Paul Before Festus And Agrippa

Paul Before Festus And Agrippa
Acts 25-26
- We are deep within the last portion of Acts focusing on the life of Paul and on his trial.
- There is so much to learn from his example, going though trials yet keeping his eyes on Christ.
- There are many things that Paul could be worried about during this phase in his life, but he only had one concern, which was Christ and His gospel
- The most important questions anybody could ever ask are (i) Who is Christ? & (ii) Do you know Him? Anything and everything else is insignificant in comparison.
- We will see how well Paul brings these two questions to bear while forcefully, clearly and powerfully presenting the gospel before the king and the governor.
- The last encounter with Felix seemed to have gone well however he still didn't release Paul.
- Paul was held in the prison for two years.
- This duration of time must have been very frustrating, yet Paul trusted in the Lord's timing.
- Festus made Paul an offer to go back to Jerusalem for a trial.
- Paul was aware of the situation that he was in, yet he committed himself to more years in prison and for the gospel.
- We then go to Paul's defense before Agrippa who was the grandson of Herod the Great, who was with Bernice, his sister, lover and aunt.
- We see here the great depravity of these people and we are reminded of this irony --- how such sinful men are judges of the righteous. This shouldn't be and will not last forever.
- Paul shares the testimony of his conversion with forceful urgency and tender compassion (the same way that Jesus had spoken to him).
- The Lord Jesus calls with urgency yet tenderly and with love because it is a life-and-death matter that we hear the gospel.
- "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" - Paul said this to press upon Agrippa and Festus that we are all causing suffering to ourselves when we try to get away from something that's actually good for us.
- This call for Paul is the same call with which the Lord calls you. Why do you resist?
- Imagine you can have God in your life - to be forgiven of all your sin, to have Him as your Father.
- Festus' response was not unexpected but the sadder response was that of Agrippa - who seemed to have had a sense that what Paul was saying was true but fell short of coming to Christ.
- To be almost a Christian is to not be a Christian at all.
It's doesn't matter if you're almost forgiven if you're not forgiven at all.
Who is Jesus? Do you know Him? You must deal with these questions.