Salvation For All (Acts 26)
What have you made your life about, and does that matter? Living where we live and having what we have makes it easy for us to focus on material possessions and be utterly oblivious to God’s purpose for us. Our scripture reading was critical.
Titus 2:11–14 (ESV) — 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
God didn’t save us to be a self-serving people. He saved us to be zealous for good works. There are people all around us every day who don’t know God.
When scrolling Facebook and someone poses a spiritual question or makes a statement with spiritual implications, we can think, “They don’t want to hear what I think.” We can scroll by, not realizing our tactful response could help them. That was an opportunity.
When we are in line at the grocery store, and someone is kind enough to start a conversation with us, that’s an opportunity to invite them to come and see the truth of the gospel. But perhaps we just keep the talk small and look at our phones. We let the opportunity slip by. Why do we do that? No one cares, right?
Today, we will study Acts 26 to learn how Paul was zealous for good works. He cared about those around him enough to speak up. He used his opportunity to speak to a king. In Acts 9, Paul was told that he would one day testify for Jesus before kings. Today, we learn about one of those opportunities. Let’s study it to see what he did with it and, hopefully, learn something we can take into our week.
Opportunity?
In the book of Acts, Paul has been imprisoned for two years thanks to wicked Jews and immoral Roman leadership. Can you imagine the internal frustration that Paul went through? He could be doing so much more if they let him go free. But Felix, the Roman governor, has refused. It turns out that this governor also mismanaged his authority and created a lot of rioting, resulting in violence in Jerusalem. So he is removed from being governor, and Festus, the new governor, is in.
Maybe Paul could get treated better under new leadership. No. Festus doesn’t want to do anything that will rile up the Jews. He wanted to make the Jews happy. So, when they ask for Paul to be sent to Jerusalem, he is ready to comply, handing him over to the Jews who want to kill him. Festus wants to do the Jews a favor, but Paul appeals to Caesar. As a Roman citizen, he can make this appeal, and the governor has no choice but to send him to Rome.
Acts 25:9–12 (ESV) — 9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
A few days later, the king of that region, Agrippa, comes to welcome Festus, and Festus uses this opportunity to seek his advice. He is in a tight spot. The problem is that he cannot think of how to explain all this to Caesar. So, he asks Agrippa for help, and Agrippa asks to hear from Paul. Here is Paul’s opportunity to speak to a king.
If this were us, we might grow very frustrated by all of this. We might not even want to try. Until this point in his journey, Paul has had success sharing the truth throughout the regions of the Gentiles. But it seems like all of the rulers Paul has met since he was imprisoned are unjust. They don’t care about what is true. They care about what is good for them. The tribune, Felix, and Festus have ignored the injustice of holding an innocent man in prison.
Agrippa coming in might allow Paul to argue about all the injustices he has experienced. But consider who this Agrippa is. This man is the son of the man who beheaded James and tried to kill Peter. He’s the grandson of the man who allowed Jesus to be killed and the great-grandson of the man who killed babies to try and kill Jesus. To say that the odds are bleak is an understatement.
Agrippa himself is not morally righteous at all. Bernice, his companion on the trip, is his sister, and rumors have swirled about their incestuous relationship. Is this an opportunity or a waste of time?
Paul’s Testimony
But the fantastic thing is that Paul sees it as an opportunity. It’s as if all that background information doesn’t matter to him. This is the point at which Paul comes in and shares his story. This is his big opportunity. After all, he is standing before the king. What’s he going to do? Complain?
Acts 26:1–3 (ESV) — 1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “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, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Notice that he is calm, relaxed, and collected. He even sounds excited to speak with Agrippa, and he compliments him.
Paul’s Journey (4-8)
Paul starts with a summary of the beginning and end of his journey. He was brought up in Jerusalem. He is well known by all of these people because they raised him in the scriptures. But he is standing here because he believes everything they have taught him. He believes that God can raise people from the dead. Then, Paul says something interesting. He says, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”
That is a bizarre thing to be upset about, and Paul says this is at the root of their issue with Paul. Paul claims that God has raised one from the dead, Jesus, the Christ. This is a summary of what has happened, intending to draw the listener into his story. Paul wants everyone to understand what he is doing here and how ridiculous this is.
Paul’s Conversion (9-15)
After he says that, he goes back in time to provide more detail. Initially, Paul was against Jesus and all those who profess his name. He locked up people who claimed that he was the Christ. He cast his vote against them and wanted them killed for their beliefs. He was one of the most zealous against them.
But then Jesus, who Paul thought was dead, appeared in glory before Paul. He could not deny these beliefs any longer. He was forced to submit to him and believe in him.
Paul’s Commission (16-23)
Then, Paul tells them how Jesus did not just forgive Paul. He gave him a mission to spread the news everywhere.
Acts 26:16–19 (ESV) — 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
This text tells us the mission of Paul. Jesus wanted him to be a witness to the fact that Jesus is alive. Jesus thought it would be a great idea to take the biggest enemy of his kingdom and make him the greatest asset. Notice what Jesus says he is going to do through Paul. He says Paul will “open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.
This is an image of the world around us. They are in darkness. I remember times when I was studying for a test or something and using the light coming in from the windows to see what I was reading. After about an hour, it got darker and darker, but I didn’t notice it. Then, my mom would turn on the light, asking, “Why are you sitting in the dark?” I didn’t know how dark it was until the light came on. That’s the picture of what Paul is doing for the people around him.
Paul seizes every opportunity to turn the light on and help people see they are in darkness. God wants him to do that through spreading the truth of the gospel. He chose to obey that command, and God has protected him in his endeavor. That’s why he’s here.
Acts 26:21–23 (ESV) — 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 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: 23 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.”
Paul wants everyone to see the truth about who Jesus is. Considering the opportunities that lay before us, I think it’s essential to notice that people around us are in darkness. We aren’t here to make their life comfortable. We aren’t here to be friends and show them how to enjoy life. We are here to show them the light of the gospel. When we turn on the light for them by sharing God’s word with them, they have a choice. They will submit to it or say, “Shut that light off!”
The Result
Unfortunately, many will say, “Shut that light off!”
Acts 26:24 (ESV) — 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”
Do you see how people will respond when we try to take advantage of that opportunity? Doesn’t that make you feel kind of funny when people mock you? It makes us question whether we should have said anything at all. Friends, we are likely to face this level of scrutiny. When we proclaim what is good and right and true, we will be called crazy. When we call sin sinful, people think we have lost our minds. But God’s word says what it says. God’s word is the light.
Acts 26:25–28 (ESV) — 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped 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 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
Paul doesn’t fold. He doesn’t give up because he faces a little resistance. He keeps on proclaiming the good news that Jesus is God’s fulfillment of the prophets. This is the light that has come into the world. He wants these men to know the light and to come out of the darkness.
Agrippa’s response shows that he knows what Paul is trying to do. His words show that he is amazed by that. He says, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul has no issue with convincing people of the truth immediately. He’s making the most of this opportunity. Who knows how much time he would have to work on Agrippa? He’s willing to try the long game, but that’s not what he’s looking at here.
What’s Most Important?
Notice Paul’s response to Agrippa.
Acts 26:29 (ESV) — 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
We can see that Paul is willing to speak in any circumstances that the eyes of the lost can be opened. He doesn’t hold their evil against them. He sees them as in the dark and wishes they could come to the light. His war is not with evil people. His war is against Satan.
Our Mission
As God’s people, we are also called to this attitude and love for the lost. We must recognize that people around us cannot see they are in darkness until someone turns the light on. Do we long for the light to spread to all those around us? Are we feeling the urgency in the more brief opportunities?
In this text, Paul shows us that he trusts God’s transformative power to change lives. He persists in a situation that seems hopeless. Why? Because Paul has experienced tremendous transformation. He knows what God can do to change the hearts of men, and he has hope that it will happen as he spreads his testimony and the gospel.
We need that same mentality. We need to trust that God can change people’s hearts. We need to believe that sharing our testimony, the way God reached us and helped us come to believe, shines a light for others to see their way out of the darkness.
Do you know that you have lived in the dark? Do you understand that you are under the power of Satan and that your current way of life will result in spiritual death and judgment for eternity? There are many souls here today who don’t want that to happen. Please don’t call us crazy and reject the truth. Don’t turn the light off. Repent and accept God’s call for your life before it’s too late.