Dig In:
Passage: Acts 26
Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
RECAP: Paul is testifying before the pompously eccentric King Agrippa & his sister/wife Bernice. Paul's already appealed his case to Caesar, meaning he will be shipped to Rome, but Agrippa has asked to hear Paul speak.
v1-11 - Paul recounts his early life, and he's been a straight arrow since day one, rising his way up to membership in the strictest social group of all, the Pharisees. A big thing that separated the Pharisees from their rival group, the Sadducees, is that the Pharisees looked forward to a general resurrection of the dead upon the Day of the Lord, while the Sadducees did not believe in life after death. Paul is saying that the resurrection of Jesus ought to be believable by most Jewish people.
v12-18 - Once again, Paul tells of his miraculous conversion experience, and how he's been sent out as a messenger to the Gentiles. The words that Paul recounts Jesus speaking to him have deep roots in the Old Testament: to open the eyes of the blind, bring the lost from darkness to light, and crush the power of Satan with the Power of God (v18).
v19-23 - Paul tells of his experience bringing the gospel on his missionary trips.
v24-32 - Governor Festus isn't buying any of Paul's message, calling him insane (v24), but Paul simply points out that the Gospel is reasonable and logical, and turns his attention back to King Agrippa. Both Festus and Agrippa agree that Paul should not be charged with any crimes, but yet send him on to Rome to face Caesar anyway.
Old Testament Reference -
Isaiah 9:2-7 tell of how the coming Christ would bring light to people walking in the darkness.
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions. For every comment or reply you post, you will receive an entry for this month's prize: a gift certificate to Seed & Stem 12:27
Imagine that like Festus and Agrippa you were hearing the gospel message for the first time as Paul spoke. Which of his words would have stood out to you the most?
Why do you think the message of the resurrection of Jesus is so offensive to people, as it was to Festus in v24?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God, who raises the dead (v8)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will continue to help you understand how true and reasonable the Gospel is, so that you might be able to share it effectively (v25)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
