Paul's Defense Before King Agrippa

INTRO

Throughout Acts, we have seen the disciples walking out what Jesus modeled for them in the Gospels. The apostles walked with the authority of the Holy Spirit in their ministries. In today’s chapter, Paul will tell his Damascus Road experience again. Paul was Jesus’ “chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites” (Acts 9:15). Paul stood before King Agrippa in chapter 26. Acts 26 is the fulfillment of Acts 9:15.

TEACHING

Acts 26:1–11: Agrippa gave Paul permission to speak for himself. After showing a sign of deference and respect, Paul began his defense. Paul complimented Agrippa on Agrippa’s familiarity with “Jewish customs and controversies” (v. 3). This may have been a way for Paul to ingratiate himself to Agrippa, but it was probably also true. In a potentially volatile situation, Paul led with a positive statement. He also closed with a positive statement when he asked Agrippa, “‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe’” (v. 27).

Wiersbe observed five key statements Paul made in his defense to Agrippa. First, Paul wanted Agrippa to know he lived as a Pharisee (v. 4–11).¹In Acts 23:6, Paul described himself as “a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.” To the Philippians, Paul described himself as “circumcised on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding righteousness that is under the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5–6). Paul wasn’t just any Pharisee. Paul was an extremely committed Pharisee. To illustrate his current belief in Jesus, Paul wanted Agrippa to clearly understand from where he came.

Paul mentioned that he now stood “on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers” (v. 6). This was centered on two things: the resurrection and the hope of Israel. Paul believed in Jesus’ physical resurrection and also believed that this meant Israel still had a future hope. Paul believed in two promises that God made to Israel: a coming Messiah and the reestablishment of the kingdom of God. Paul understood these promises to be fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus. To reinforce this thought, Paul referenced “our 12 tribes” and their yet unrealized hope in the Messiah. Jesus taught of this hope for Israel as well in Matthew 19:28: “I assure you: in the Messianic Age, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.”

Paul then further outlined his life as a Pharisee in regard to the church. He recounted his opposition to those who followed Jesus, outlined his role in the imprisonment of Christians, pointed out that he voted for Christians’ executions, and admitted to trying to make Christians in foreign cities blaspheme the name of Jesus.

Acts 26:12–13: Paul’s second key statement to Agrippa was that he had seen a light.²Paul was on his way, as a Pharisee, to go after the same people to whom he now belongs, with the authority of the religious leaders. Paul’s trip was interrupted by a light “brighter than the sun.” This could have only been possible through an act of God.

Acts 26:14–18: Paul’s third key statement to Agrippa was that he heard a voice.³After they saw the light, Paul and his travel companions fell on the ground. Then a voice spoke to them in Hebrew: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (v. 14). This language referenced an ox that had never been yoked before. When first yoked, an ox tended to kick back. To combat this, a person would hold a staff with a pointed end near the hoof of an ox’s rear leg. When the ox kicked, it would hit the point, then stay course.⁴An ox had to learn submission to the yoke. Before his Damascus Road experience, Paul constantly resisted Jesus. Afterward, he learned to submit to Jesus’ purpose for his life. That purpose was to be sent to the Gentiles “to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified” (v. 18).

Acts 26:19–21: Paul’s fourth key statement to Agrippa was that he was not disobedient.⁵After receiving his purpose from Jesus, Paul went about the work that was assigned to him by preaching in Damascus, the very town where he went to arrest those who believed the faith he now preached, and in Jerusalem. His change in mind was evidenced by his change in behavior.

Acts 26:22–32: Paul’s fifth key statement to Agrippa was that he continued to this day.⁶Nothing stopped Paul from doing what Jesus called him to do. Paul was the epitome of what Jesus had in mind in Luke 9:62 when He said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Once you have heard from the Lord, if you go back to your old way of life, you are not being obedient to the Lord. Paul made it a practice to say that “nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place—that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles” (v. 22b–23).

At the high point of Paul’s defense, Festus accused Paul of being out of his mind (v. 24). Festus saw Paul walking out the authority of his faith, and it looked to him like Paul was crazy. Paul wrote to the Corinthians “For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you” (2 Corinthians 5:13). If Paul was considered crazy, it was because he embraced a crazy message. Jesus’ own family thought He was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).

Paul boldly contradicted Festus’s accusation and appealed to King Agrippa, bluntly asking him, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe” (v. 27). Agrippa tried to shrug off Paul’s attempt to convince Agrippa to become a Christian, but Paul reiterated his desire for everyone who heard him to also become a Christian. After those in authority left Paul, they noted amongst themselves that they could find no evidence that Paul had committed any crime and that he could have been released had he not appealed to Caesar.

CLOSING

Paul boldly proclaimed to a king and his court about his encounter with Jesus and how it changed him. Paul walked in the authority that had been given to him from God. Even while being arrested and standing trial, Paul’s goal was to convince his hearers, regardless of how important they were, to repent of their sin and follow the risen Messiah.