Acts, Chapter 26 - Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

Outbless Weekly

Acts, Chapter 26 - Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

26 Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

- In Chapter 25, Festus gave an intro to King Agrippa and his wife Bernice and told them that the Jews wanted to kill Paul because of a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive (the entire issue is about the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ).

2 “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

- Paul considers himself fortunate that he is about to make his defense before King Agrippa

o This implies that he knows the Jewish laws and their religion (he is an expert)

4 “So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.

- Paul declares “all Jews know my way of life since my youth”

o Which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem,

o Since they have known about me for a long time (his whole life)

o If they are willing to testify (tell the truth)

§ That I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion

§ In other words, Paul diligently followed God’s laws given to the Jews

§ These facts make Paul as Jewish as it gets

6 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day.

o Notice God made a promise to our fathers (the Abrahamic covenant)

For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?

- For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews

o What hope?

o The hope of the promise made to Abraham and through all the prophets

- Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?

o In other words, you should have known this is possible and would happen

9 “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death.

o Jerusalem means “in awe of peace”; “teaching peace”

o Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”

o Nazareth means “one separated” or “set apart”; “sanctified”

- And yet the names described in this paragraph tell the Gospel story:

o They were teaching peace with God (they were in awe of the peace available0

o That Jehovah is salvation (God saves)

o That Jehovah sent Jesus for the exclusive purpose which is why He came

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