Acts 25:13-26:32

Devon Varnam

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Its March Madness. Over the past two weeks we have seen some major upsets. Sorry Virgina fans and State Fans. Even my Tar Heels went down.

But when it comes to fans as much as I hate to admit it. Duke fans at Cameron indoor Stadium are passionate. To those who look in from the outside they are called the Cameron Crazies. They are 1200 strong. They start chanting and cheering during warmups.

One article written by non Duke supporter even said the Cameron Crazies are the standard of student section that others schools aspire to be.

All of that is debatable. However, some would say the are passionate and others would say they are just straight up crazy.

There is a fine line between being crazy and being brilliant.

We will see today Paul’s sanity coming into question because he believes in and is passionate about Jesus.

Acts 26:24–30 ESV

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

Paul applead to Caesar. Festus after meeting with council has no choice but to send him to Caesar.

We don’t know how many days have passed. But King Agrippa and Bernice his sister arrive at Caesarea and they are greeted by Festus

Festus has no choice but to send him to Ceaser.

King Agrippa II is the grandson of Herod the Great and son of Herod King Agrippa who killed James and had Paul arrested. He was also eaten by worms for taking Gods glory in .

Kenneth Gangel says: “At the age of thirty-three years of age he had become King of various northeastern Palestine territories. His sister Bernice was one year younger and had come to live with him once her husband had died, who was also her uncle. Throughout the Roman Empire people assumed an incestuous relationship, probably an accurate analysis of the strange situation.”

And yet in light of all of this. King Agrippa II was appointing the High Priest and he was custodian of the temple treasury. Because of his background he was quailifed to hear Paul.

Festus begins to lay out the case against Paul and the events that led up to the trial.

Festus tells King Agrippa II that the Jews laid no charge against Paul as he thought their would be.

King Agrippa II is the grandson of Herod the Great and son of Herod King Agrippa who was eaten by worms for taking Gods glory.

In other words the Jews had no case.

Festus says their dispute over Paul is about this man name Jesus. Did he raise from the dead or not?

In verse 19 their dispute with Paul was over Jesus. The Jews beleiving he had died and Paul believing that he had risen from the grave.

Festus then tells Agrippa how he wanted to send him to Jerusalem but Paul appealed to Caesar.

I guess the question I have for you is as you look at your life are you living your life like Jesus?

Agrippa at this point says to Festus I would like to hear from this man.

Agrippa and Bernice make a grand entrance into the audience hall.

In the hall where military tribunes (there where 5 of them in Ceaseara) These men where over 1000 soilders each. and other prominent men where present.

Paul is brought in

The picture that Dr. Luke is giving us is you have all thes proiment men in their pomp and circumstance and their is small little Paul

and Festus makes this grand speech before all.

He points to the Jewish people petitioned him that this man should not live.

In Verse 25 he says that he has found nothing wrong with this man deserving death.

Paul appealed to Casear and I have decided to send him.

However I have nothing to write him as far as charges against him.

So I have brought him before you and especilly you King Agrippa so that you can exaimine him, and give me something to write.

In other words I can’t send this man to Caesar without some charges against him.

Agrippa tells Paul to speak

Paul makes his defense.

I will make my defense to you about all the accusations made against me.

First, He starts with his training in the law.

I will make my defense to you about all the accusations made against me.

Because you understand the Jewish customs and controversies of the Jews.

In verse 4-5 Paul points to the fact that he was raised in Jerusalem.

I was trained and held to the strickest of laws.

I was a Pharisee.

Paul is saying in my training I learned to have hope in a coming messiah.

Paul lays out that he is on trial and standing before them because of the hope made by God to our fathers.

The hope Scripture gives us by pointing to a Savior

The Jewish people have a hope that God will send a Savior. That he will send a King.

Paul is saying I have my hope in that as well. But he will go on to say that hoped has been filled with Jesus Christ as my Savior.

As the song we sang this morning said. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness

The twelve tribes hoped to attain the promised made by God

Then Paul ask a question “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

This is a hyptocial question. Setting Paul up to deliever his sermon to them about how he came to believe that Jesus is alive and then invite the King to accept Jesus as his savior.

Second, in Pauls defense in verses 9-11 he points to how he persecuted the Christians

Paul say I was convinced I should do many things to oppose Jesus.

In Jerusalem I locked up the Christ followers

I even voted to have the Christ followers killed.

I punished many Christ followers even in other cities.

Third, in Pauls defense In verses 12-18 Paul goes into great detail of how he made Christ his Savior.

In verses 12-18

He speaks to being on his way to Damascus and a great light shown to him.

In verse 14 Paul tells of Jesus called his name. Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.

Goads where sharp sticks used to prod and direct an animal.

So Jesus is telling Paul that he is kicking and going away from the Lords direction.

Jesus is saying to Paul stop fighting me and submit to my will.

Maybe there are some here today who need to stop fighting Jesus. To submit to his will by way of Salvation. To submit to his will and what he is calling you to do.

Maybe we as a church need to stop fighting Jesus and submit to his will for us.

Paul ask who was speaking to him. and then we get this dialong from Jesus.

Jesus calls Pauls to go and be a witness.

Jesus tells him that he will deliever him from his people and from the Gentiles.

Jesus tells him that he is sending him out to them, so that their eyes may be open.

So that they will turn from dakrness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

He is sending him out so that they might find forgiveness of sins

Verse 19

In light of my calling from Jesus, I followed through with my calling.

I went to those in damascus, then in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region and then also to the Gentiles

Is this not what Jesus Called the church today in the beginning of the book of Acts

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Notice the message he declared in verse 20 that they should repent of their sins, turn to God, and perform deeds in keeping with their repentence.

Paul is calling the sinner to come to Christ and then live their life for Christ.

This idea of saying an pray and just sitting on the sidelines is unbiblical. God has saved you worship him, but also to serve the body of Christ.

So today I am calling on you to get up off the pews and serve.

In verse 20 Paul says I followed through with the message that God called me to declare.

Paul then in verse 22 says I have done nothing but testify in both great and small saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass.

We have the same responsiblitiy to do nothing but testify what has been written in the Bible.

What did the prophets and Moses say: that the Christ must suffer and that by being the first to rise from teh dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and the gentles.

We have a responsiblity to go to all both great and small and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

No matter who you are. No matter how much money you have or how little money you have. We are all made up of the same matter. We all have the same need which is Jesus Christ.

Therefore we must go to all people and declare the gospel.

Acts

Acts 26:24 ESV

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

Acts 26:24–30 ESV

Acts

Festus says Paul you are out of your mind. You are crazy.

I find it kind of ironic that he is calling Paul crazy while the women sitting beside the king is his sister and she had been married to her uncle.

She will eventually hook up with one of the Roman goverments higher officals and their will be a public outcry because of it.

Festus didn’t acutally think he was crazy. Festus has heard the gospel and is responding to the gospel message by attacking the one who brought the message.

Festus here is rejecting Jesus.

Luke 10:16 ESV

16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Festus became upset when Paul presented that the gospel was for everyone. Why because Festus was a somebody in his book and the gospel rubbed him the wrong way. Festus worshipped politics and he worshipped power. What Paul was saying would turn his world upside down and Festus was having none of it.

Through out history the world has called those who follow Christ crazy.

Preaching the Word: Acts—The Church Afire Christ’s Crazy Apostles

In 1913 when William Borden, age twenty-six, a graduate of Yale and Princeton, left his palatial home near Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, giving away over $500,000 to become a missionary to the Muslim world, many of his contemporaries thought he was crazy. And when he died six months later from cerebral meningitis amidst the flies and heat of a Cairo hospital, some were sure he was mentally unbalanced. God did not share their opinion.

Like many today they may hear the gospel of Jesus. They may understand the gospel of Jesus, but at the end of the day they are not willing to give up their gods for Jesus.

Preaching the Word: Acts—The Church Afire Christ’s Crazy Apostles

In 1885 when the Cambridge Seven, including C. T. Studd, England’s most famous athlete, left for China, they were ridiculed for their “enthusiasm,” a polite British way of saying “mad fanaticism.

Eric Lindell who would become a missionary, but would not run on the sabbath was looked as someone who was crazy

Just resently Vice President Mike Pence was rediculed for not having lunch alone with women and talking to God. Some said he was off his rocker and may have mental disorder because he was hearing voices.

Many today think that the Christ follower who truly follows Christ is a nutcase.

But might I add when you live a sold out life for Christ it does look like to the world you are crazy. It even looks crazy to some who are luke warm in the church.

The sold out Christ follower follows Jesus and Jesus has commanded us to do some things.

Jesus calls us to Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.

Jesus calls us to pick up our cross and follow him.

To follow Jesus who said Pick up your cross and follow me.

We have lost the meaning of the cross. We hang it around our necks on necklaces. We have paintings in our home of crosses.

I am not saying that is wrong, but we have lost the meaning of the cross and because of that that statement doesn’t hit us the way it would have it original hearer.

As they heard Jesus say this they would have been walking down a road with people hung on crosses for crimes they have committed.

Jesus is saying follow Christ will cost you your life.

Paul the one that is being called Crazy would write “ For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

We have lost the meaning of the cross. We hang it around our necks on necklaces. We have paintings in our home of crosses.

I am not saying that is wrong, but we have lost the meaning of the cross and because of that that statement doesn’t hit us the way it would have it original hearers

Jesus also said statements like this is my body take eat. This is my blood drink.

To the outside world it does sound radical. It does even sound crazy. Unless Jesus is who he said he was.

if Jesus is the messiah then we should be passionate about him. We should give up our lives to follow. We should be crazy about him.

But the world does not see how crazy the lives they live are.

Where we idolize any and everyone. From poticians, to hollywood, to music stars.

If we see them wear something we buy it no matter the cost so we can be like them.

We have dieases that are caused by a society having free, open sex, with any and everyone and yet when you suggest chasity the world looks at you if you are crazy.

At times even the church though Paul was crazy.

2 Corinthians 5:13 NLT

13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

2 Cor

When the Luke warm church and Christ follower runs into a God fearing passionate Christ follower they don’t know what to do with a person.

In honesty what they do is ask the person to refrain from being so passionate, to bring it back a couple clicks. They ask him to refrain from being so excited.

Might I remind the church today I would rather be like Paul and be passionate then the luke warm church of Laodicea.

Did Jesus not tell that church he would rather spit them out of his mouth.

God even called them to be zealous.

What we need at THBC is a bunch more Pauls who are zealous for Jesus and the gospel.

By the way s a side note the only mention of a church closing in the entire Bible is in the passage of referring to a church that had lost its first love. In other words they loved other things more than Jesus. And it says God will shut its doors.

Could it be the reason many of our churches are not more passionate is because they have lost their first love and instead fallen in love with other things. We must be careful. If God will shut the doors of the church of Ephesus, why would he not shut our doors.

Acts 26:25 ESV

25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

Acts 26:25–26 ESV

25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

Acts 25:26 ESV

26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write.

Paul replies to Festus: I am not out of my mind. I am speaking rational and King Agrippa knows what I am speaking about.

Paul is saying ask King Agrippa he knows all about Jesus. Because of his father and Grandfather.

Then Paul ask Agrippa a direct question.

Acts 26:27 ESV

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

This is a retorical question. Paul knows the answer to this. He is backing King Agrippa in a corner.

do you believe in the prophets? Then Paul says I know you believe.

Then Paul ask him do you believe in the prophets? Then Paul says I know you believe.

Acts 26:28 ESV

28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

Then in verse 28 Agrippa says to Paul, are you trying to persuade me to be a Christian?

Agrippa had a chance to make Jesus his Savior, and instead of calling on the name of the Lord he rejected Pauls invitation.

We have no record of him coming to Christ and unless he did he is spending forever in a devils Hell.

I wonder if he thinks back to when Paul gave the invitation and he rejected the gospel.

I pray that you don’t make the same mistake today. That you would learn from Agrippa mistake.

Acts 26:29 ESV

29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

Paul says not only do I hope you become a Christian, but also everyone who hears me.

Paul had a heart for everyone there that day to respond to the gospel by making Jesus their savior.

That is my prayer today that everyone under the sound of my voice would make Jesus their Savior.

Acts 26:30 ESV

30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

The King arose along with everyone at his table. The meeting was over. Paul had made his case and more importantly presented the gospel. They went in to close chambers and they all agreed that Paul didn’t deserve death or imprisonment.

Then King Agrippa said this man would be innncent had he not appealed to Caesar.

If Paul could stand before us today. Paul would make the same case he made to everyone that day. He would tell you of his life before Christ, he would tell you how he came to Christ, he would then invite you to surrender your life to Christ.