November 17, 2024 - Acts 26:19-26
November 17, 2024
Acts 26:19-29
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. To the Romans, the Emperor was god.
2. In the mind of a Roman, resurrection was beyond the power of any god.
3. Agrippa II, the one to whom Paul defended himself in Acts 26, was the great-grandson of the Herod who killed the babies when Jesus was born.
4. Agrippa I is sometimes referred to as Herod. He persecuted the Christians in Jerusalem (James was killed and Peter imprisoned. See Acts 12:1-5). He was the father of Agrippa II.
5. During the reign of Agrippa II, politics was complicated. He tried to win the favor of the Jews by contributing to remodeling the temple but was loyal to the Roman Emperor.
6. Herod, Agrippa I, and Agrippa II were of Jewish descent.
7. Paul was bound and imprisoned by physical chains; Festus and Agrippa were spiritually bound and imprisoned by sin.
8. The gospel will be rejected by many.
9. Many believe the gospel to be irrational, you must be crazy if you believe that.
10. Paul’s goal was to persuade people to repent and turn to Jesus.
11. Paul used every situation as an opportunity to tell about Jesus.
12. Luke wants us to know that all who have encountered the Risen Christ are commissioned to be a witness for Christ. Dr. Don Laughlin
13. Luke wants us to know that God did not coddle the early church. Dr. Don Laughlin
14. Those with earthly power over Paul:
Jews from Asia- initiated the attack and charges against Paul in Jerusalem that landed him in prison (Acts 21:27).
Felix- The Roman governor of Judea at the time Paul was put in prison. He left Paul in prison for two years because he was hoping for a bribe (Acts 24:26). He ruled from Caesarea.
Festus- Succeeded Felix as governor of Judea. He left Paul in prison in order to do the Jews a favor (Acts 24:27). As a Roman unfamiliar with Jewish disputes, he sought out the advice of Agrippa II regarding Paul’s case. He ruled from Caesarea.
Agrippa II- The last of the Herodian kings. The emperor, Claudius, had given Agrippa II rule over the temple in Jerusalem and the right to appoint the high priest. ESV note
15. Application:
Physical restraints need not restrain our witness for Christ.
The gospel can not be chained.