.
Putting It Into Practice for Myself
- I think about whether, like Paul, I can reveal the identity of my faith and the truth of the gospel in everyday life.
- I check whether, in my interests and conversations, the experience of meeting Jesus and the changes in my life afterward are truly evident.
- In moments when I need the courage of faith, I consider whether I can look to Paul’s example and gain strength and comfort.
