Paul’s Testimony Before King Agrippa
Paul was imprisoned in Jerusalem due to accusations made by the religious leaders. The accusations were spurious but they stirred up the people which resulted in an uproar in the city. Due to the uproar, Paul was taken into custody by the Chief Captain of the Roman soldiers. Paul asked to address the people and was granted liberty to do so by the Chief Captain. He stood before the people and made his defense. The response from the crowd was their demand that Paul be killed. Concerned for Paul’s safety, the Chief Captain bound him and brought him into the castle.
Paul also appeared before the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish Supreme Counsel with the High Priest as president. This also devolved into great dissension. The Chief Captain, fearing for Paul’s safety, once again, had him removed and brought back to the castle. The Lord appeared to Paul that evening and said the following:
“Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also in Rome” (Acts 23:11).
The Jews “banded together” under a curse to not eat or drink until they killed Paul. The plot was uncovered, and Paul, accompanied by two hundred soldiers, was taken to Caesarea and delivered to the Governor, along with the charges made by the Jewish religious leaders. Paul appeared before Felix, the Governor, and his accusers from Jerusalem made their case before Felix. Paul again made his defenses before the Governor. Felix had some knowledge of Christianity but did not make a decision on the matter at that time. He gave Paul liberty to have his acquaintances have the freedom to visit him, but kept him confined for two years.
Festus now replaces Felix as Governor, and Paul, once again, makes his defense before Festus. The Jewish religious leaders, once again, made accusations against Paul that they were unable to prove. Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to be judged on the charges laid against him. Paul, knowing that they would kill him if he went to Jerusalem, said that he would appeal to Caesar which was exactly what the Lord told him would happen when He appeared to Him earlier. The Lord said, “So must you bear witness also in Rome.”
Paul gave his testimony of his Damascus road conversion with the Lord appearing to him to those who accused him in Jerusalem, and he now gives that testimony before King Agrippa (the second son of Herod Agrippa) who now comes to Caesarea to see Festus. Festus knew that King Agrippa had a better knowledge of Jewish Law than He, and discussed Paul’s case with the King.
Paul now stands before King Agrippa. Paul starts by acknowledging King Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish custom and Jewish Law as his father, King Agrippa 1, was zealous for it when he ruled. Paul’s defense included his background as a Pharisee and his time of persecuting those that expressed faith in Christ including imprisoning them and his effort to get them to turn from the faith that he now upholds.
He then testifies how he was on his way to Damascus, with the authority of the Chief Priest, to persecute those He found following Christ in that city. Paul now comes to his miraculous conversion. He testifies that about midday on the road to Damascus, a bright light from Heaven appeared before him being seen by those that traveled with him. Paul, and all those with him, fell to the ground (the Power of God). The following is his account from Acts:
“…..I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul,, why do you persecute Me? And I said, Who are you?, and He said, I am Jesus Whom you persecute” (Acts 26:14,15).
Paul goes on to testify that the Lord told him that he would use him as a “Minister and a witness” of what had just happened to him and of the things that the Lord would show him. Paul then gives an alter call, so to speak, to King Agrippa. King Agrippa responded by saying “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” The Greek does not make it clear whether he was moved to a place of Faith in Christ, or not.
King Agrippa, after hearing Paul’s testimony tells Festus that Paul could have been freed if not for his appeal to Rome.
The Lord wanted Paul to go to Rome to bring the New Covenant, which the Lord had given to Paul, to all those in Rome. Paul had been faithful through all he had gone through starting in Jerusalem with the accusations of the Jewish Leaders, his appearance before Felix and Festus, and finally standing before King Agrippa to witness to all the Lord had done and point all those who witnessed his testimonies to the Gospel. He had been faithful to the Lord’s calling. He would now testify in Rome to the Lord’s great love for us all by dying on a cruel cross so that those who would hear of it would see the mercy and Grace extended to them.
All who hear the Gospel are affected in some way. Some will harden their hearts against it while others will fall on their knees and thank the Lord for His great love for them. Salvation comes to all those who repent and place their faith in Christ and Him crucified. The Lord said the following before His leaving:
” And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall, the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
Paul, through his journey from Jerusalem to Caesarea and finally to Rome, carried the Gospel with him and testified to the truth of it to all who would listen. This Gospel continues to go out to all those who will hear. It goes out despite persecution, and despite how those we come across receive it. And it stands as the Truth. Those who carry and present this precious Gospel will boldly continue, despite all obstacles, to share the love of God that would seek us out and offer a Salvation that we could not attain on our own merit. He calls all those who call on His Name to, like Paul, testify to all those who will hear.
All, like King Agrippa, have a choice before them. A decision must be made one way or the other. Accept the love that calls you to a new life in Him, or reject it and remain in your sins. The Gospel continues to go forth “to all the world as a witness” just as the Lord said it would. Of this you can be sure, the end will come and all will give an account before the Lord. Choose life today for the Lord paid a huge price that we might have “Newness of Life” in Him.
“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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