12. READ: ACTS 26:1-29
[Acts 26:1] "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You have
permission to speak for yourself.'
"So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:
[2] 'King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand
before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations
of the Jews, [3] and especially so because you are well acquainted
with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you
to listen to me patiently.
[4] "'The Jews all know the way I have lived ever
since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own
country, and also in Jerusalem. [5] They have known me for a long
time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the
strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. [6] And now
it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that
I am on trial today. [7] This is the promise our twelve tribes are
hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.
O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.
[8] Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises
the dead?
[9] "'I too was convinced that I ought to do all
that was possible to oppose the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. [10] And
that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief
priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put
to death, I cast my vote against them. [11] Many a time I went from
one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to
force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went
to foreign cities to persecute them.
[12] "'On one of these journeys I was going to
Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
[13] About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from
heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
[14] We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in
Aramaic [or 'Hebrew'], "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute
Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
[15] "'Then I asked, "Who are you,
Lord?"
"'"I am Jesus, Whom you are
persecuting," the Lord replied. [16] "Now get up and
stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a
servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I
will show you. [17] I will rescue you from your own people and from
the Gentiles. I am sending you to them [18] to open their eyes and
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to
God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among
those who are sanctified by faith in Me."
[19] "'So then, King Agrippa, I was not
disobedient to the vision from heaven. [20] First to those in
Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the
Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God
and prove their repentance by their deeds. [21] That is why the
Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. [22] But
I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here
and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond
what the prophets and Moses said would happen-- [23] that the
Christ [or, 'Messiah'] would suffer and, as the first
to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to His own people and
to the Gentiles.'
[24] "At this point Festus interrupted Paul's
defense. 'You are out of your mind, Paul!' he shouted.
'Your great learning is driving you insane.'
[25] "'I am not insane, most excellent
Festus,' Paul replied. 'What I am saying is true and
reasonable. [26] The king is familiar with these things, and I can
speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped
his notice, because it was not done in a corner. [27] King Agrippa,
do you believe the prophets? I know you do.'
[28] "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think
that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a
Christian?'
[29] "Paul replied, 'Short time or long--I
pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today
may become what I am, except for these
chains.'"
a. What did Jesus send Paul to do?
b. What did the Lord say the people would receive?
c. What did Paul preach that people should do?
d. What was Paul trying to persuade his listeners to be?
