Dear Student of the Word,
It's the night before Easter, but I will be out of town all next week, so I thought I would send along this next installment from our Acts study. This particular study is winding down, with only three more studies left until we reach the end. This week, we focus on Paul's speech before the Roman officials before he appealed to Caesar and is sent off to Rome. This week I wrote in part three of this seven-part study:
Study Thirty-Two, Part Three
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
26:24 – Festus was so convicted by the message that he had to do something to discredit it in his own mind and the minds of the listeners. Consequently, he suggested that Paul was insane and a religious fanatic. At some point, Paul must have impressed Festus as a learned man. Yet Festus could not see how a man this intelligent could espouse the resurrection doctrine and be in his right mind. One can see the similarity between Paul’s and Jesus’ journey, for at one point people thought Jesus was mad, too:
When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21).
If they thought Jesus was crazy, then someone will think that you are crazy to follow Him. Who thinks you are mad? Anyone? Are you concerned that they would think that? Are you crazy for Jesus?
26:25 – Paul did not take Festus’ comment personally. He wasn’t offended, because it wasn’t about him; it was about Jesus and the eternal fate of the listeners. It isn’t about you and me, is it? It’s always about Him. If you’re dead in Him, then insults can’t hurt or affect you, can they? Paul simply stated that what he was talking about wasn’t crazy, but sane and rational. Why would it be so incredible that God who created life, can also restore it through resurrection?
26:26 – Paul shifted the focus from him and Festus back to Agrippa, for whom the meeting was convened. Paul tried to move Agrippa to a point of decision, or at least a point where he would acknowledge that Paul was speaking something reasonable according to the Jewish covenant. Paul read his audience well and knew that Agrippa and Bernice were acquainted with what he said—thus Paul spoke so forthrightly.
Do you know your audience when you speak or witness? Are you able to adjust your message to the level of the listener? That is a critical factor in successful teaching and witnessing.
26:27 – Paul continued to try and draw out Agrippa to make a decision for Jesus, tying his message to the Old Testament prophets. The Agrippa line had many witnesses come to them—the Magi, John the Baptist, Jesus and now Paul. God chose to send the very best to them in His mercy and grace. Their ultimate rejection of the gospel was not because they had not heard it or understood it. To whom does God want to send you as a witness? Any one group or family? Does God want to send you to a people group? Will you go?
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volume of The Faith Files.
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