Acts 26
COMMENTARY:
: 3 Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech you to hear me patiently. (3116 “patiently” [makrothumos] means with longanimity, in a patient manner, without stopping, with forbearance, with long (enduring) temper, leniently, or listen to someone with patience.)
DEVOTION: All of us have taken an IQ test at some point in our life. There are college entrance tests that are given in the junior and senior years of high school. There are entrance tests to enter a graduate program in a college.
Some people have never taken these tests but think that they are smarter than everyone else around them. They are individuals who are not willing to listen to someone else they think is not as smart as they are. Too often they are just the opposite. They need to listen to other people to find out what is really happening around them.
Paul is confronted with an opportunity to present his case before King Agrippa. He is someone who understands the customs of the Jewish faith. He could help them make a decision regarding his present condition. He wants the king to listen to all that he has to say and come to a conclusion.
Today we have many people who think the same thoughts about their intelligence to the point that they will not listen to anyone about Christianity. God opens the hearts of some who are willing to at least listen to a presentation of the Gospel. They might react like King Agrippa but they will at least listen.
We need to present our faith to others with the hope that they will listen and understand the truth of the Word of God. Everyone is going to have an opportunity to make a decision regarding Jesus Christ. HE wants us to give them that opportunity through our proper presentation of the truth of the Gospel.
CHALLENGE: We should ask for their patience as we present our testimony.
: 7 To which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake king Agrippa I am accused for the Jews. (1679 “hope” [elpizo] means trust, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence, hopefully to trust in, to be confidently and reasonably expectant of a future event, expect, to look for, or to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial.)
DEVOTION: When we make a promise to someone we should keep it if at all possible. It is better not to promise something than not to not intent to keep the promise. We sometimes think that children will not remember what they have been promised but that is not true. They remember.
Paul knew the promises that were made by God in the Old Testament to the children of Israel. He knew that there was going to be a Suffering Servant who would be the Messiah coming to die for the sins of the world. He knew that this same Savior was going to return to become King in the future. He knew the promises that the Jewish people were waiting for. Many didn’t understand that HE would suffer first for the sins of the world.
He met Jesus on the Damascus road and realized that HE was the one that the children of Israel were expecting. He didn’t realize it before. He had to have a special revelation from God to understand.
Now he was serving Jesus every day night and day to bring people into a proper understanding of the truth regarding Jesus Christ. That is way he was standing in front of King Agrippa.
We are going to stand before people in our lifetime that need to know the truth and they will be listening to us as we present it. We are in the service of the King of Kings once we become a follower of Jesus.
Learn to present the fulfilled promises of the Old Testament to those who are searching for truth. Many don’t think there is any truth to be found. Many false religious teachers are saying that the Bible is not absolute truth.
There will always be conflict but we have the Holy Spirit to give us just the right words to say when HE gives us opportunity to witness.
CHALLENGE: Ask for HIS help each time you have an opportunity.
: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 the inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. ((1849 “power” [exousia] means authority to rule, right, liberty, permission, jurisdiction, control, supernatural power, license, delegated influence, freedom of choice or ability.)
DEVOTION: We are on a battle field today. Those who are believers are not wrestling against just flesh and blood. We are wrestling against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6: 12).
Our enemy is the devil or Satan and his fallen angels which are called demons. There are enough of them to cause every Christian a problem in their service to the LORD Jesus Christ. He is walking about seeking whom he may devour. He doesn’t have to go to those who are not believers because they are already in his family (John 8:44).
He wants to see every Christian defeated. He wants to cause every problem he can in the believer’s life. He brings back all the sins that a believer has ever committed to stop him from growing in the LORD. He wants every believer to live a defeated life or an unproductive life. He hits each of us on a regular basis.
Now we see in this verse that once a believer makes a commitment to the LORD Satan has no real power over their life. He has been moved from the family of Satan to the family of God. He has received forgiveness of all of his sins. This includes all those from the past and present and even the future sins. When God the Father looks at this individual, HE sees the blood of Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that a true believer will use this information to go out and sin as much as they want? NO!!! A true believer will want to confess their sins on a regular basis and try to sin less as they grow in the LORD. Do they always succeed? The answer is NO again. There are times in a believer’s life when he allows the cares of this world to enter his thinking and he forgets that he is in a new family. This is when the LORD sends chastening to help him return to a proper relationship of fellowship with HIM.
HE reminds the believer that he has an inheritance in heaven waiting for him and that he is set apart for service to HIM for all of the rest of his life.
CHALLENGE: Remember all that Christ did on the cross. Remember especially that HE defeated the authority of Satan over our life. We changed families!!!
: 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (4997 “soberness” [sophrosune] means sound judgment, moderation, sound in mind, sanity, sound mind or self-control.)
DEVOTION: Some time in our life we might have to give a witness for the LORD before political and/or religious authorities. This is happening in many countries in our world. There are some countries where individuals are told to deny their faith in Jesus Christ or die.
Paul is in such a circumstance. He is given an opportunity to speak before the political leaders in his area. He knew their beliefs. He knew what they had been taught regarding the Way. He stated to King Agrippa that what was happening in the world regarding Christianity was not done in a corner. We can make the same claim today. Most people know the difference between those who are followers of Christ and those who are not. Some fake it but people know.
Paul is before a man who knows the teachings of the Jews. The King was one who studied the teachings of the Jews and knew the prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. Paul gives his testimony of personal salvation on the road to Damascus. Paul tells of his former life. He informs them that the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth.
Festus thinks he is mad with all his learning. Sometimes people think that others have too much knowledge. Some believe that too much knowledge makes them of no earthly good. This was not the case with Paul. He was not mad but was telling the truth with much self-control. He almost persuaded the King to become a follower of Christ.
What are we doing with our testimony? Are we sharing it? Some people will look at our faith and think we are out of our minds, but we are the only ones who are in their right mind. Remember we have the truth of God’s word to guide us. We don’t always follow it, but it is speaking to our hearts if we study it. Is your heart listening today?
CHALLENGE: Present the Gospel in a manner which conveys sound thinking. Have complete control over our emotions when we share Christ. They will try to make us mad or call us mad.
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