Tag: Acts 26
Obeying the heavenly vision
Scripture reading for June 10: Acts 26
“”Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not 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 deeds in keeping with their repentance. 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 but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ 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.” Acts 26:19-23
Paul, lead by the Holy Spirit, was given the opportunity to share the Gospel with King Agrippa. In this account, Paul again shared how his view of Jesus and those following Him was radically altered by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. During this encounter, Paul was given an appointment to serve Jesus as a witness to his people as well as to the Gentiles. Jesus had promised to deliver Paul from the Jews and from the Gentiles. Through Paul, God would open the eyes of all those in darkness granting repentance through Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:15-18)
In sharing his personal repentance in response to God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to King Agrippa, Paul was obedient to that vision. His world view was powerfully altered and after the vision Paul changed from a persecutor and killer of Christ’s followers to a witness of Christ’s love and mercy for all men. Paul powerfully proclaimed Jesus as the fulfilment of Moses and the prophets through His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead. This placed him in conflict with the Jews, who like him before this vision, considered Jesus an impostor and his followers as dangerous.
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that brought repentance and dramatic conversion? How have you sought to be obedient to that heavenly revelation? Are you aware of the conflict that comes when you change your world view to embrace Jesus and His followers?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your personal revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and my appointment to preach Your amazing Gospel. I have sought to obey that heavenly vision and continue to daily walk it out. Deliver me from those bent on my destruction and use me to reach lost people. Amen.
Preaching repentance!
Scripture reading for June 9th: Acts 26
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 26:20-23 “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. This why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen–that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to His own people and to the Gentiles.”
Paul next stood before King Agrippa and gave his testimony of encountering Jesus. He shared how he was compelled to share this testimony and the Gospel message of Christ’s suffering and resurrection to all who would listen, small or great! His message demanded repentance that was demonstrated by deeds. This message had so affected the Jews that they had tried to kill him and he was no imprisoned. This message was one that Paul shared even with King Agrippa, in hopes that he would repent as well!
Observations for over-comers: The Gospel cannot be preached without conviction of sin and a call to repent! Repentance is always demonstrated by corresponding actions! Over-comers preach repentance and faith in Jesus Christ! “Against You, and You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and Justified when You judge.” (Psalm 51:4)
Is Paul insane?
Scripture reading for June 10th: Acts 26
After hearing the story of Paul, King Agrippa asked to hear Paul personally. The king and his wife came dressed royally and with much fanfare to hear Paul and help Festus determine what charges they might send to Rome for the trial before Caesar. Paul was brought before them and given permission to speak! As a servant of Jesus and one called to preach, Paul seized the opportunity to share his testimony with this influential but unsaved king and his wife!
Paul was very polite and appealed to the king for patience as he shared his story. He shared how he was raised in the strictest sect of the Jewish community as a Pharisee, who believed in the resurrection of the dead as promised by God. Paul shared how he initially opposed Jesus of Nazareth, whom His followers proclaimed had been raised from the dead. In fact, he had the followers arrested, imprisoned, and even put to death, thinking Jesus was a false prophet.
On one of his trips to arrest believers, he encountered Jesus alive! Paul shared how Jesus spoke to him and called him to preach the message of repentance and faith in Jesus to the Jews as well as the Gentiles. This is why the Jews were persecuting him. Paul insisted that his message was what Moses and the Prophets had said, “That the Christ would suffer and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to His own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23) When Paul said this, Festus accused him of being insane!
Paul responded that he was not insane, but only proposed what was reasonable. He appealed to King Agrippa, asking if he believed in the prophets! Paul used every opportunity to share the message! We should too!