Background
The context of this message is that Paul had recently finished his third missionary journey and went to Jerusalem. When he got to Jerusalem, he told James the brother of Jesus and all the church leaders what happened in his ministry where the gentiles turned to God. The Jerusalem church leaders were rejoicing in what God had done. But they did tell Paul that in Jerusalem thousands of Jews and priests had come to the Lord and they wouldn’t be happy about the gentiles coming to faith in Christ.
So, because some Jewish Christians would probably oppose Paul’s ministry to the gentiles, they told him that he needed to do a purification ceremony which he did. He was going to the temple to pay the offering as part of the purification ceremony when there was an uproar by the Jews. The Jews were about to kill Paul until the soldiers rescued him and took him into the barracks.
He spoke to the soldiers in Greek and told them he was a Roman citizen. At this the soldiers listened to Paul, and he requested to speak to the crowd. They allowed this and Paul addressed the crowd in Aramaic. When he spoke in Aramaic the crowd became quiet and listened to Paul.
Paul told them he was a Jew who himself persecuted Christians and dragged them off to prison. When Paul went on to say that his calling was to the gentiles the crowd again became furious. The soldiers took him into the barracks a second time to keep him from being killed.
Then the next day Paul was on trial to appear before the Sanhedrin so the soldiers could get a better understanding of the charges against him. Paul was struck in the face when he said he had fulfilled his duty to God. Not only was he hit in the face, but he had to be taken to the barracks a third time because once again his life was in danger.
After this a plot formed by forty Jews to ambush and kill Paul as soon as he would leave the barracks. The plot was found out and he was taken to Caesarea under heavy guard and imprisoned there. In Caesarea Paul appeared and spoke about the Lord many times before Governor Felix. He stayed in Caesarea for two years. Felix left Paul imprisoned for two years as a favor to the Jews.
After two years Felix was replaced as Governor by Festus. Paul first appeared before Festus soon after he became governor. Festus had asked Paul if he was willing to go back to Jerusalem for trial. Paul knew that leaving for Jerusalem would have meant death since the Jews were still waiting to kill Paul as soon as he was taken back to Jerusalem. Because of the plot to kill him Paul appealed to Caesar.
A few days later King Agrippa came for the installation of the new governor Festus. Festus discussed Paul’s case with King Agrippa and told him that there wasn’t anything that Jews accused Paul of that was deserving imprisonment or death. It was a matter of their own law that this dispute was over because Paul was claiming that Jesus was alive, raised from the dead.
Festus had been at a loss of how to investigate this case and then Paul had made the appeal to Caesar for the emperor’s decision. Paul was now waiting to be sent to Caesar. Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear Paul myself”. So, Festus arranged for Paul to appear before king Agrippa the very next day.
King Agrippa stood in the royal family linage of Kings who had done great harm to Jesus and his followers. King Agrippa’s Great grandfather was outwitted by the Magi and at that he gave orders to kill the boys in Bethlehem and vicinity who were two years or younger in an attempt to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16). His grandfather beheaded John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12). His grandfather also ridiculed and mocked Jesus before his crucifixion (Luke 23:8-12). His father had James the brother of John put to death by the Sword (Acts 12:1-2).
For us to grasp the context of Paul standing before King Agrippa in chains we need to remember how wicked his family had been. They were part of attempting to kill Christ since the birth of Christ. They killed and arrested prophets, apostles, and numerous Christians.
Festus will be there also and this marks two years after Paul reached Jerusalem at the end of his third journey. Paul has now been in the Caesarea prison for two years. The Lord had told Paul that he would be going to Rome to testify in Rome as he did in Caesarea.
The Message
So, the message of Paul began with king Agrippa giving Paul permission to speak. Paul acknowledged the privilege to speak to the King making his defense to the accusations brought against him. He was even more fortunate to be before King Agrippa because he was well acquainted with the Jewish customs and controversies. With that Paul begged the king to listen patiently to him.
At that Paul told them of his background and the way he lived since he was a child. The Jews were well acquainted with him and that he was coming from the strictest of all Jewish sects, the Pharisees. Paul states the real reason he is on trial, that is because of the hope that God has promised. It was the promise God made. This is the hope of the twelve tribes. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Paul explains that he also himself did everything possible to oppose the name of Jesus. And he explained that on the authority of the chief priest Paul himself had put Christians in prison and when Christians were put to death Paul was casting his vote for their death. He told King Agrippa that he went from one synagogue to the next to have Christians punished and he tried to force Christians to blaspheme. That is how obsessed he was of persecuting them hunting them down even in cities outside Jerusalem.
Paul went on to say that it was on one of these persecution journeys that he was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priest. And on the Damascus Road, there was a light, brighter than the sun and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? The voice said, I am Jesus who you are persecuting. Now get up because you will be a witness and I’ll rescue you from your own people and from the gentiles and I’m sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. And from the power of Satan to the power of God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins.
And Paul told king Agrippa that he had not been disobedient from that vision, first to those in Damascus and then in Jerusalem all Judea and to the gentiles. Paul said he preached so they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. And that’s why some of the Jews seized him in the court and tried to kill him.
But God helped him to the very day to stand and testify to the small and to the great alike. He had indeed spoke to the High priest, the Sanhedrin, two governors, Felix and Festus and to king Agrippa. He told King Agrippa that he was not saying anything that was not already in the prophets and Moses about what would happen, that the Messiah would suffer and be raised from the dead and bring a message of light to his own people and to the gentiles.
At this point Governor Festus interrupt Paul and said, you are out of your mind. Your great learning has driven you insane. Paul said, I’m not insane what I’m saying is reasonable and true and even the king is familiar with these things I can speak freely to him. I’m convinced none of these things have escaped his notice because, they were not done in a corner.
Then Paul directly asking Agrippa do you believe the prophets? I know you do. King Agrippa said to Paul, do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Paul replied, short or long I just pray that not only you but all who are listening to me would become like me except for the chains.
Result of Paul’s message to King Agrippa
When Paul finished speaking the king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, and they left the room. They said to one another this man’s done nothing wrong to deserve death or imprisonment. King Agrippa said to Festus he could have been set free if he did not appeal to Caesar.
After this trial Paul was sent along with other prisoners to Rome. It was something Paul desired all along to be sent to Rome. The Lord told him two years previously that he would testify in Rome also. As a result of Paul appealing to Caesar he would remain a prisoner for the entire journey from Caesarea to Rome, including a shipwreck. Then Paul would remain a prisoner in Rome for two more years.
Conclusion
Paul was ready to give his testimony of how he went from a persecutor of Christians to a follower of Christ. Paul was bold to confront King Agrippa with the claims of Christ. Paul even gave an invitation to Agrippa to become a follower of Christ. Given the murderous family history of Agrippa, Paul was putting his life on the line to confront the king in this way.
First and foremost, we must respond to the message of Paul. Do we believe the prophets? Do we believe that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again? We are called to respond to Christ to turn from darkness to light and receive the forgiveness of our sins.
We must be ready to share the good news even if those hearing may be powerful people who do not want to hear the message of Christ. Paul was faithful to his calling. He persevered for two years in prison at Caesarea. He did not let the difficult circumstances divert his of being faithful to proclaim Christ.
Paul was faithful to his calling. He persevered for two years in prison at Caesarea. He did not let the difficult circumstances divert him of being faithful to proclaim Christ. We must be bold and ready to share our testimony and the message of salvation.
