Acts 26:4-18 - Paul before Agrippa (Part 2)

Paul Before Agrippa – Part 2

The Commencement of Paul’s Testimony (Acts 26 : 4 – 18) Lesson 98

1 Theological Foundation of Paul’s Testimony

— Paul’s entire defense is anchored in the conviction of Second Corinthians 5 : 17 – 20: the Gospel transforms its recipients into “new creatures,” reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and then sent back into the world as ambassadors of reconciliation. — This conviction explains every theme in Acts 25 – 26:  — Human beings, not God, need adjustment; God is already righteous.  — The Church’s ministry is to “beg” men and women to be rightly adjusted to their Creator.  — Paul therefore views his arrest not as a hindrance but as another platform for that ministry.

2 Opening Courtesy and Confidence (Acts 26 : 1 – 3)

— Granted permission to speak, Paul stretches out his hand in the classic orator’s pose. — He expresses “cheerfulness” because King Herod Agrippa II is well versed in “all customs and questions among the Jews.” An expert listener, Paul hopes, will give an objective hearing. — Underlying motive: the apostle longs for Agrippa’s conversion, a desire that surfaces openly in Acts 26 : 28 – 29.

3 Paul’s Life before Conversion (Acts 26 : 4 – 11)

3.1 A Pharisee of the Strictest Order (verses 4 – 5)

— Paul reminds his hearers that Jerusalem’s leaders can testify to his past: he was trained “at the feet of Gamaliel” and belonged to the “furthest, strictest sect” of the Pharisees. — The double superlative (“strictest of the strict”) highlights the magnitude of Paul’s later transformation.

3.2 The Hope Shared by All Israel (verses 6 – 8)

— Paul stands on trial “for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers”—the coming Messiah and the resurrection of the dead. — He challenges Agrippa: “Why is it considered incredible by any of you if God raises the dead?” The Sanhedrin’s real stumbling block is not resurrection in principle but the resurrection of Jesus Christ in particular.

3.3 Persecutor Turned Penitent (verses 9 – 11)

— Paul confesses that he once regarded Jesus Christ as a blasphemer and felt duty-bound to stamp out His followers. — He cast votes against believers in the Sanhedrin, imprisoned many, and tried to compel them to blaspheme. His fury drove him even to foreign cities.

4 Paul’s Conversion on the Damascus Road (Acts 26 : 12 – 15)

— At midday a light brighter than the Syrian sun enveloped Paul and his companions—visible glory testifying to the risen Jesus Christ. — Prostrate, he heard a Hebrew voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” — That rebuke reveals two truths:  — Paul’s conscience had been pricking him even in his violence.  — In persecuting the Church he was actually striking at Jesus Christ Himself.

5 The Divine Commission (Acts 26 : 16 – 18)

5.1 Appointment as Witness and Apostle

— Jesus Christ declares, “I have appeared to you for this purpose—to appoint you as a servant and witness of the things you have seen and of the things I will yet reveal to you.” — The risen Lord therefore grounds Paul’s apostolic authority; no human council conferred it.

5.2 Mission Definition

— Paul is sent “to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.” — Two realms dominate humanity: the dominion of Satan and the dominion of God (compare Ephesians 2 : 1 – 3; Colossians 1 : 13). Salvation is a rescue-transfer from one to the other.

5.3 Transformation Goal

— Eye-opening leads to life-changing. Conversion creates a new creature who now belongs to the sphere of light, forgiveness, and inheritance. — Paul emphasizes that no one is “free” in an absolute sense; each person is either a bond-slave of sin or a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. The cross is the only emancipating death (Romans 6 : 6 – 7).

6 Practical Implications for Agrippa and All Hearers

— If the strictest Pharisee can become Christianity’s foremost preacher, then no sinner is beyond hope. — The resurrection Paul once denied now forms the cornerstone of his life and message; Agrippa’s hurdle is identical. — Paul’s earnest aim is not self-vindication but the salvation of his royal audience. His testimony embodies the “ministry of reconciliation” entrusted to every believer.

7 Summary

In Acts 26 : 4 – 18 the apostle Paul blends autobiography, theology, and evangelistic appeal. He moves from Pharisaic zeal to murderous persecution, from dazzling confrontation to divine commissioning. Every detail serves a single purpose: to show that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is neither legend nor sectarian wish but the only power capable of turning enemies of God into ambassadors for God. Paul’s life stands as living proof, offered to King Agrippa and to every listener in every age.