Exposition of Acts: Forceful Proclamation of the Gospel (Trial, Part 3)
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. ABSTRACT
A. APPRECIATION
>>1. PERMISSION
Acts 26:1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
>>2. PRELUDE
Acts 26:2-3 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews today, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. (also Acts 9:15)
B. ABRIDGEMENT
>>1. PHARISEE
Acts 26:4-5 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
>>2. PROMISE
Acts 26:6-7 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! (also Dan 12:2; Job 14:14-15; 19:25-27)
>>3. PARADOX
Acts 26:8 Why does anyone think it incredible that God raises the dead? (Acts 17)
C. ACTIONS
>>1. PURSUIT
Acts 26:9-10 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. (also I Cor 15:9; I Tim 1:15)
>>2. PUNISH
Acts 26:11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried forcing them to blaspheme; in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
II. APPOINTMENT
A. ACCOUNT
>>1. PERCEPTION
Acts 26:12-13 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the road a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those with me. (also Is 9:2)
>>2. PERSECUTION
Acts 26:14-15 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.
B. APPEARANCE
>>1. PROVISION
Acts 26:16-17a But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant [galley slave, under-rower] and witness to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles (also Lk 24:26-27’ Ps 22:69; Is 9:1-6; 52:13-53:12; Ezek 1:28)
>>2. POWER
Acts 26:17b-18 to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they receive forgiveness of sins by faith in Me, and a place among the holy ones.’ (also Is 42:6; II Cor 4:4; I Pet 1:4)
C. AUTHORITY
>>1. PROCLAMATION
Acts 26:19-20 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I didn’t prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing works demonstrating their repentance. (also I Cor 9:16)
>>2. PROVIDENCE
Acts 26:21-23 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Messiah must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
III. APPEAL
A. ANALYSIS
>>1. PREPOSTEROUS
Acts 26:24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are raving like a maniac; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (also I Cor 1:18)
>>2. PREMISE
Acts 26:25-26 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For King [Agrippa] knows about these things, and to him I speak confidently. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this wasn’t done in a corner.
B. APPLICATION
>>1. PROFESS
Acts 26:27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
>>2. PERSUADE
Acts 26:28-29 And Agrippa answered Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for these chains.”
C. ARBITRATION
>>1. PROPOSAL
Acts 26:30-31 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. As they withdrew, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”
>>2. PRONOUNCEMENT
Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”