Our titles for today’s study are; Verses 1-11 Paul before Agrippa. Verses 12-18 Paul testifies of his conversion. Verses 19-26 Repentance, The Evidence Of. Verses 27-32 Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Continuing from Acts 25, king Agrippa has come with his eldest sister Bernice to meet governor Festus. King Agrippa is not only learned in the law of Moses and the ways of the Jews, but also in Christianity. Paul will exploit this, Acts 26 and verse 1 reads.
Acts26:1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
Paul stretches forth his hands because they are in chains, showing himself to be in bonds unjustly.
Acts 26:2] I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
[3] Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
Paul is going to give the long story is why he asked for his patience. But notice how Paul knows that king Agrippa is an expert in all the customs of the Jews. Let’s go to Deuteronomy 17 and verse 14 reads.
Deu.17:14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
Moses taught that the children of God would ask for a king over them all the way back here in Deuteronomy.
Deu.17:15] Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
We see here that Israel was to never set a king that was not of their own blood, meaning of the Gentiles. Rome had set up all four king Herod’s, Agrippa 2 being the last.
Deu.17:16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
[17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
[18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
This means that he was to write with his own hands a copy of all of the books of Moses.
Deu.17:19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
[20] That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
King Agrippa 2 lived and reigned until 100 A.D. Back to Acts, Paul continues, and verse 4 reads.
Acts 26:4] My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
[5] Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Called into judgement from the very people that I lived with and taught as a Pharisee. Paul writes in Philippians 3 and verse 5 reads.
Phi.3:5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Back to Acts 26 and verse 6 reads.
Acts 26:6] And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
Let’s go to Romans 15 and verse 8 reads.
Rom.15:8] Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Let’s go to the first promise of a Savior from God, through Moses, Deuteronomy 18 and verse 18 reads.
Deu.18:18] I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
[19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Let’s go to Revelation 19 and verse 13 reads.
Rev.19:13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Now let’s go to Titus 2 and verse 12 reads.
Titus 2:12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
[13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
[14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Speaking of course of Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer and our Hope. Back to Acts 26 and verse 7 reads.
Acts 26:7] Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
Even from the law of Moses, it has been written of the Hope of Messiah, the Christ. What is this Hope? The resurrection of Jesus Christ after he was killed by the Kenites. This two was prophesied by the prophet David in Psalms 22 and confirmed by the teachings of Jesus Christ in the gospels. Let’s go to Hebrews 2 and verse 14 reads.
Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Fulfilling the first prophecy in God’s Word, let’s see what God said to the Serpent in Genesis 3 and verse 15 reads.
Gen.3:15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Back to Acts 26 and verse 8 reads.
Acts 26:8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Paul said, even you know this king Agrippa, speaking of course of the resurrection of the dead, that we have life after death. Remember the Sadducees don’t believe in life after death.
Acts 26:9] I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[10] Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
The very chief priest that accuses me is the one that gave me authority to do these things. Put to death, he is talking about Stephen, admitting he gave the word and they stoned him. Imprisoned the saints, he is speaking of putting in jail the Apostles that he could find. Paul is not only giving his testimony before king Agrippa, he is publicly confessing his sins.
Acts 26:11] And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Paul had chased them unto Damascus, and was going to arrest and bring them back to Jerusalem, with the authority given to him by the high priest.
Acts 26:12] Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
We find this in Acts 9.
Acts 26:13] At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
[14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
For the first time we learn that Jesus spoke to Paul in the Hebrew tongue. Why persecutest thou me? For Jesus dwells within his children. Hard to kick against the pricks, is when the herder of the cattle has a stick with a nail fashioned to the end of it, driving the nail deeper into the flesh of the cattle.
Acts 26:15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Paul’s destiny, he was chosen and sent to the kings, house of Jacob, and the Gentiles. Acts 9:15. Notice his destiny also includes opening the spiritual eyes of the blind. All for repentance and Salvation to the world. Paul’s destiny was proclaimed long ago, let’s go to Isaiah 35 and verse 4 reads.
Isa.35:4] Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
[5] Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
This is Ears to hear and eyes to see. Now let’s go to Isaiah 42 and verse 6 reads.
Isa.42:6] I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
[7] To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Do not overlook the compassion of the LORD, he will hold your hand. Let’s go to Romans 8 and verse 8 reads.
Rom.8:8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
[10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
We learn in 1Corinthians 15:50-55 quicken means; makes alive and that mortal speaks of the soul. Back to Acts 26 and verse 19 reads.
Acts 26:19] Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
[20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Paul obeyed the Word of God, Jesus, and was sent on a threefold ministry. First to the Jews, then to the Gentiles, and now, to the kings. Agrippa being only the first of the kings that Paul would be sent to. Remember, Paul, you’re going to Rome.
Acts 26:21] For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
[22] Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
King Agrippa knows the law and prophets. He knows that it was prophesied long ago in the scriptures that the Messiah would come.
Acts 26:23] That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:6, we covered it above. Remember it said in the beginning of this lesson that king Agrippa was learned in the Word of God, speaking of the law and the prophets. He would have to have known Psalms 22, the crucifixion of the Messiah and Isaiah 7 and verse 14 reads.
Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel, God with us. written about 500 years earlier. Let’s go to where Jesus found certain disciples walking to the hot springs, after his resurrection, and taught them, Luke 24 and verse 25 reads.
Luke 24:25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
[26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
[27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Back to Acts 26 and verse 24 reads.
Acts 26:24] And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Festus was Roman, Romans thought all religion was superstition. He would never have known the scriptures and called Paul crazy. But, king Agrippa on the other hand knew scriptures, yet was a Kenite. Paul continues.
Acts 26:25] But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
[26] For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
None of this was hidden, but written in the scriptures. Paul simply pointed out to king Agrippa what was written.
Acts 26:27] King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
[28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Paul almost persuaded king Agrippa to be a Christian. Because the Hebrew text proves that Christ would indeed come and be crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now, was it because king Agrippa was with Festus, a Roman, or because he was a Kenite? I believe Paul almost convinced a Kenite to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. But repentance would then be required of him and we know that most of the Kenites will never repent. Let’s go to Revelation 9 and see how the Kenites in the end times do, verse 20 reads.
Rev.9:20] And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
[21] Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
And Revelation 16 and verse 9 reads.
Rev.16:9] And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
[10] And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
[11] And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
The Kenites cannot give glory to God and repent of their sins. Back to Acts 26 and verse 29 reads.
Acts 26:29] And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Paul said, not only you king Agrippa, but everyone around hearing him, could come under bonds (bound to The Christ) such as he was. Paul teaches us that when we teach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they will put us in bonds. But that when one is in bonds, the whole body of Christ is in bonds. Let’s go to Hebrews 13 and verse 3 reads.
Heb.13:3] Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Back to Acts 26 and verse 30 reads.
Acts 26:30] And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
[31] And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
[32] Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Be of good cheer Paul, you are going to Rome. But the question is, what are they going to say to Caesar? They have an innocent Roman citizen in bonds. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible