Before and After

Introduction

Paul now has the opportunity to testify of Christ before Agrippa and Felix and many others (Acts 25:23 Chief captains and the principal men of the city) who were gathered to hear him.

King Agrippa was supposed to be an authority on the Jewish faith and thus would have certainly had knowledge of what Paul was speaking about.

The ultimate result of Paul’s testimony is that Festus believes Paul has lost his mind while Agrippa, with a greater knowledge of the events and doctrine Paul describes, is almost persuaded to convert to Christianity himself.

What was it that provoked such a strong response in Festus and Agrippa. It was the change that they could clearly see had taken place in Paul’s life and more importantly the explanation which Paul gave for this change.

Paul begins with a description of his life:

Before Christ (Vs. 4-12)

Paul was not a wicked immoral man in the eyes of men before his conversion to Christ. In fact many would have lifted Paul up as a wonderful example of a religious leader who was zealous for God.

Paul was not in bondage to carnal appetites or immoral habits but was merely going about trying to do what he was convinced that God would have him to do.

Paul even believed in resurrection and was actually looking for the promised Messiah like many of the religious leaders of his day.

Yet the fact remains that Paul’s life before his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road was lived contrary to Christ. He recounts how that he imprisoned many of the saints who followed Christ and had apparently given his approval of the martyrdom of not only Stephen but other Christians as well.

He compelled many to turn away from Christ and encouraged them to blaspheme His name and he persecuted them to strange cities because of the anger that had taken hold within him.

Even his journey on the Damascus road where he met Christ was with the intent to continue to persecute those who believed in Christ.

You and I may not have been guilty of such terrible crimes as the Apostle Paul was but the fact remains that before we came to Christ each of us were living lives contrary to Him.

We may have been doing so from a church pew of from a bar room but regardless we were living contrary to Christ whether openly or inwardly.

Paul also describes his life:

Encounter with Christ (Vs. 13-18)

Paul tells how, as he travelled on the Damascus road with the intention of continuing to oppose the Christian faith, suddenly a light shone from Heaven.

This light shone above the brightness of the sun and certainly arrested Paul’s attention as well as that of those who travelled with him.

As the light shone, a voice began to speak directly to Paul.

Each of us who have had an encounter with Christ could testify of the moment that God arrested our attention and began to speak directly to us.

The voice first asks a question, why do you persecute me? This alone would have been enough for Paul to begin to recognize the origin of the voice as that of Christ since Paul was persecuting the followers of Christ.

The voice also makes an interesting statement here as He says: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. This speaks of Paul’s fight against Christ and God’s plan for his life. It is evident that Paul already had an inward struggle taking place possibly from the martyrdom of Stephen which he was party to.

Paul then responds seeking confirmation as to the voice which is speaking to him. His worst fears are realized as the voice identifies Himself as Jesus Christ whom thou persecutest.

It is recorded in another account that Paul asked Lord what wilt thou have me to do? and here we have Jesus response.

Paul was not only converted but in the same instance he was called. God delivered to him the true purpose and calling of his life to reach others for Christ, specifically and primarily the Gentile nations.

All who have converted have also been called whether they recognize it or not. We have all received the call of God to deliver the gospel to others and to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

God has a plan for each of our lives if we will yield to Him, He will transform us into a vessel which shall bring glory and honor to His name. d

After Christ (Vs. 19-23)

There is a distinct and recognizable difference in what Paul was and what he now is. This difference could not be more obvious or more drastic.

Now instead of compelling men to turn from Christ and to blaspheme His name, Paul is compelling them to believe Christ and to trust Him as savior.

His original intent was to go to Damascus to persecute and imprison those who named the name of Christ but now he goes intent upon bringing others to Christ.

Just as before he had travelled far and wide to hunt down Christians now he travels to Jerusalem. throughout the region of Judea and ultimately to the Gentile nations leaving in his wake many who have now professed Christ and have been converted to Him.

Before he had sought to take the lives of those who followed Christ and now he risks his own life to fulfill Christ’s call upon his life.

Before he had called on men to turn from Christ where now he is calling on men everywhere to repent and turn to Christ.

Before he had believed generally in the principle of resurrection, now he believed specifically that Jesus Christ was indeed risen from the dead.

Before he had been convinced that those who followed Christ were in error, now he was absolutely convinced that those who rejected Christ were destined for condemnation.

What a miraculous transformation that has taken place in Paul’s life. Is it any wonder that men would marvel at the change that they saw in him.

There should be a distinct difference in our lives as well. Regardless of what our past looks like, all who know us should be able to see the continual process of transformation which God is doing in our lives.

The problem with much of professing Christianity today is that there is so little real change which is taking place in the lives of so many who profess to know Christ.

The Bible plainly states that to know Christ is to experience a miraculous transformation.

King James Version Chapter 5

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

This means that we will no longer be what we once were. A relationship with Christ produces transformation.

This transformation is not merely owed to our conversion to Christ but also to our willingness to yield to the call of God upon our lives.

Paul had gone from laboring to receive glory of men to laboring to glorify God. His purpose had changed as will ours when we yield to God’s call.

The unfortunate reality is that today we have many supposed conversions but few who seem to be truly changed. Far too often the world has much greater influence in the life of Christians than does Christ.

“I am not religious, so it is not my place to dictate to Christians what they should and should not believe. Still, if someone has a faith worth following, I feel that their beliefs should make me feel uncomfortable for not doing so. If they share 90 percent of my lifestyle and values, then there is nothing especially inspiring about them. Instead of making me want to become more like them, it looks very much as if they want to become more like me. That, sadly, appears to have been true of Lentz and his celebrity acquaintances.” - Writer-Ben Sixsmith

We must let God produce this miraculous transformation in us if we are ever to make a significant difference in this world it will not be because of our likeness but our distinction from the world.

Conclusion

Festus was convinced that Paul had lost his mind and that there could be no truth to his testimony but Paul simply confirmed that what he had recounted was absolutely true.

Agrippa responds quite differently apparently moved by Paul’s testimony he declares that Paul’s testimony has nearly convinced him to become a Christian as well.

Paul response is that it is his desire that every one of them would become followers of Christ. We may never know if any who heard Paul’s testimony came to Christ but if they did not it was not because they had not heard the truth for Paul has masterfully presented the gospel of Christ through his own personal testimony and these would now have to reject or receive the truth but could never claim ignorance of it.