LISTEN TO ME PATIENTLY
Text: Acts 25:23-26:3
Introduction
1. “Speak softly, those who cannot hear an angry shout will strain to hear a whisper.” (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/353321533250199014/).
2. Now, I know that not all of you are on social media, but I think this, is something that all of us have met in one way or another. But I see too many Christians on social media getting into arguments on matters of faith and theology. Yet, I have not seen anyone come to faith in Christ because of these arguments.
3. Read Acts 25:23-26:3
Transition: Let’s look at how Paul dealt with people who needed to know Christ.
I. Just Hear Me Out
A. So, last week, we were introduced to a lovely brother and sister, Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. For those who couldn’t be with us last week, they were not nice people. Now, they get to meet Paul.
B. Luke tells us in v. 23, “So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.”
1. What a scene this is, and you can imagine what it looked like. If you saw Queen Elizabeth’s funeral or King Charles’ coronation, you know what Luke means when he refers to pomp.
2. The Greek word for “pomp,” means “pageantry” or “outward display.” The word that is used here is where we get our English word “fantasy.”
3. Amid all this display and bling, comes the Apostle Paul, who has been in jail for two years, in chains and probably not looking his best, considering his circumstances.
4. However, there is another side of the story that is easy to see.
5. While they may have out shined Paul on the outside, on the inside he is far above them from an ethical and spiritual level.
6. As Jesus put it, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.” (Matt. 23:27).
C. The Governor, then opens the proceedings by saying, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.”
1. Festus begins by telling the King and his sister all about Paul as he knew it.
2. He tells them how the Jewish leaders brought him up against charges, and how they wanted him to put to death.
3. However, Festus, like Felix before him, found Paul innocent of anything deserving death.
4. Paul had lived a life of integrity and hadn’t broken any Roman laws. However, since Paul had appealed his case to Caesar, Festus had decided to send him to Rome.
5. This was something important for Luke to communicate, because at the time of his writing, Christians were being sentenced to death by Nero, and it was important for people in his day to see that Christians weren’t doing anything deserving of death.
D. However, Festus had a dilemma. In vv. 26-27 it says, “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
1. The problem that Festus faced in sending Paul to Rome was that he would have to fill out the paperwork. That’s right, paperwork was a problem back then too!
2. The major problem in the paperwork was that he didn’t know what to say. Paul hadn’t broken any Roman laws, and the only thing he was accused of was breaking Jewish religious laws, to which Festus knew nothing about.
3. Since Agrippa and Bernice were both part Jewish, he was hoping they could help him understand Jewish law.
4. This recalls another man of high integrity from the OT, a man named Daniel, who was hated by his enemies, and the only thing that they could come up with against him was that he was a man of prayer.
E. Now it was Paul’s turn to speak and defend himself. In 26:1-3 it says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!”
1. Now, these people should have known not to give a preacher the chance to speak! The door was now open for Paul to not only give his defense, but also to preach the Gospel to a group of people who needed it!
2. In the weeks that follow we will see how Paul took advantage of the opportunity to tell these people about Jesus!
3. But I want you to notice how he begins.
a) First, he compliments them. He acknowledges the King’s position and his insights into Jewish laws and customs.
b) But most importantly, is that he asks them to be listen to him patiently. What Paul is saying here is, “hear me out,” and give me the opportunity to say what I have to say.
4. Here is something we can learn from, we have a tendency when speaking to people about the Lord to get a little defensive.
5. We should follow the example of Paul. Remember the old saying, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Transition: There are some important lessons in this text about sharing our faith with people.
II. What We Learn
A. Speak the truth in love.
1. “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” (Eph. 4:15).
2. If you read the gospels, you will discover that when Jesus spoke to people needing to come to faith and repent of their sins, He did so in a loving manner.
3. “Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (Jn. 8:10-11).
4. Notice two things here. First, Jesus didn’t condemn her. In fact, He told those who brought the woman to Him that if they were without sin they could go ahead and stone her, knowing that none of them met that condition. They were all sinners, just like her.
5. Second, he didn’t condone her. He said to her, “Go and sin no more.” He didn’t tell her what she was doing was okay, rather He told her she needed to stop doing what she has been doing, but He did it in a loving way.
6. He spoke the truth to her, but He did it in a loving way.
7. Remember, that just like the woman caught in adultery, you have a past too!
B. When you talk to people about Jesus, do it in a patient and peaceful way.
1. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19).
2. Notice what James says first, be “quick to listen.”
3. Sometimes we’re so ready to say something that we forget to listen to what’s going on in the other person’s life. Remember, the reason we tell people about Jesus is because we care about them!
4. Next, James says, “be slow to speak.” He’s not saying don’t speak, but to not be in a hurry to say something. Instead, we should wait on the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say.
5. Now, here’s something we can’t miss, James says “be slow to get angry.” I’m sure your mother taught you what mine taught me; “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!”
6. You’re not going to out argue someone into the Kingdom of God! Honestly, sometimes this is hard for me. Sometimes I see something on Facebook and my blood pressure starts to rise. But I’ve learned when that happens, I need to start scrolling. In fact, one time my response to something someone said that aggravated me was, “start scrolling Mark!”
Conclusion
What’s the point preacher? We are called to win souls, not arguments! So, be like Jesus and speak the truth in love.
