Acts 26:1-11

                                                                     Acts 26:1-11

So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “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. 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! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? “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. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

As Paul begins his defense before Agrippa, he looks back and tells his judge about who he was in the past. When we have an opportunity to share our testimony, it is important to give context to who we were in the past.  This includes the way that we thought as well as the things we did.  This seems to be Paul’s strategy as he begins to share His faith.  It is far less of a defense and much more of a message of salvation.

 

PAUL RECOGNIZES HIS JUDGE: Paul begins by thanking his main audience for the opportunity to share and by demonstrating respect for the persons position and knowledge.  He is speaking before a dignitary, so he treats him with dignity.  He recognizes not only his title but also the experience he has with dealing with the questions of the Jews.  When we have the opportunity to speak we must start with a knowledge of our audience.  It is important to know who they are and consider how we might most effectively reach them.

 

PAUL REMEMBERS HIS POSITION: As Paul introduces himself, he starts with his own position as a member of the Pharisees.  This will give an immediate context and understanding of the group to which he belonged.  He also makes it clear that his belief in the resurrection has always been solid and unchanging even as a follower of Jesus.  If people are going to understand our journey, it is important for them to know our starting point.  Paul started as a member of the Pharisees.  When we share our testimony, it is important to share who we were.

 

PAUL RECOUNTS HIS PERSECUTION: Paul continues to describe the things that he did as a Pharisee. Many times people are members of a group but they only follow their beliefs nominally.  Paul was never nominal about anything.  He tell Agrippa about his hatred of the followers of Jesus and how he persecuted them, judged them, agreed to have them killed, and was actively involved in putting them in prison.  However, his dedication to persecuting followers of Jesus went beyond Jerusalem and he took his commitment to his position to extremes of going to the places where believers were fleeing persecution.  When we share a testimony, we share not only who we were, but some of the things we have done.

 

APPLICATION: Paul is setting the stage for sharing the Gospel in public.  When we have opportunities to share our faith or teach the Bible in public or private, there are some important lessons to remember: Consider and show respect for our audience.  Begin by sharing about who we were.  Continue sharing about what we did before Christ changed us.