Lesson for August 20, 2025

Paul the Apostle

Lesson 13

Acts 26:1-3, 24-32

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa in Caesarea

Verses 1-3

“Now Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You are permitted to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense: ² ‘Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, ³ especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.’’’

Under Roman law, Paul had appealed to Caesar, which meant a change of venue to Rome and Festus had to provide a report to Caesar that justified Paul’s appeal. Festus could not be seen as incompetent to Caesar, so he had to come up with a reasonable explanation as to why he could not resolve this issue himself, before Paul appealed to Caesar. Festus hoped that after Agrippa had heard Paul, he would have a reasonable explanation for Caesar. Remember, this was not a trial; it was a hearing for the purpose of resolving the dilemma of Festus.

Paul used a customary gesture to begin his defense. Paul was courteous and poised in his opening remarks. The Greek word for defense is “apologeomai” [apo = ultimate source; logeomai = to think], it means to defend oneself against a charge. He was not going to address the false accusations of the Jews, because they had been set aside at a previous court, but he was going to answer from his knowledge of Roman law and his knowledge of doctrine. Some believers think that the Holy Spirit puts something in our minds to speak, but it is really the doctrine that resides in our soul that the Holy Spirit uses, as in the case of Paul. The idea that you don’t have to study the Bible and all you have to do is to wait and the Holy Spirit will give you something to say is ridiculous. God the Holy Spirit assists you in recalling the doctrine you have in your soul.

When Paul was an unbeliever, the Pharisees commended his efforts; now that he was a believer and preaching the truth, they condemned him. It is easy to see why Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles. The Jews rejected his ministry and his message, and were totally antagonistic toward him, always seeking to kill him. Paul began his appeal to the Jews by relating his former “membership” in their religious organization.

Paul’s claim that he was being tried for his theological stance on the hope of the resurrection was correct, but the Jews’ real hate for him was because of his claim that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Prophesied in the Old Testament within the covenants to Israel was this hope in the Messiah. These men were supposedly Old Testament scholars and yet they were blinded by their arrogance to the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

The covenants to Israel were unconditional promises and told the Jews that they had a future (resurrection). These unconditional promises were referred to by Paul in the term “the promise.” In these covenants were the facts that through the “seed of Abraham,” (Jesus Christ), all of mankind would be blessed and that the line of David (Jesus Christ) would reign forever. These covenants confirmed a future resurrection for all believers. Paul referred to them in a way in which the Jews in the court would understand, even King Agrippa.

The Sanhedrin was still observing the rituals of the Mosaic Law. They were still offering animal sacrifices, and in so doing they were expressing their rejection of the Cross. Paul was speaking some thirty years after the Cross, and for those thirty years the Sanhedrin had been blaspheming, because they had been offering animal sacrifices. To offer an animal sacrifice after the Cross was simply to say that the work of Christ was not effective for salvation. Animal sacrifices were an expression of faith and a means of communicating doctrine in the Old Testament, until the time of the Cross. But the Sanhedrin was expressing negative volition toward God by expressing negative volition toward Paul and his message.

Paul was showing them the relationship of the unconditional covenants to Israel and their future, and how they all related to Jesus Christ. He had made the issue clear that only when Jews believe in Christ do they have eternal life and the fulfilment of these covenants. He had made it clear to everyone present that they were in a state of blasphemy because they rejected Christ.

Verses 24-32

^“While Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.’ ²⁵ But Paul said, ‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with truthful and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe. ²⁸ Agrippa replied to Paul, ‘In a short time you are going to persuade me to make a Christian of myself.’ ²⁹ And Paul said, ‘I would wish to God that even in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these chains.’ ³⁰ The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, ³¹ and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, ‘This man is not doing anything deserving death or inmprisonment.’ ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’”

Agrippa was now presiding over the hearing, but at this point Festus interrupted without waiting for Agrippa to turn the hearing back to him. This rudeness was designed to cut Paul right off at that moment. Festus tried to discredit Paul’s message of Paul by saying Paul was insane, which I’m sure made the Jews happy.

Paul, however, had excellent poise under pressure and gave a calm response. I am speaking out with truthful and rational words was Paul’s response. When he used these words, even though he addressed them to Festus, he was obviously talking to Agrippa. Agrippa, being a Jew himself, would understand that Paul was not insane but was presenting a case based on an understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures, which was something that Festus knew nothing about. Since Agrippa understood what Paul was saying, it implied that if he (Paul) was insane, then Agrippa was also insane. Judaism was openly practiced by permission from Rome, and the Old Testament Scriptures were read every Sabbath in the Temple. “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” This statement by Paul revealed that Agrippa accepted the authority of the Old Testament, however he had not accepted Christ as his Savior, as far as we know.

Agrippa replied to Paul, ‘In a short time you are going to persuade me to make a Christian of myself.’ Agrippa’s reply to Paul was one of sarcasm. The word “Christian” was a word spoken in derision. Agrippa had to maintain a front, and he could never be openly identified as a Christian. And for political reasons, he mocked and used sarcasm when Christianity was stated as an issue. Agrippa rejected the Gospel because believing in Christ would have discredited him before the other Jews and before Festus. What Agrippa really said to Paul was “do you think that with just a few words in a short speech you can persuade me to become a Christian?” It was really a question, not a statement. Paul, of course, maintained his desire for King Agrippa, and all those who heard him, to become Christians by believing in Jesus Christ.

Agrippa’s conclusion was that Paul was innocent of all charges, but because he had appealed to Rome, he would not be set free. He would have to be transferred to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. All of this, of course, was God’s plan to get Paul to Rome where he should have already been.