Illus: He was not like some of these politicians, they go to one part of the country and give one speech, then they go to another part of the country and say just the opposite.
This “old time” religion that the Bible speaks about is good for everyone.
It is good for the youth, the baby boomers, it is good for everyone!
In this scripture passage today, notice, Paul preached the same message whereever he went. He did not even change it for kings.
Let’s look at this passage. Here is what we see:
I. PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HAPPINESS
Look at verses 1-3, we read, “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 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: 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 was thrilled to be able to speak to King Agrippa.
And he tells us he is excited about the opportunity of speaking to him for two reasons:
(1) HE COULD SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.
Look at verse 2. We read, “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:”
Every preacher knows the joy of being able to speak for themselves, rather than have someone to speak for them.
Illus: Sometimes when preachers and missionaries go on the foreign field, they have to preach with an interpreter. As he speaks, and as the interpreter speaks, he can only hope and pray the interpreter is saying what he is saying, because he has no way of knowing.
And the same thing holds true in the every day life of a preacher and a missionary. They can only hope people are saying nice things about them, because they have no way of knowing.
Many things were said about Paul that were not true, and Paul told King Agrippa that he was happy to be able to speak for himself.
He was also happy for another reason. Why? Because-
(2) HE COULD SPEAK WITH ASSURANCE.
He knew as he spoke to King Agrippa, he was familiar with the customs of the Jews.
Look at verse 3. We read, “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.”
It certainly helps when we talk with someone, if they know a little about the subject we are going to be talking about with them.
Paul was happy that King Agrippa did know about the many customs of the Jews.
So he said in verse 3, “…wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.”
PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HAPPINESS, but also-
II. PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HOPE
Look at verses 4-8. We read, “My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
And now I stand and am judged for the HOPE of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 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. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?”
Paul wanted to establish before King Agrippa that he was a Pharisee.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
It was important, because the two primary groups opposing Paul were the Pharisees and the Saducees. And they had some major doctrinal differences.
The Pharisees believed in miracles and the Saducees did not.
So naturally a Pharisee could believe in the miraculous resurrection because they believed in miracles.
But the Saducees could not believe in the resurrection because they do not believe in miracles.
But Paul knew that King Agrippa knew about this doctrinal difference among the Jews, and this is why he is happy to appear before King Agrippa.
Establishing this difference before King Agrippa that he knew about, Paul was revealing why he was brought before him. He was HOPING since King Agrippa knew about this familiar problem, it would shed some light on why he was being brought before him.
PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HOPE, but also-
III. PAUL SPEAKS OF HISTORY
He does this for a reason before King Agrippa.
He wanted King Agrippa to know he was not always a believer.
IS THAT IMPORTANT?
Yes, it is very important.
Illus: For example, if I was witnessing to a Mormon, but since I have never been a Mormon, what I had to say would not mean very much to him.
But if I once was a Mormon, and I ranked high in this group, what I had to say would have some impact.
Paul once ranked high among the Pharisees, and he wanted King Agrippa to know that.
Look at verses 9-23. We read, “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 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. 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. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 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. 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. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 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; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 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. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But showed 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. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 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: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
As Paul stood before King Agrippa, he wanted him to know he always did not believe in Christ.
Illus: J. Vernon McGee said, “The Lord Jesus has never had an enemy more bitter and brutal than Saul of Tarsus.”
This is true, Paul hated Christianity and he saw how they were growing, and he wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth.
Paul was interrupted in his presentation by Festus.
Look at verse 24, we read, “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.”
In other words, “Paul you are crazy!”
None of us like to be told we are crazy, but look how pleasant Paul was when he responded to him.
Look at 25-26, “But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 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.”
Paul recognized that one of the best ways to deal with people is through kindness.
This is something we need to learn as Christians.
Illus: Fighting rush-hour traffic from suburban Maryland to Washington D.C., can cause its share of near misses and irritating moments.
One morning, a young lady darted her compact car from a side street into the stream of traffic immediately in front of a driver just a few car lengths ahead of me, forcing him to brake sharply. He avoided hitting her by inches and was obviously furious.
Within seconds, traffic stopped at a red light, and I watched him pull up behind the offender, leap from his car, and stride angrily toward hers. Clearly, he intended to give her a royal bawling out.
Seeing him coming, the very attractive young lady jumped from her car and ran to meet him--a big smile on her face! Before he could say one word, or know what was happening, she had thrown her arms around him, hugged him tightly, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips!
Then she was back in her car and driving away, leaving her antagonist standing in the middle of the street, still speechless and looking somewhat confused and embarrassed--but no longer angry! (B.R. Holt, Caldwell, ID. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare.”
Now I would not suggest we show this kind of kindness, but kindness can sure take the wind out of someone’s sail when they are angry and rude.
If anyone has ever had debate training, you know one of the ways to get your enemy off track is to make them ANGRY!
Why? When we get angry, it affects our blood flow and we can not think correctly.
Illus: Have you ever gotten angry and when you calmed down, you thought of something you wish you had said in the midst of an argument? But you could not think of it when you were angry.
Illus: Probably one of the best religious debaters in America is Dr. Jerry Falwell. There is a lot about him that many of us do not agree with, but when the man debates anyone on national television, he is so calm and kind.
Paul had this same wonderful quality. Festus just told him he was a MAD MAN, but he turns around and addresses him as, “…Most noble Festus.”
But he recognized that King Agrippa is a more reasonable man, and in wisdom he turns his attention to him.
He said to King Agrippa, in verses 27-29, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 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.”
There are those who believe that when King Agrippa said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”, he was being sarcastic.
But I respectfully disagree. Why? Because of the thing he said in privacy afterward.
If he was being sarcastic, he would have probably said, Festus is right! This man is a mad man.
But that is not what he said after Paul appeared before him.
Look at verses 30-32. We read, “And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”
It seems clear from the scripture passage, that Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa was reaching his heart.
But what is sad is this, he said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
We do not have any record of where he ever was fully persuaded.
Conclusion:
Some people walk up to heaven’s gate, they are almost persuaded but never persuaded.
Listen, if you miss heaven by an inch you might as well miss it by ten miles.
We looked at:
I. PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HAPPINESS
II. PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HOPE
III. PAUL SPEAKS OF HIS HISTORY
