Testifying For Christ Series

LET US PRAY:

Grant us the faith to believe you and trust you fully, for all that you’ve revealed to us in your holy Word. May we be enlightened and encouraged today.

Bless this time, we pray, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

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We have been seeing in the book of Acts the fulfilment of the Lord’s words to Ananias regarding Paul’s life and ministry.

• In Acts 9:15 when Paul was converted on the road to Damacus, the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” ESV

• Since then Paul has been testifying to the Gentiles, and over the past few chapters, the Roman kings, the governors of the Roman provinces.

• The first Gentile ruler Paul met and witnessed to was the proconsul at Paphos in Cyprus, on his first missionary journey in Acts 13. The proconsul believed.

Here in Acts 24 Paul testified before governor Felix, who left him in prison for two years, and then to Felix’s successor Festus, which we heard last week from Bro Lester.

• The trials were not about Paul per se but the message he preached. It’s about Jesus.

• We saw Paul sharing the Gospel with the rulers. 24:24 Felix “sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.”

• Although he was hoping for a bribe, Felix sent for Paul frequently and talked with him (24:26). Knowing Paul, the conversation would have covered matters of his faith.

Festus too had the chance to know about the Way from the initial trial he had.

• He reported to Agrippa when he visited that it was “about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” (25:19)

• And now, with King Agrippa and Bernice here visiting Festus, they would be hearing again the testimony of Paul and the message of the Gospel.

And it didn’t stop here because eventually Paul would be seeing the King, the Emperor of Rome, for he has appealed to Caesar.

• Just as the Lord has said, Paul would be His chosen instrument to proclaim His name to the Gentiles and their kings. (9:15) We see the fulfilment of God’s will in his life.

• If we obey the Lord and do His work, we are fulfilling God’s will for our lives.

Acts 25:13-22 13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.

16“I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice came to visit Festus. He was was the governor of the region North of Judea.

• Agrippa II was the great-grandson of King Herod the Great (who ruled at the time when Jesus was born);

• His father Agrippa I was the one who persecuted the church in Acts 12, when the apostle James was killed.

• Agrippa II was the last one from the Herod dynasty to rule. Bernice was his sister but they had an incestuous relationship.

Paul has appealed to Caesar and would stand trial in Rome, but Festus has a hard time penning down the charge.

• The truth is, Paul has done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, or the temple or Caesar, but they have to create a charge sheet.

• Since Agrippa and Bernice were here, Festus invited them to help him.