Paul's Life Story Series

Acts 26 v. 1 - 32 Paul's Life Story

I. Paul’s Company - He Loved The Lost

1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.

i. Festus the governor – He had no accusation to write to Caesar against

Paul. (25:26) This was a dilemma to him. To send a prisoner to Caesar

without formal charges against him would underscore his

incompetence and imperil his position as a governor.

ii. Herod Agrippa II – The last king of the Herodion Dynasty and also the

last earthly king of the Jews. His father was Herod Agrippa I who

beheaded the Apostle James. (Acts 12) He was only 17 when his father

died. Drusilla, the wife of the previous governor, Felix, was his

youngest sister.

iii. Bernice - She was the “daughter of Herod Agrippa I, and sister of

Drusilla and Agrippa II. She had been married to her uncle Herod king

of Chalcis, and since his death she had been living with her brother

Agrippa in a relationship that was widely rumored to be

incestuous...Later she became the mistress of both Vespasians and

Titus, and lived in Rome.”

iv. Chief captains – These were the military tribunes (or commanders) of

the auxiliary Roman cohorts stationed at Caesarea. Josephus, the

Jewish historian, mentioned in his works there were five cohorts

stationed at Caesarea then, therefore it means that there were five chief

captains present on that day.

v. Principal men - Men of eminence and dignitaries in Caesarea attended

the hearing that day.

2. Paul’s Conviction - He lived a Pharisee

Paul reviews his life as a religious man

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.

“Dogmatic, legalistic, blameless in the law, vengeful”.

3. Paul’s Conversion - He saw a Light

Paul reviews his life as a redeemed man Act 26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and

commission from the chief priests, 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.

4. Paul’s Commission - “He heard a voice.” – (or Call) Act 26:14 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.

1. “They are blind; go and open their eyes”.

2. “They are in darkness; go and turn them from darkness to light”.

3. They are under bondage to Satan; go and turn them to God”.

4. “They are under the wrath of God; go and offer them the

forgiveness of sins”.

5. Paul’s Commitment - “He was not disobedient.” – Act 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 regarded the voice as what it really is – the voice of God. The voice was the voice of God. The call was the call of God. The commission was the commission of God. The word was the Word of God. Paul called that a “heavenly vision”.

6. Paul’s Concentration - He was not mad 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. A . W. Tozer said: “A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. a. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen. b. He talks familiarly every day with Someone he cannot see. c. He expects to go to heaven on the virtue of another. d. He empties himself in order to be full. (Eph 5:18) e. He admits he is wrong (sinful) so he can be declared right. (Righteous) f. He goes down in order to get up. g. He is strongest when he is weakest. (2 Cor. 12:10) h. He is richest when he is poorest. (James 2:5) i. He is happiest when he feels the poorest. (2 Cor 12:9) j. He dies so he can live. (Gal 2:20) k. He forsakes all in order to have. (Luke xiv.33) ”Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” l. He sees the invisible; hears the inaudible; and knows that which passeth knowledge.

7. Paul’s Conclusion - He Challenged the Lost 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. I. Christian - The DESPISED word