Chap 26_Acts

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 26:1–11 (HCSB)Paul’s Defense before Agrippa 26 Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews, 3 especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem. 5 They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope. 8 Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.

This hearing probably occurred in 59 or 60 a.d.

Herod Agrippa II was ruler over Judea.He was 1/2 brother of Herod Antipas [ the one who killed John the Baptist] and great grandson of Herod the Great. You have Herrod the Great who killed boys under two years old. Then you have Herrod Agrippa I who beheaded James and arrested Peter.

He was educated at the court of the emperor Claudius, and at the time of his father's death he was only seventeen years old. Claudius therefore kept him at Rome,

Now you have Herod Agrippa II makes a brief appearance in the New Testament in Acts 25 and 26. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and accused by the Jewish leaders of desecrating the temple.

Agrippa zealously pursued orthodox Jewish policies, earning the friendship of the Jews and vigorously repressing the Jewish Christians.

Agrippa expended large sums in beautifying Jerusalem and other cities, especially Berytus (ancient Beirut), a Hellenised city in Phoenicia. His partiality for the latter rendered him unpopular amongst his own subjects, and the capricious manner in which he appointed and deposed the high priests made him disliked by his coreligionists. Because he was a friend of the Roman imperial family he had the privilege of appointing the Jewish High Priest and made the custodian of the Temple.

Agrippa was overthrown by his Jewish subjects in 66 and supported the Roman side in the First Jewish–Roman War.

Roman deity in deference to the biblical commandments not to make graven images. At the risk of his own life, or at least of his liberty, he interceded with Caligula on behalf of the Jews, when that emperor was attempting to set up his statue in the Temple at Jerusalem shortly before his death in AD 41. Agrippa's efforts bore fruit and he persuaded Caligula to temporarily rescind his order, thus preventing the Temple's desecration.[

Herod Agrippa II was considered an authority on Jewish affairs, Jewish scriptures, and Jewish conflicts. Eventually Rome appointed him as the curator of the temple, which meant he had authority to appoint high priests and was also in charge of the temple treasury.

Agrippa’s capital was Caesarea Philippi, which he renamed Neronias in honor of Caesar Nero.

Herod was the last ruler over Judea with a royal title. He died childless. First Jewish-Roman War was 66 a.d. He sided with Rome and negotiated part of the peace of wars

........3 especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Paul is arguing with a man who prides himself and is recognized as an expert on Judaism, problems. Yo u had local rebellions, self-proclaimed prophets, problems. He had been raised in Rome, with Roman sympathies, but knowledge of Jewish problems. He was familiar with the religious liars. false prophets, etc.He replace 3 high priests to the anger of the Jews.

So we will see what happens next.

Paul gives his pedigree , he background,

....7 the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain - two common hopes for the Jews was resurrection of bodies and the restoration of the 12 tribes at the same time.

............ 8 Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene Christ spoke of the resurrection Matthew 22:30–32 (HCSB)30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 31 Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” He is saying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are living; not dead.

Other OT references o resurrection:

Daniel 12:2 (HCSB) 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt.

Job 19:24–27 (HCSB) 25 But I know my living Redeemer,.... 26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. 27 I will see Him myself; my eyes will look at Him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.

Psalm 21:4 (HCSB) 4 He asked You for life, and You gave it to him— length of days forever and ever.

Psalm 16:9–10 (HCSB) 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. 10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.

Psalm 49:15 (HCSB) 15 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me.

Psalm 103:3–4 (HCSB) 3 He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. 4 He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion

Also Paul speaks about “the name “ This is in opposition to the name; not just to an individual. But in the name of means all that Jesus stood for, - the kingdom of God, the son of God, the Savior, the Redeemer, the resurrected one, the Living God, the one who left us with the H.S. So the reaction against Jesus was not reaction to an individual who threatened the Jews. It was all that He was, it was against the movement.

Now for the very thing that everyone has awaited - the return of the Messiah and the resurrection. I was that man I committed to jailing and agreeing with those to be put to death.

................. 11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing t. This same approach was used during the Inquisition The Inquisition was created through papal bull, Ad Abolendam, issued at the end of the 12th century by Pope Lucius III to combat the Albigensian heresy in southern France [ church heresy. Cathar beliefs are thought to have included a fierce anti-clericalism and the Manichean dualism which divided the world into good and evil principles, with matter being intrinsically evil and mind or spirit being intrinsically good. As a result, the Cathars were an extreme ascetic group. The Portuguese Inquisition held its first auto-da-fé in 1540. The Portuguese inquisitors mostly focused upon the Jewish New Christians. The Inquisition was originally intended primarily to identify heretics among those who converted from Judaism and Islam to Catholicism. After reconquest of Spain from the Muslims there were forced conversion of Muslims to Chrisitanity. The tortures were to expose/execute those who went under a false conversion.These were not abandon The Inquisition was not definitively abolished until 1834, during the reign of Isabella II,

So the point is that when Paul punished those to recant their Christian beliefs these were not mild. This was more than a scolding and a house arrest with an ankle alarm. Torture was not mentioned. but punishment in those days would be considered severe today.

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 26:12–18 (HCSB) Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission 12 “I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“And the Lord replied: ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will reveal to you. 17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them 18 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.’

.... under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests -he is an officer of the court in a war, he is the officially entrusted persecutor for the temple leadership. In the greek “apostolos” means one who is sent forth. Ironic that Paul had been an apostolos for the chief priests and then became transformed into an apostolos for Christ.

Traveling at midday was usually a time for rest because of the heat. For Paul to be traveling at this time of day shows the urgency and importance of his journey. It was also the brightest time of the day

,,,,,speaking to me in the Hebrew language it was traditionally thought that prophets spoke in Hebrew. And in typical Hebrew fashion when someone’s name was said twice it was to emphasized the importance that what was about to be said would be listened and understood by the one addressed. We saw earlier Acts 22:9 (HCSB)9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me....Acts 9:7 (HCSB) 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. So this Paul’s experience with the intense light and sound was witnessed also by his traveling companions. Since this occurred 15 years or so earlier, it is reasonable that some of those witnesses would be available.

Saul, the Hebrew name means “prayed for or asked for.

God himself gave him a new name for a new life of Paul. The name in Greek means “small, humble, or limitedness. Or as a verb remotely mean to retrain or desist.” Renaming has significance and God gave him a new name. A man of focus, commitment, unstoppable, holding fast to the Law and a Pharisee. God is about to change this hard charger into a man who would see himself and deeply repent, a man who would be a servant, and look to only please His master who provided and taught all. A man who had once forcefully crushed any who could be against the God of the Jews, to a man whose whole heart would be given to God and whose heart would be broken for the Gentile and those of His people who reject Jesus.

Jesus asked him why are you persecuting me. Paul knew without a doubt that he was in the presence of an angel who said Don’t you know it is hard..or you to kick against the goads. The goads for a cart was a board mounted on the front of the cart. A young oxen, unused to the yoke harnessing him would kick backward and the goad were sharp point ed l ike a small spear. This would hurt the young oxen each time they kicked into the board with the sharp points. Or in the case of a single ox, the farmer walked behind and it the ox became unruly, the farmer carried a sharpened pole that could be jabbed into the back of the hind legs. It was a pain that could not be defeated and would not stop until the animal recognized who the master was.

Jesus told him who he was. He explained that Saul was hurting others, but by persecuting his family, he was also hurting Jesus. Then Jesus to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will reveal to you. 17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them 18 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.’ What a huge task. This is greater than even Moses or Abraham. God is extracting him from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles and he is going to turn these people towards God, get forgiveness of sin [ no one could do this except for God- Like with Jonah going to unbelievers and be used to turn them around. and an inheritance [share] with those saved. It is a wonder Paul could stand back up. Talk about being wrenched out of your career to enter into the exact thing that you had been in battle against. He would be yanked out from the power of Satan.

The priests sent him out as an official prosecutor, now God sends hims out as a servant [now longer under the temple] and as a witness [no longer a prosecutor

Paul never doubted this confrontation with the Living God, Jesus. He never doubted his authority and purpose through all the trials of the next 30 years of his mission.

Agrippa’s jaw probably dropped hearing this. Agrippa was a third generation ruler, educated in Rome. He well knew deceit and what is meant to grab for power. But he must have seen from Paul’s narrative that this man was different, this man did have this experience, this man spoke truth.

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 26:19–23 (HCSB) 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place — 23 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.” Paul says that he honored the command and preached in Iraq, Syria and all of Judea. This area is under the authority of King Agrippa II- so he has not been teaching in some far off place in secret, but is teaching publicly right under the nose of the king. Yet even though Paul’s message is known before by the King, he stills wants to see the man and judge for himself. Where could such outlandish claims come from, how could this hyperbole spread?

....that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.Paul continued and so he had been teaching people to leave their darkness and turn to God and to do good works that confirmed their life and heart change. James 2:22 (HCSB)22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. James 2:26 (HCSB)26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Ephesians 2:10 (HCSB)10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB) 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists ......

So his trust in God has replace from repented selfishness and is accompanied or evidenced by good works. For this reason they wanted to kill me. BUT God helped me and that is why I am standing here. I testify to all about what the prophets declared an what we all looked for - the Messiah and that he will be the first to be resurrected. [ Others had been raised from the dead, but then they later died.] Jesus would proclaim to Jew and Gentile and that he would be the Word to all.

........22 To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place — 23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead,

OOOOOOOOOO Acts 26:24–32 (HCSB) 24 As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”

25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment. 26 For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”

30 So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains.”

32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

.....You’re out of your mind, Paul! Festus, the Roman had not heard of such things. He exclaimed and interrrupted Paul. But to King Agrippa there would not have been such a shock. Paul says “au contrair” I am completely sane and of good judgement.

...28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” Agrippa’s response was not a serious question, but a redirection. If he said he believed then he would be endorsing the events that confirmed prophecy. He made a semi-joke of this to get out of the corner that Paul had put him in.

Paul took Agrippa’s response as serious and used it to speak about the hope that was available to all.

.......“I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am. Paul presented his wish that they too would want the truth and salvation. But instead they got up to leave- the message of Paul was rejected. There were no followup questions. What would have been the fate of Israel if Herod had accepted Christ? Would the massacre and wars have occurred with the Temple destroyed ???

In the end, everyone other than the Jews, said that this man Paul has committed no offence and he would have been released if he hadn’t insisted on going before Caesar. Paul had been accused by others before in synagogues and the temple. Paul regarded obstacles and problems as nothing. He must go to Rome.