trial evangelism

Good morning friends,
Today Paul finishes his defense with an evangelical bang. He's already told Festus and Agrippa about his amazing call to ministry on the road to Damascus. Now he tells how he went out in mission to proclaim the good news and how the new thing he proclaims is really only what the prophets said would happen. He ends with a pitch to Agrippa since he expects he already knows about the movement.

When Agrippa asks, half mocking and half disbelieving, if Paul is trying to make him a Christian, Paul tells the truth: he wants everyone to believe in Christ. As he tells us, Paul's mission is to proclaim God's love in Christ to a wide range of people, "to both small and great." His ministry has brought him to trial and even that is an opportunity for testimony. For Festus and Agrippa the irony of the situation is that, rather than setting him free, Paul's appeal to the emperor is now what is holding him prisoner as he waits for the voyage. Of course, for Paul the travel ahead will also be a ministry opportunity. Lord, give us eyes to see how we can reach out in love to others too.

Blessings,
Sam


Acts 26:19-32
19“After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23that 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.”

24While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” 25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 26Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

28Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” 29Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; 31and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”