Pauls Final Defense

Good morning

Introduction

Thank you

Pray

Paul’s Destination

Before we dive into Paul’s last defense, lets zoom out to see the big picture. listen as i read these verses

Acts 23:11 (ESV)

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

Acts 27:23–24a (ESV)

For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.

Can you see the over arching purpose? Pauls desination was Rome.

history tells us that was his final destination

As you have seen over the last few weeks and will see next week Pauls route to his final destination was not direct. All of these stops and starts on the road to ROme had purpose

now Look with me as I read acts 26 and we can dive into this stop on pauls journey to Rome.

Acts 26 ESV

1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 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. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Pauls Mission

Acts 26:15–18 ESV

15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

witness and servant = Paul had to first know jesus

sent out to share the Gospel to gentiles

Paul had to first know jesus to tell about him

This was the case for all the apostles

Mark 3:13–15 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.

It is easy to see that the 11 apostle were with jesus but what about Paul?

this leads me to our next point Pauls inspiration

Pauls Inspiration

His inspiration was obviosly jesus but he didnt spend much time with jesus right??

his time with jesus actuly started before he was a jesus follower

Acts 26:4–5 ESV

4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

Paul had studied and studied the Old Testament and jesus tells us in Luke 24:27 explaisn that the OT is forward telling us about jesus. But paul did not understand that until after he recieved the Holy Spirit because as John 14:26 and John 16:13 say the spirit helps teach and lead people into truth

Paul was also taught by Jesus himself

Galatians 1:11–12 ESV

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul took this revelation very seriously because just before these verses he tells the church at Galatia 2 times in verse 8 and 9 that if anyone else comes to them including himself to let them be condemned.

Pauls Declaration

Acts 26:19–23 ESV

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

paul proclaimed the gospel — part of it is in 23 and the rest is in verse 20

verse 23 is the work finished and verse 20 is the response

Finished work Col. 2:11-14; Isa. 53:3-5 FAITH

Response is not works save you it is… living as a new creation its keep jesus commands

Pauls Invitaiton

Acts 26:26–29 ESV

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.”

pauls invitation was clear it was to become as he was it was to follow jesus becuase he is savior and lord.

it was not choose jesus, it was not ask jesus into your heart.

it was become as i am an Paul was a man who wanted to kill christian then he met King Jesus and Paul yielded his life to him. Paul laid down his life so that he would be jesus. Paul became a servant of Christ. his life was no longer about himself it was Jesus life

Application

This leads us to the closer of our message today . how does this apply to us?

Your destination

we all have a Rome.

Heb. 9:27 says “27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”

we like paul might have many more stops headed to our Rome but we also might now. as you go, what is your Mission

Your Mission

is it to make alot of money? be the best at this or that? our mission should be the same as Pauls. our mission should be to know and spend time with jesus and to live for him doing what he says!

Your inspiration

doing what Jesus says should be our Inspiration. that requires that we spend time with jesus by reading the bible

the bible is how we know jesus. All of it.

where does your marching orders come from?

are you listening to jesus?

Your Declaration

if you are listening to jesus then you will be speaking about jesus

2 Cor. 4:13-15 make it clear that christian speak because they believe! if you are a silent christian you better check your inspiration because you might now be a christian.

jesus followers speak about jesus! they invite other to follow him!

this leads us to our invitation.

Our Invitation

today the invitation is simple. Follow jesus. He is Lord, will you submit your life to his and begin live a life like paul did all in for jesus? if you are worried that you arent good enough guess what no one is that why jesus died on the cross. if you are worried that God wouldnt except you becuase of the things you have done? Stop worrying jesus left those things on the cross some 2000 years ago! today i invite you to turn control of your life over to Jesus and begin following him. Life Paul, stop kicking against to Goad and submit to jesus.

And today for us who are jesus followers, i prayer that something that what said today has strengthened you or encouraged you and taught you sometime that you can use in your journey to your Rome.

let me pray.