Continuing from Acts 25, king Agrippa has come with his wife 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.
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 his long story is why he asked for his patience.
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.
Acts 26:6] And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
[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.
Acts 26:8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
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 that.
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 Steven. Imprisoned the Apostles that he could find.
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.
He chased them to Damascus, and was going to arrest and bring them back to Jerusalem.
Acts 26:12] Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Speaking of 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.
[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. Notice his destiny also includes “opening the spiritual eyes of the blind.” All for Salvation to the world for repentance.
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.
That was what I did after speaking to the Christ, what would anybody do differently. Obey the word of the Lord.
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 throughout the scriptures.
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.
Does king Agrippa also know the Psalms, did he know Psa.22 that would prophesy the death of the Christ. I’m sure he must have known Isaiah 7:14, and it 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 yrs. earlier.
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, being a Roman, could not have known any scriptures called Paul crazy.
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. Knowing king Agrippa knew the scriptures.
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.
Almost persuaded king Agrippa, I think this proves he did, but not in the company of a Roman governor would he admit this.
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 (bounded to the Christ) such as he was.
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 still 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