Perspective And Persuasion (March 20, 2009)

ACTS 26: 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." 29 And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

PERSPECTIVE AND PERSUASION

Text: Acts 26:28-29

“Former Michigan State football coach Duffy Daugherty once received a letter addressed simply to Duffy the Dope. A friend asked him, "Didn't that make you mad?" Duffy replied, "The card didn't make me mad. In fact I thought it was funny. What bothers me is that the East Lansing post office knew exactly where to deliver it." (Steve May. The Story File. Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, p. 40). When Festus told Paul that he was out of his mind in verse 24, Paul could have taken offense but he did not. Unlike Agrippa, Festus would not have been familiar with the prophets, like Agrippa because he was not as familiar with the Jewish religion. Paul was speaking soberly about his subject. Paul also called Agrippa’s attention to his own knowledge of the prophets.

PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE

You would think Paul would be more defensive in an offensive way. Why? Paul was in prison for two years before this conversation took place. Was his sentence and imprisonment justified? Knowing his circumstances, you would think he be bitter. How would our spirit be if we were in prison for two years when it was excessive. Consider Paul’s words in the earlier part of Acts 26:5 – 8: "My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead? (NKJV). After two years, you would think Paul would be talking legal issues, but he is witnessing on behalf of the gospel instead.

Paul’s presentation was pleasant. How well is our presentation in the face of adversity? When we face adversity are we as pleasant as Paul was? He was pleasant when most others would have been bitter. If Paul would have been bitter, then the whole situation might have changed. He used the situation to make his presentation an opportunity for witnessing. We can only wonder how things might have been different had he been bitter.

Paul former perspective was that of a persecutor of Christians. Paul was now a persecuted Christian. Paul talks about his past in verses 9 – 18. There is no doubt that the old Paul, when he was known as Saul would probably have handled things differently. He might have wanted an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

THE ALMOST PERSUADED

Did Agrippa refuse to be persuaded because he was afraid of what others would think? Many a man has turned down the opportunity to accept Jesus because they were afraid of what someone else thought. What is it to be Almost Christian? It is to see your need and not confess it. It is to wish to be saved and remain undecided. It is to be at the door, but still outside. (James Smith and Robert Lee. Handfuls On Purpose. Volume X. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1971, p. 221). To be almost Christian is not enough. To be almost Christian is to still be lost because sin is still the master and we know that its wages are death (Romans 6:23). To die without Jesus is to be lost for eternity.

Did Agrippa refuse to be persuaded because he was haunted by his past? "This Agrippa was Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I ..." who had James executed (Acts 12:2) 16 years prior to this moment. He was also the "... grandson of Herod Antipas who had killed John the Baptist and mocked Christ, great grandson of Herod the Great who had murdered the children of Bethlehem". (H. H. Halley. Halley's Bible Handbook. New Revised Edition. (65th printing in 1988). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1927, p. 580). Paul gave his testimony to Agrippa, then he gave an invitation to salvation (Acts 26). Agrippa was almost persuaded.

To be persuaded means that people have to let go of what is holding them back? Our perspective determines whether or not we will be persuaded. It has been said that “God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but the man to fit the robe”. (E. C. McKenzie. 14,000 Quips & Quotes. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990, p. 394). How people do we know who try to spend their lives making the robe of righteousness fit? Trying to make the robe of righteousness fit is like trying to make an oversized square fit into an undersized circle. Our perspective determines whether or not we will be persuaded. Agrippa was almost persuaded. To be almost is like getting near the threshold but never entering the door.