Acts Series Chapter 26 Agrippa is a type of mega ministry with all the religious answers putting on a great show. Agrippa thinks Paul is attempting to persuade Agrippa to believe in Jesus. Outline: Paul’s testimony to Agrippa (v 1-32).
Acts Series Chapter 26 Audio
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Acts Series Chapter 26 Audio
My Outline would be “Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa, Acts 25:23 through Acts 26:32. The entire chapter, even part of chapter 25, deals with Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa.
Last time, we saw that Festus replaced Felix as governor. Then King Agrippa came to town. Agrippa represents a type of wealthy, high-profile ministry. He has his own small kingdom and is a respected religious leader. He knows all the correct answers and how to act in religious circles. I want you to picture Agrippa like a man with his own television program—a lot of show, lights, and grand introductions.
As we look at Acts 9:15, we see Paul was told he would testify before the Gentiles, Israel, and kings. He did just that in chapters 24 and 25, and now, before Agrippa, in chapter 26. This whole chapter is about Paul’s public testimony. Agrippa can be impressed and possibly persuaded to believe, but he’s surrounded by other voices—like Festus, who represents the world’s system, and those who support Agrippa’s position.
Festus brings Paul out as the main speaker for the event. The crowd is large. Paul tells them he’s on trial because of the hope he has in God’s promise. He asks Agrippa why it’s so difficult to believe that God could raise the dead. That’s something the scriptures promise. Still, people today find it hard to believe God’s promises, even when scripture confirms them.
During all this, Festus shouts that Paul is crazy because of all his learning. Agrippa, though, isn’t convinced either. He thinks Paul is trying to make him a Christian. In the end, both Festus and Agrippa agree that Paul isn’t guilty of anything wrong, but he’ll still need to go to Rome. That’s precisely what God wanted for Paul.
So I’m asking you to think—where is your Rome? Where does God want you to go? What does He actually want you to do and to become? This is the kind of question you need to keep asking as we continue through this chapter.
Now, let’s look in our Bibles together. I want to go back to Acts 25 and read verses 23-27.
Acts 25:26-27
23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.
24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
I want us to begin in Acts 25:23. Festus gave the command, and Paul was brought into the room. Festus spoke to King Agrippa and everyone else who was gathered there. He pointed out Paul and said that the Jewish leaders had been demanding, both in Jerusalem and here, that Paul deserved to die.
Festus said he found that Paul hadn’t done anything worthy of death. But Paul had appealed to Caesar, so Festus was sending him to Rome. However, Festus was unsure what to write about Paul’s alleged crimes. That’s why he brought Paul before Agrippa. He wanted to examine Paul in front of everyone, especially the king, so he’d have something to tell the emperor. Festus thought it unreasonable to send a prisoner without a clear list of charges.
Let me clarify something in verse 25. The term Augustus comes up. Many people think of Caesar Augustus, but that is not the case here. The “Augustus” referred to in this passage is actually Nero. The name Augustus had become a generic Greek word for emperor. So when you see Augustus here, know it means Nero, not the original Caesar Augustus.
I want you to notice the word “pomp”(Acts 25:23). The text here uses a Greek word, “fantasii,” which is where our word “fantasy” comes from. It means a vain show, an outward display with no substance. Agrippa enters with all this show, this fantasy, and image.
He comes in with pomp and splendor. It’s lights, cameras, action, and a big production. If you think about it, it looks a lot like some modern religious programming. Big names, grand entrances, the whole spectacle. Tonight, on Agrippa’s show, the featured guest is the Apostle Paul. This is Agrippa’s fantasy, and I believe many modern mega-ministries operate in similar ways. It’s all about the show, the kingdom, the image. They know how to act the part, but it often becomes their god.
You’ll have to decide where you see this in the world today. But in this text, everyone is gathered—the chief captains, the city’s important men, the governor, and Paul. It’s a packed house. If you look back at verse 23, you’ll see Agrippa entering with all the pomp, splendor, and fantasy.
Now, I want to say this. I’m all for God’s people having the very best. I believe every church should offer the best possible experience.
Festus steps up and introduces the apostle Paul to the whole assembly. He tells King Agrippa and everyone else that the Jewish leaders have demanded Paul be put to death. But Festus admits Paul has done nothing deserving of death. The problem is, Paul has appealed to Caesar. Festus doesn’t really know what to write about him, so he brings Paul before Agrippa for another look.
Paul decided to appeal to Caesar because Festus wanted to please the Jews. Remember, Festus wished to keep the Jews happy. That made Paul nervous. Paul was not about to let himself be handed over to them. He would rather face Caesar, even if Caesar was like a beast or a harsh ruler.
You remember what Jesus said—give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God. Paul knew that. He would rather be judged by that system than thrown to angry religious People. So he appealed. But the reason he had to go to Caesar was because the Lord wanted him to go to Rome.
Acts 26:1-8
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Agrippa told Paul he could speak for himself. So Paul stood up, stretched out his hand, and began to answer. He started by saying he was glad to speak before Agrippa. Paul knew Agrippa understood all the Jewish customs and questions. Paul asked the king to listen patiently.
Paul described his life. He said he lived his early years among his own people in Jerusalem. All the Jews knew how he grew up. They knew that if they were honest, they would testify that Paul lived as a Pharisee, the strictest branch of their religion.
Now, Paul stood there on trial for the hope God had given his ancestors. He reminded them that the twelve tribes of Israel had waited and served God in expectation of this promise. Paul pointed out that he was being accused because of this very hope.
Paul challenged them with a question. Why would it be so hard to believe that God could raise the dead? That is what the scriptures have always promised.
Let’s think about the scene a moment. When Paul stretched out his hand, that represented the fivefold ministry—the ministry gifts God gives to the church. That was the first thing he showed them, right from the start.
Paul also strongly addressed Agrippa’s background. He pointed out that Agrippa was an expert—a Gnostic, someone full of knowledge. Agrippa was a connoisseur, someone who really knew his stuff. He understood Jewish customs and traditions, and he loved to debate. Paul knew he was speaking to someone who could understand these things and who had the skill to discuss them in depth.
Let’s be honest—there are a lot of Agrippas around today. You don’t have to look far. Turn on the television on a Sunday morning and you’ll find them. They love the big show, the spotlight, the grand production. They seem to know just what to say and how to act. They’ve got the habits down. They can talk religion, but they don’t really have a personal walk with Jesus Christ.
I’m not saying that’s true for all of them. Some may be sincere. But for many, it’s just a job. It’s a way to make a living, and they end up draining God’s people so they can build their own little empires. Their programs and ministries become their God. It’s all about building, about making more, about growing their platform. I see it everywhere.
If we’re honest, a lot of these folks can really talk and debate. They wear all the right clothes. They know the routines. But I think for some, what they’re building means more to them than Jesus does. That’s the danger.
But I don’t want to point fingers at others. I want to talk about the Agrippa in me and the Agrippa in you. It’s easy to notice it in others, but harder to spot in ourselves. That part of me that can quote the Word and debate doctrine. That part that knows how to look spiritual and use the correct language. That part that gets comfortable with routines and religious habits. Is it there in me? Is it there in you? I think it’s something we all struggle with, if we’re honest.
I’ve got to deal with the Agrippa in me, and you have to deal with the Agrippa in you. That’s just the truth of it.
Sometimes, I realize I know a lot more than I actually live out. If I actually became everything I know, I’d see the miraculous every day. I’d walk on water and see the blind healed. My prayer is that the day comes when I live everything I know.
Now, Paul talked about his own life. The Jews knew how Paul lived from his youth up. He was known in his own nation, in Jerusalem, and was of the strictest sect, a Pharisee. And “strictest” means most exact, folks.
Paul’s background is very similar to ours. Many of us were saved early and raised in the church. When you’re born again, you’re a spiritual baby, learning and growing. Later, many of us find our place in our “own nation”—our own denomination, our church tradition—just like Paul did. He said he was in his own nation. Well, so was I, and probably you as well. Later, he said he was at Jerusalem. Now you know Jerusalem comes in two aspects—there’s a natural Jerusalem and a spiritual one.
Galatians 4:24-26
26 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Galatians 4 explains that there are two Jerusalems. One is natural and exists now, and the other is spiritual. At first, Paul was part of the natural Jerusalem. Honestly, I was, too. I grew up in the natural system. When I first started reading the Bible, I read it in a natural way. I didn’t have spiritual understanding yet. How about you? Did you start out in the natural Jerusalem? There’s a kind of bondage there.
Paul uses an allegory in Galatians chapter four. In verse 25, he says that Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to Jerusalem as it exists now. Wasn’t that the Jerusalem Paul belonged to at first? Yes, it was—the one in bondage with her children. When he says “Jerusalem which now is,” he’s talking about a community of people, not just a physical city. Then he contrasts it with the spiritual Jerusalem in verse 26, saying, “Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” That’s a different kind of city —a spiritual community —and not everybody starts there.
So let me ask: which Jerusalem did you start in? Are you moving toward the spiritual? My goal is to help you come out of the natural Jerusalem and enter into the spiritual. I want you to see yourself as a spiritual being. You need to know you are a child of the Father, who is Spirit. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and truth. That means you—you are one of the spirits He fathers. Hebrews also tells us He is the God of spirits. For me, natural religion is empty. I want the spiritual reality.
begin here
Hebrews 12:9
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” ()
Paul was in a natural Jerusalem and then he says that he was of the most straightest sect of our religion. I lived a Pharisee. He was in the most exact sect. Now we could all say that I don’t care what nation you was in. You thought you were in the best one. Didn’t you? I don’t care if it was Methodist nation or Baptist nation or Presbyterian nation or Assemblies of God nation. You thought you were in the best one. You were in the most exact one. That one had the best doctrine. It had the most exact doctrine and you know what you were living? You were living a Pharisee. Just like Paul and we were just like that and then he says in point G that he’s judged for the hope of God. Then he says in point G that he’s judged for the hope of the promise.
Now what I’ve got here for you and I and I spent a lot of time on this hope thing and if I got into this we would we would get no further. But the word hope, elpus, not Elvis. Well it’s elpus. Elpus means exception or confidence and Vine says not exception expectation expectation or confidence and Vine says favorable and confident expectation. So a hope then is an expectation.
Is it cool in here? Turn it up a little bit Rick. So a hope is an expectation. Now what I’ve got you here is what the New Testament hope is about and this by no means exasperates or or takes into consideration all that the Bible talks about the hope.
But I’ve got you ten points and what I want ten points and what I want you to see here is that somewhere in these ten points you will find what you’re hoping for. From one to ten they’re going to progress. The hope of your calling Ephesians 4 because you can’t come unless you’re called. You don’t choose him. He chooses us. Is that right? The hope of salvation number two. The hope of Israel which means the hope of the Messiah or Christ. The hope of his appearing. Now most Christians stop either on four and five because to them the appearing is also the going or the rapture of the church and then they get a lot of teaching about the promises.
Five, the hope of the promise. But there’s more. There’s the hope of the resurrection of the dead. The hope of the gospel. The hope of righteousness which is well the hope of the gospel. Let’s go back to seven.
The hope of the gospel is the fulfillment of all the promises and then the hope of righteousness number eight is the believer’s complete conformity to God’s will. Now that means you’re coming just like him. You’re clothing yourself with righteousness and you are becoming the righteousness of God. You’re becoming just like him.
And nine, the hope of the glory of God. Colossians 1.27 says Christ in you the hope of glory. The Christ in you becomes the Christ on you and we put on Christ. And then number 10, the hope of eternal life.
Now number 10 we’ve always been taught is out yonder one day we’ll get it but the Bible also teaches and Paul says it that we will not all sleep and he says in Romans 2.7 to seek after immortality and eternal life. Now, now I just gave you a whole big mouthful and then on page 180 there’s some descriptions or adjectives of hope. There’s good hope. There’s blessed hope. There’s a better hope but there’s a living hope. And in Romans 15.13 it says we’ve got the God of hope.
In other words, God’s not the subject of hope. He’s the author of it. And then what is hope? In Romans 8.24 it says that we are saved by hope. So hope then is a factor of salvation. In Hebrews 6.18.19 it talks about that we have a anchor of hope for your soul.
What is your soul realm? Talk to me. What’s your soul? Your mind, your emotions, your intellect, your will. Your anchor is in the hope. You can’t keep your mind straight unless you’ve got this hope. But the third one is the main one that I want to concentrate on and it’s the hope of a purifying power. And turn your Bibles to 1 John 3.3.
1 John 3:1 3
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
And then I’m going to try to bring together all that I just threw out. What I want you to see is where is your hope? And I want you to expand your mentality and thinking on hope. Is your hope in salvation? Is your hope in the promises? Is your hope in the resurrection of the dead? That’s good and that’s valid. The majority of the Christian world has their hope in the rapture. That’s not valid. Now let me clarify. There will be a catching away, but it’s not in the teachings of the majority of the Christian world. But their hope is in something like that. Do you know what I’m trying to say? There’s a hope and you’ve got a hope in something. And I gave you 10 things there to try to find where your hope is. And those 10 things are progressive. And I want you to expand your thinking beyond the rapture, beyond the resurrection of the dead, beyond salvation. I want you to expand your thinking into becoming and seeing something that you can have a hope that you’ll be changed and transformed into what he is. And you’ve got a hope that you can become something that you’re not now, but you shall be. And you’ve got a hope of not dying, but living. And you’ve got a hope of eternal life. And you’ve got a hope much greater than anything that any of us have ever began to imagine. We have not yet begun to open up what this thing has in it.
All the treasures of life are in your lap. I didn’t say death. I said the treasures of life.
What is your hope? My hope is to be like him. My hope is to be conformed into an image that when he appears, I look just like him in my Bible.
Look at 1 John 3 and verse 2. Well, let’s get verse 1. Let’s get 1, 2, and 3. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of the children of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the children, or the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be. We’re going to be something that we’re not now. Do you get that part of that verse? We are something now. We’re children now. We’re sons now. But there’s more. There’s something that we shall be, and we can’t quite see it yet, but we hope for it. I have an expectation about it. It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Now, let’s get this right. When he appears, what will we be? Like him. Can he come before we’re like him? We will be like Jesus. Blessed be the name of the Lord when he comes. Somebody will be. Why can’t it be me? Why can’t it be you? Somebody will be like Jesus. And every man that hath this hope. What hope? To be like Jesus. We sing it, to be like Jesus. We don’t even know what we’re saying. And every man that hath this hope in him purifyeth himself even as he is pure. This hope will purify you. This hope will get the fire going in you and burn out all that junk so that you can become like him, so that he can come.
He cannot come. He shall not come. He will not come until there is a perfect man. And I’m not talking about an individual. I’m talking about a plural perfect man, a many-membered man, doing what he did, saying what he said, walking like he walked. Then he’ll come, but he won’t come till. What’s your hope?
I’m back in Acts. That’s mine. My hope is to be like him. And somebody, somebody will do it. There will be a people who will be conformed to that image. Why can’t it be me? And why can’t it be you? But you see, we’ve got this mentality just like these Jews, and point H on your notes on page 180, and we think it a thing incredible. Don’t we? And when somebody begins to teach and to preach a higher level, then we think it a thing incredible. And it was just like these Jews. Did they know, did the Old Testament Scriptures promise to them, did Moses and the prophets promise to them that there would be a Messiah to come, a Christ to come? Did it? Yes, it did.
Deuteronomy 18:15
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
And did the Old Testament Scriptures promise the resurrection of the dead? Did it? Yes, it did.
Isaiah 26:19
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Then why couldn’t these Jews believe that Jesus was that Messiah? And why couldn’t these Jews believe that God did raise him from the dead? For the exact same reason that we can’t believe that we’re worthy to become the perfect man today.
Yeah, these Jews knew that the Messiah was going to come. Yeah, these Jews knew that God would resurrect from the dead. These Jews knew that God would resurrect from the dead. But that was one day out yonder, the next generation. And so when I come into a place and I begin to teach and to preach about the perfect man, when I began to teach and preach about things so far above where we’re at right now, it sounds like I’m out of my mind, just like we’re going to get here in a little while about Paul. What it really is, is that we are projecting it to another day, another generation, just like these Jews did. Somebody’s going to do it. One day, right? Why can’t it be now? Amen.
The only thing, listen to me, the only thing that keeps any of us from becoming what we know where to become is between our ears. Our carnal minds, if we’ll kill that sucker, hang it on a cross, impale it and let it die. And let the mind of Christ come forth from within us. We won’t be like these Jews saying one day.
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” ()
I want to read point H, number two. Well, let’s get number one. The hope of the twelve tribes of Israel was for the Messiah and for the resurrection of the dead. If they would not believe Jesus was the Messiah and that God raised him from the dead, why believe in a Messiah or the resurrection of the dead at all? Why should it be thought a thing incredible that God would raise Jesus? And I want to say the same thing now. If we can’t believe that we can become the perfect man, and if we can’t believe that we are in the time schedule of God Almighty, that right now today, he’s raising up a people to be conformed to an image, why believe in it at all? We’re wasting our time. Did the Bible promise these things to the Jews? Does the Bible promise us a perfect man?
Number two, do we do this today? Do we think a thing incredible? The Jews knew the Messiah would come one day. They knew there would be a people who would see the Christ, but not them. It wouldn’t be them. What would happen out? That would happen out yonder one day. Are we that way today? Do we know there will be a people one day who will totally overcome the lust of the flesh? Do we know that? Do we know there will be a people one day who will totally put on Christ? Do we know there will be a people one day who will be total overcomers? Do we know that Paul said, we shall not all sleep or die? Do we know that John said there will be a people who shall be like Jesus when he does appear? Do we know that it is God’s purpose to have many sons one day in the image of the firstborn? Why then do we, as did the Jews, think of a thing incredible to teach the perfect man? Why is it a thing incredible to teach the overcomer? Why is it a thing incredible to teach life and not death and to seek after immortality and eternal life now? Why is it a thing incredible to believe I can be a son of God just like Jesus, the firstborn and part of a many-membered man who can do everything that Jesus did?
It is because I do not think one day as do the Jews, but I think today, and that is why I am judged. And when you start thinking today, when you do like Paul, and you start proclaiming that Christ will not come one day, but Christ has already come, and Christ will not be resurrected one day, but Christ has already been resurrected, and when you start teaching this stuff, when you start teaching that today is the day that God is raising up a perfect man, and today is the day when there is a people who is going to overcome death, the final enemy.
1 Corinthians 15:26
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
When you start talking those things, you will be judged.
What do you think about that? Are we any better than the Jews in Paul’s time who procrastinate and put off until one day? One day for the Jews in Paul’s time was that day for Paul. One day for us is today. Now we can procrastinate and keep putting this thing off and putting it off and putting it off and keep raising up generations that will put it off and put it off and put it on. But I can’t convince myself why I shouldn’t be a perfect man. I can’t convince myself why I should let my lust rule my flesh. I can’t convince myself why I cannot be what this Bible promises. How about you? I can’t convince myself why I shouldn’t be an overcomer. Do you want me to stop and just go home? Or point an eye? Paul says something here that really caught my attention.
Let’s read it. Verse 9.
Acts 26:9
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Paul says, I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Do you ever think with yourself? I love the way the King James put that. I barely thought with myself. I thought with myself. And you know what always happens when you think with yourself? You always do things contrary to the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Don’t you? When you think with your carnal mind and when you think with your carnal mind, you’re thinking with yourself. And when you start thinking with yourself, you will do things contrary to the name of Jesus.
It’s only when you think like this thing talks and like this thing says and like he thought and have the mind of Christ and let that mind rule you. It’s only when you talk with that mind and ask that mind, what would Jesus do in this situation? It’s only then you will not do something contrary to the name of Jesus.
I’m persuaded that we all barely think with ourselves too much. Well, where am I? Page 181. I’m doing real good. I’m halfway through and we just turned the tape. So that means I’ll only use one tape tonight.
Now Paul says on page 181, point J, these were the things are the things that he did. And when we look at these things, we will see that these are the things that we did. I hope these were the things you did and aren’t doing. And I hope these are the things that you did and won’t one day do. But Paul is going to tell us how he persecuted the church.
And number one, it says that he was in Jerusalem. Now we’ve already got that Galatians 425 where it talks about that’s the natural church. He was in the natural church. And one day we were all in a natural church, but I’m persuaded that we’re coming out of being a natural church. How about that? You want to come out of being a natural church? No, but you say the natural, it never worked 2000 years and it ain’t worked yet. I don’t want to be natural. I want to be supernatural.
Number two, it says that he showed up many saints in prisons. Do we do that? Do you get saints out of your life by putting them in a spiritual prison? And they really, sometimes I think back about my life and I remember people who tried to come and give me a good word. I mean, a real word. And I put them in a prison. I wouldn’t have anything to do with them. They didn’t believe like I believed. They didn’t dress, they didn’t dress like I dressed. They didn’t talk like I talked. And so I put them in a prison, just like Paul.
And then he says that he received authority from the chief priest. And there’s a lot of powerful ministries today that think they’re chief priests and they’re giving a lot of people false authority to persecute people who are preaching and teaching the truth.
Number four, it says, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Acts 26:10
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Have you ever done that? I know no one in here has ever gave their voice to hurt anybody. Have you, have you ever put a saint to death by your voice? Many saints have been put to death by our words. Your tongue is an assassin’s sword or it is a surgeon’s scalpel. You can heal with it or you can kill with it. And I used to be more of an assassin’s sword than a surgeon’s scalpel. I killed a lot of saints.
And then it says that he punished them off in every synagogue, every church, and every church is wrong, but us, right?
Acts 26:11
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
No, every church has some truth, at least some. It might not be truth, but it’s got some truth somewhere, but it’s also got some deception. And what we’ve got to learn to do is not punish them because they’re not teaching all the truth. Because you see, our primary responsibility is where? Right here. And I’ve got to show you truth so that you can discern deception.
And then it says that he compelled them to blaspheme. In other words, he would torture them or, or, or make them blaspheme or, or denounce Jesus or denounce the things that they believed in. And every Sunday I show you from the word of God things and it lays in your lap and you see it in black and white or red and white. And you see the word of God and you go to work on Monday or you go home and eat dinner with grandma. And they cause you to blaspheme. They cause you to change your thinking and say, well, brother Young must’ve been wrong.
Now I’ve done it. I know what I’m talking about. I have had a word of the Lord put on me, go to work. And some of my religious buddies would show me that that word was wrong and caused me to change my mind and blaspheme the word of God. Now you can be caused to blaspheme at work. You can be caused to blaspheme at home. You can be caused to blaspheme by your relatives. You can be caused to blaspheme by a lot of things. Do you know what I’m talking about? Somebody really show you the word of God and then somebody else come along and force you to change your mind, change your thinking.
Now what I’m trying to show you here is have you ever been guilty of doing that? Has anybody ever come up to you with a real word, maybe a word like you’re hearing now? I can remember one day I was teaching a Bible class and I was teaching in the book of Revelation and I was teaching from about the city, the heavenly city, Jerusalem. And an individual come in there and he told me, he said, I heard on the television today that that is not a real city, that that’s a spiritual city and that’s the ride of the Lord. I said, that can’t be right. I’m the teacher. And before that boy could sit down, I had made him blaspheme and change his mind. And he was right. Have you ever done that? Has anybody ever come to you with a real word and you made them blaspheme? I have.
And number seven, exceedingly mad against them. It says Paul was exceedingly mad against them. And that word exceedingly mad is the word super abundantly. And it’s the same word that’s used in Matthew 27, 23, when the crowds cried out the more saying, let him be crucified, speaking about Jesus super abundantly.
Matthew 27:23
23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Now that’s how mad Paul got. I never saw that before. Paul got super abundantly mad. And that word mad against means to rave on, or that is rage at. Have you ever got that mad at a saint? I have. Well, I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten that mad at one. I’ve had them get that mad at me. I’ve had them. I’ve showed somebody something in Matthew chapter 24 about, as it was in the days of Noah. Do you know what I’m talking about?
Matthew 24:37
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
As it was in the days of Noah. And they said, I don’t care what it says, that ain’t what it means. And what have fought me if I hadn’t walked off? I’ve seen a man super abundantly.
Point K, Paul’s conversion. Now I’ve already long read this. This is the third account of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. It shows us that we need to give our account of our conversion as often as we have opportunity. Paul’s conversion is given three separate individual times, chapter 9, chapter 22, and now here in chapter 26.
Now I saw that that means that we need to give our testimony more than we do. How many of you, just no condemnation if you haven’t, but how many of you have given your testimony to somebody, this is what, April this year? Good. Good. That’s nearly 100%. That’s good. I think that we should. We should, we should do like Paul, continuously be repeating that conversion and the hearing of the people.
All right. Where am I? I’m in the middle of that paragraph somewhere. All right. I have dealt with this conversion in chapter 9, pages 52 through 55 in the notes, and in chapter 22, pages 156 through 159 in the notes. Here I will only give you the 156 through 159 in the notes. Here I will only briefly outline it. So I’m not going to go through all this and bring it out like I have done in the past. The notes are there, but the first thing it says that he went to Damascus.
Now I showed you what that was, what Damascus is on page 157 of the notes, what that means. But if you look it up in Damascus in the strong, strong says it means a heifer or a tame heifer. And you go back over to the old Testament and you’re getting your, your types of your burnt offerings. You remember that when I talked about the tame heifer or Damascus, but what really Damascus is, is Damascus, what they, well, I got to say something about the heifer. What they did with the heifer is they’d burn her wholly. She became a total burnt sacrifice. Then the ashes were taken and put in living water or running water and mixed together. And then this was sprinkled on, on people to get the death off of them. That was what the sacrifice was all about, to get the death off of them. And it was, it was consummated back in the times of numbers when all those people were dying in the wilderness.
Now he’s told to go to Damascus, Paul is, and at Damascus, he finds one there named Ananias. Remember Ananias, the man of God. So it’s at Damascus, you’re going to find New Testament ministry. It’s at Damascus, you’re going to find somebody who’s going to lay hands on you. You’re going to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. You’re going to receive salvation. You’re going to receive water baptism by New Testament ministry. You’re going to find somebody there who’s going to speak a word of life to you at Damascus, a word, which is the water and salvation, the sprinkling of the blood, the heifer.
And it’s at Damascus. Damascus is a type then of a place, a church, an assembly, a gathering where you will find New Testament ministry, who will sprinkle blood on you, the blood of Christ, and show you the way of salvation more perfectly. And they’ll also get the water on you and wash you, which is the word.
Number two, I can’t do all these like this. Number two, it says that light above the brightness of the midday sun, you go to Revelations 1 16 and Revelations 1 16, there is John and John, John has the same heavenly vision as does this, this Paul that we’re talking about here. And in Revelations 1 16, it talks about his appearing, the Jesus appearing into him. And it says that his countenance was, was as bright as the sun. Now that’s John in Revelation and it’s a very likeness in, in, in John’s conversion and also in, in, in Paul’s. In Matthew 17, one through five, it talks about Jesus at transfiguration. Remember how his face glowed, his whole countenance glowed in his, in his clothes were white. Remember that? So, so what we’re talking about here is Jesus and the brightness of the midday sun.
Number three, fall into the earth. Revelations 1 17, it happened to John also. Now a lot of people have asked me about what I felt about being slain in the spirit or going out in the spirit or whatever terminologies you want to use. And I just say this, it has happened to me. So that, that answers your question is if I, if I believe in it, it has happened to me, but it was not a power and a force that knocked me down. So don’t think that’s what I think happens. And when I come up and lay hands on you, it is not the power and the force knocking you down. What it was to me was I totally submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ and I just laid down under it. And there was never a more peaceable feeling in my entire walk as I had laid on that carpet, experiencing that. Now I was not unconscious. I was not in visions of sugar plums. I was laying there. Now, maybe it was different with you. Maybe a bolt of lightning got you. I don’t know, but I’m telling you, yeah, if that’s right, but, but, but you know, let’s do it. Let’s do it that way. Let, let’s be submissive to it and not let it be some kind of spiritual dynamite because it isn’t, I don’t have a two 20 wire run up my arm to lay on people’s head and knock them down. But if you under the auction of the Holy Spirit and make sure that it is that way, don’t go down to be more spiritual than the one beside you. If you under the auction of the Holy Spirit want to be submissive to that and lay down under that. All right.
Point four. He said he heard a voice speaking to me or speaking to him. Revelation one 10, you have the very same thing. So what you’re seeing here is, is, is the compliment in revelations chapter one, what happened to the apostle John and also what happened to the apostle Paul, a very like and resemblance. The voice was as thunder in revelations one 10.
Now, then it says in point five that, that, that Paul is stubborn is what it’s really talking about, that he was kicking against the pricks. Then it says that I am Jesus point six, whom thou persecuted. So now I want to hit this just a little bit. Paul was persecuting the church, wasn’t it? But here the voice says that I’m Jesus, whom you’re persecuting. What I, all I want you to see, and all I want you to really get here is that we are the body of Christ. He was persecuting Jesus by persecuting the church. Now, I’ll leave that alone for right now, but what I want you to get from this point right here is that, is that Paul at this point in his life, when he was Saul was persecuting the church, which was the body, which was Jesus. You can’t separate them. What I’m trying to say, people, and hear me what I’m, when I say it, I’m not being blasphemous, but we are Jesus now. Now we’re a poor, very, very poor body.
And as I taught the gifts of the spirit, the five senses in the natural body of your hearing, your smelling, your tasting, your touching, and your seeing in your natural physical body, that, that is, that is the, the perfect natural body when all of those functions are functioning properly, right? Well, the nine gifts of the spirit and first Corinthians chapter 12 are the spiritual senses. And when those nine spiritual senses are functioning right, and they go all the way from, well, let’s go from discerning of, of spirits all the way down to, to miracles and healing, which is raising the dead. So you’ve got everything that Jesus done in there without those nine spiritual senses functioning in the body of Christ. Then that body is not perfect. It is paralyzed. It is deformed. And until those nine spiritual senses come forth, then we are Jesus, but we’re very poor representations of it. We are a crippled body. Crippled body. Is that all right?
Now point seven, I have appeared unto thee for this purpose. Now he’s fixing to tell him why he appeared to Paul. How many of you could say in your time of, of, of conversion and would say that in your time of conversion, that Jesus appeared to you? Could you say that? I’m not talking about something you saw. I’m not talking about something you could touch, but in the spirit, he appeared to you. He became very real. Then when he appeared to you, as he appeared to Paul, then he also gave you a purpose. Is that okay? You have a purpose. And now I want you to see if they gave, if he gave them to Paul, that he’s going to give them to you.
And the first thing he says is to make thee a minister. Now, this is true for any New Testament ministry, any New Testament ministry, these things fall in line with. And that word make is 4,400. I will not try to enunciate that word, but it means to handle for oneself in advance, that is, or in effect to purpose. Now, New Testament ministry will be made. You make New Testament ministry. It does not happen. You don’t wake up one day and you are New Testament ministry. It is made. It is handled by who? By who? Come on, talk to me by Jesus. Who is Jesus? We, we are the body of Christ is what I want you to see.
And who’s going to be handling you are many, many times people you wish would keep their hands off of you. Do you know what I’m saying? But it’s only through this handling that you can become ministry. Am I making sense? Ministry is made. It don’t just presto one day happen.
Now I’ll show you that word minister. It says that I, he’s going to make thee a minister. It says that he’s going to make thee a minister. That word minister, it means to be an under oarsman. That is a subordinate assistant, a sextant, a constable. The lexicon aid says the subordinate official who waits to accomplish the commands of his superior, an inferior minister who performs certain defined functions. Even the apostle Paul was an inferior minister at the beginning and he had to be handled. Was he handled? Was the apostle Paul handled? He had to be handled to become ministry. What about, what about the 12 disciples? Did they just wake up one day and be apostles? Mm-mm. Jesus handled them, yeah, but they were also handled after Jesus’ ascension. Are you hearing me?
Now I am becoming, I am being made New Testament ministry, but who is handling me? Right, but who else? You are. And what makes me, what forms me is you. Amen. I will be what you make me. That got all of it off of me, didn’t it? No, it didn’t. I know what I’m supposed to be, but I’m showing you a principle. Your ministry you will make, and you need to raise up your own ministry. We need in our local assembly, in our local body, we need to raise our own ministry up to minister to our needs. And if ever, whenever, maybe never, you need another pastor, it should come from there, not out there. You got that? Okay.
Point 82. I’m going to, I’m going to fly now. How long I got? Oh, I’m in good shape.
B. He wasn’t just to be made a minister, but he’s, he is point B, he’s to be a witness. And that word witness is the Greek word Martyrs. What does it mean? Martyr. That means you go around talking for Jesus, right? Well, that’s what we say it means over there in Acts 1 and 8. It says be witnesses unto me. You don’t go around talking for Jesus. You present yourself as dead unto Jesus. That’s the real witness. Your life will witness much more than your words ever will. But the temple has a, as a saying, your words speak so loud. I can’t hear what you’re doing. Is that what you say? No, your life speaks so loud. I can’t hear what you’re saying. Did I get it right the second time? Your life is so loud. I can’t hear what you’re saying. And that’s, that’s, that’s it.
Point C, to be delivered from the Jews. How many of you are being delivered from the Jews? Are you being delivered from the religious systems, religious thinking, the religious world? Are you coming out of that thing? Are you, are you seeing something here and you’re coming, you’re being delivered out of that thing? Paul was.
And then he says that he is sent to the Gentiles. Now, if you look up the word Gentiles, you’ll find that one of the things that it means is nations. So he sent to the nations, right? Was Paul sent to the nations? Yes, he was. But how do we in the modern day present principles of truth? How would we look at that? What are we sent to? De Nama. All right.
Now it says to open their eyes. Does that mean literal blindness? No, it’s spiritual blindness. Yes, it could be literal blindness, but it’s basically thought there of spiritual blindness. We are to open people’s eyes and the nations. Can you hear me? Are you opening anybody’s eyes? Okay. They’re hard. I agree. But we can do it. And that’s one of our callings is to get the spiritual blindness off of them. Open their eyes, point F, to turn them from darkness to light.
Now I haven’t really, one of the things that I wanted to get into on one of the series that we’ve done, and I never really got into it, was the aspects of darkness and light. In Isaiah 60 verses one and two, it says, arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee. And then it says, behold, that darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness to people, but arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee. Now, maybe we need to turn over there and look at it, but let’s do, because you need to, you need to begin to see this. Also, Isaiah chapter 60.
Isaiah 60:1-2
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Light in the Bible, in your scriptures, speaks of understanding. Darkness speaks of ignorance. But I want to get it a little deeper than that, and just throw it out there to you. Arise and shine for thy light, thy understanding has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee. At the same time that the glory of the Lord is rising from within you, the Christ from within you is rising within you, so is your level of understanding. And that’s what I want to say. As your level of light is rising within you, so is your level of understanding or your level of light. And like LaRue opens her mouth and she is a light. Do you know what I’m saying? As your level of glory rises, as you become more Christ-like, so does your level of understanding at the same time that a glory is rising and a level of light in you is coming up. There is another group of people that the opposite is happening to, and they’re getting darker and darker and more ignorant and more ignorant.
Look at verse two. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people. Or we could say, for behold, ignorance shall cover the earth and gross ignorance the people. Am I right? But the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
On your way back over, let’s get first John, I mean, Saint John, Saint John chapter one. Light is understanding. Darkness is ignorance. Jesus is the light understanding of the world. If you want to understand the world, who do you need to be able to understand it? Jesus. You’ll never understand it without him. Now look at, let’s get verse four, Saint John one and four. In him, speaking of Christ, in him was life and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Now I want to take you a little deeper. When you read light in the scriptures, it also means life. Okay? And as the glory in you rises, your understanding rises, but also your life rises. Not only in quality, but I’m persuaded that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. And Jesus came to give life and that more abundantly. And I’m persuaded that as the light, the life, the understanding arises within us, so does life. And I look for people to live longer and longer and longer because the level of understanding is greater and greater because the glory of God within them is more and more.
Now, and the life or the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was Jesus, and he was the light of the world. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light or the life. Is Jesus the life also? And all men through him might believe. And he, he was that he was not that life or that light, but was sent to bear witness of that life or light back in Acts. Is that all right? So when you read life or light or understanding, those are, those are words that are some synonyms, one to the other. But when you read light, think of it, first of all, in understanding, but also as in life.
Now, would you say in your life that there is a greater light? Would you say you have a greater understanding and therefore there’s a glory arising within and on you and you’re coming forth as light? Sure are.
Point H. No, point G. Point G. To turn people from the power of Satan under God. I don’t have to dwell on that. You’ve been taught all your life about the devil, but it’s simply the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. He will tempt you in all of those. He tempted Jesus, Luke chapter four. And why don’t we know he’ll tempt us? I don’t know. I just don’t know. Somehow we think we’re going to get out, get out of all of that. He will tempt you in the lust of the flesh. He will tempt you in the lust of the eyes and he will tempt you in the pride of life. He’s going to do it, but it will be your lust and your pride that he’ll get to. Simply saying this, if you get rid of your lust and rid of your pride, you can be like Jesus and say, the Prince of this world cometh, but he has no place in me.
John 14:30
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
What do you think about that?
All right. Number H. To receive forgiveness of sins. We know that sprinkling of the blood H to receive an inheritance by faith. Does that say you will one day receive an inheritance by faith? You will now, you are now receiving your inheritance folks. Now he’ll bring his rewards with him, but not his inheritance. Let’s leave that.
This was Paul’s commission. This is every New Testament ministry’s commission. Now that’s true. I look back at each one of those and that’s my commission. And if I’m not doing that, then I’m not New Testament ministry. How about it?
Point L. I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. Let’s read number one. Paul was faithful to his commission and went to heaven.
Acts 26:19-20
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
He was faithful to his commission and went forth to Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and to the Gentiles. He was faithful to his commission and went forth to Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and to the Gentiles. So should we be faithful to our commission. Now that’s simple enough, but I want to give you something here. I want to throw something at you, see if it bounces around or if you can catch it. Paul calls this here his heavenly vision, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he? Let’s, let’s read verse 19 in your verse 19.
I want you to see it. Whereupon O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the what? Heavenly vision. Now Paul had a heavenly vision on between Jerusalem, the natural and Damascus, where he’s going to meet New Testament ministry. He had a vision. He had a heavenly vision. Did he go to heaven?
Now don’t answer too quick. Some of you have tried to read real ahead of me, so you’ll know what the answer is going to be. Did he go to heaven? Now let’s go on a little bit further. He also, and let’s go, we got a few minutes. Let’s go to second Corinthians. How many of you glad when the tape runs out? Second Corinthians 12.
2 Corinthians 12:2
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Second Corinthians 12. And let’s get verse two. I knew a man in Christ about 14 years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell or whether out of the body I cannot tell. God knoweth such in one caught up to the what heaven? Third heaven. Did he go to heaven? You won’t answer with you. Some of you reading your notes instead of reading the Bible. So let’s just, let’s just go ahead here.
Let’s go to Ephesians while you’re right here at it. Go and going back towards Acts. Go to Ephesians two.
Ephesians 2:6
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians two verse six. You there? And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in what heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Did you go to heaven? Some of you say no. Some of you say no. Now the answer to all the above was yes, but not in the realm of teaching that you have been trained to think.
We know there are at least three realms of heaven, don’t we? Paul said that he was caught into the third one. And we know that right now in Ephesians two, six says that we are sitting in heaven and you thought you were sitting in a pew.
What is heaven? Let’s get a definition. Let’s go. We’re going to acts anyway. Stop at chapter seven. Go, go back, go past. I’m right. We’re going the other way. Go, go, go to chapter seven.
Let me give you a scriptural definition of heaven.
Acts 7:49
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
Act seven and 49. You there? Heaven is my throne. Now that’s all you really need. Heaven is the throne of God. In other words, it is what God rules.
Now let me stop and grab some things here. I am not doing away with the realm of heaven where the literal flesh and bone man, Christ Jesus sits. And I’m not doing away with a heaven where our beloved ones are in the spirit. I’m not doing away with that, but I want to expand your thinking.
There is more to heaven than we’ve been taught. There is a lot more here in heaven. We know already that there’s three realms of it. There is a lot more of understanding what heaven is. That will be done in earth as in heaven. Now what does that mean? It means that where he rules, where God rules, that’s heaven. And if he rules your life, then where are you? In heaven. If you are disobedient to God and there’s kingdoms in your life, where are you? Okay, we’re getting somewhere.
What I want you to see is the aspects of heaven are vast. We are in heaven and I’m persuaded that if we live this life the way it is to be lived, you will live a heavenly life. Do you hear me? But although there is more about heaven than we know, I’m also believing that there is more about hell than we know. And as I believe that right now you can live in a dimension, a realm of heaven right now, you can also live in a dimension in a realm of hell right now.
Now I’m not Jehovah’s Witness and I’m not none of those things. I don’t even know what they teach on that, but I know I’ll get called something. But I know there is more than we know. I know that right now I’m sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And I know that if I am allowing God and Christ to rule my life, then I’m His throne, and heaven is His throne.
Maybe we better read this. Let’s get it a little bit. Number two on page 182. Well, that’s a lot. I don’t want to read it. You can read it later. I don’t want to read it. You can read it later.
Simply saying that Paul had a vision, a heavenly vision on earth. He didn’t go to heaven, at least not the realm of heaven that we’re trained to think. There is a realm of heaven now.
Paul had a vision between natural Jerusalem, the natural church, and Damascus, a New Testament church with New Testament ministry. And when your light comes and that vision came as a light, didn’t it? An understanding, right? Your understanding, your light will happen just like that. As you’re heading for New Testament ministry, you will begin to get understanding. You’ll begin to get light and a heavenly vision of your own, and you won’t have to leave earth.
We better leave that one. That’s kind of hot.
182 at the bottom. Point M, none other things. Now, what did Paul teach? What did he use to teach? None other things but the prophets and Moses. All Paul ever used was the Old Testament. That’s all he ever taught. He says, I teach none other things than those things which did the prophets and Moses say.
So to say that we can’t use those things today is foolishness. And then I’ve got you all those scriptures right there. Romans 15, 4, 2 Timothy 3, 16, 17, 1 Corinthians 10, 11, Luke 24, 27. You could quote them or we could turn and read them, but they’re right there and that’s enough. Just to say that Old Testament is for today. It’s for our types, shadows, for our learning, all scriptures given by inspiration of God. We could go on, but let’s leave it.
Point N, Paul thou art beside thyself. That word, art beside thyself, is one Greek word, and it means to rave as a maniac. And the word mad, let’s read that verse 24, Acts 20, Acts 26, verse 24. So we’ll get an understanding of what I’m talking about.
Acts 26:24
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul thou art beside thyself, much learning to make thee mad, to rave as a maniac. And the word mad means craziness.
Can you, can you see what’s happening here? Now, the living Bible says this, suddenly Festus shouted, Paul, you are insane. You’re a long study and has broken your mind. The NIV Bible says, at this point, Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. You are out of your mind, Paul, he shouted. Your great learning is driving you insane. Philip’s Bible says, while he was thus defending himself, Festus burst out. You are raving, Paul. All your learning has driven you mad. New English it says, while Paul was thus making his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, Paul, you are raving. Too much study is driving you mad.
So if you all really get serious about this Bible and start studying it, you’ll go insane. You’ll lose your mind and you ought to shout. Because the first thing you ought to want to lose is your mind. I don’t want my mind anymore. Let me have his mind. Amen.
Do you know they said the same thing about Jesus in Mark 3:21?
Mark 3:21
21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
You know, it was so sad. It was, it was, it was his own family. They came. They said, he’s beside himself. He’s mad. Do you know that your own family sometimes will say you’re mad? Yeah, they will.
When you start, when you start really proclaiming the word and the truth of it, when you begin to really get serious about this thing and you do like Paul’s vixen to say here, teach it with truth and soberness, they’ll say you’re insane.
Do you know you’ve got a crazy pastor? I like what the Amplified Bible says as Paul replies. They said, they said, but Paul replied, I am not mad. Most noble Festus, but I am uttering the straight sound truth.
What do you think about that? The set, the straight sound truth is contrary to the carnal mind in it. It is enmity. The one to the other carnal mind can understand the things of God. Doesn’t want to understand the things of God. Contrary.
Paul tells Agrippa. He says, these things, I think he says it to Agrippa. Was it Festus? Yeah. He says to Agrippa, he says, these things were not done in a corner. They weren’t done in secret. Paul’s message, Paul’s ministry was not done in secret. The whole world was turned upside down. So that the kingdom of God could be right side up.
Acts 17:6
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.
New Testament ministry will turn your world upside down so that the kingdom of God in you can be right side up.
Now that’s ministry. And that’s what Paul did to every world. He went into every city, every synagogue, every church. He always turned it upside down. I hadn’t thought about this. Has our synagogue been turned upside down? I think it’s been turned upside down.
Now he says that, he said that this thing was not done in the corner. Now I’ve already told you what Agrippa was. Agrippa is the type of a mega buck ministry. And he’s got his own little kingdom. He had a little kingdom that was northeast of Caesarea. And he was the king of it.
Acts 26:27-28
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
And so Paul’s now really getting on this thing and coming down on Agrippa. And let’s read, I’m going to read in the Bible. That’s a good thing to read. I’m going to read in the Bible in verse 28. Well, let’s get 27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me. To be a Christian.
Perplexity wrote the following.
Now let’s slow down and truly consider what’s happening in Acts 26:27-32. Let’s picture the scene. Paul is speaking before King Agrippa, right there with a room full of authorities, on trial with his whole future in the balance. This isn’t just history—this is a living word intended for us, so let’s walk through every detail with the seriousness it deserves.
Paul has spent his testimony recounting his conversion, his mission, and the hope of the Gospel. Then he locks eyes with the king and asks a question that silences the room:
Acts 26:27
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
There’s something special—and intentionally confrontational—about Paul’s words. He isn’t simply making conversation. He’s setting a trap of truth and appealing to the conscience of a man with influence over many. Paul is putting his finger on the gap between head knowledge and a heart that responds. King Agrippa, like so many religious people, knows the right things—he “believes the prophets”—but what will he do when the demand of the Word comes to him personally?
And how does Agrippa answer? He dodges, but not quite. He gives us the famous “almost.”
Acts 26:28
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Almost. Let that word echo. Almost convinced. Almost ready. Almost on the edge of truth and transformation. If we’re honest, “almost” is where many live their entire religious lives—close to faith, choosing safety, never crossing the line that would cost them everything for Christ. “Almost” is not enough. “Almost” salvation is the same as being entirely lost.
Now watch Paul’s response. His passion does not fade. He won’t settle for “almost.” Listen to the longing in his answer; his heart is for all, not just the king.
Acts 26:29
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Paul’s voice rises here. What does he desire? Not the approval of the powerful. Not an easier path. He wants every person who can hear his voice—King, governor, Bernice, attendants—to possess, not just the edge of faith, but the full assurance and experience that he himself has. “Except these bonds.” He wears chains, but he is the freest man in the room!
Look at the aftermath, the reaction of the proud and the powerful:
Acts 26:30-32
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Paul’s destiny is locked into the plan of God, not the systems of men. Even the verdict of those who hold his life in their hands is that he’s innocent—“nothing worthy of death or of bonds.” The king himself acknowledges Paul could have gone free if not for the call higher than any throne: the witness in Rome.
Let’s draw it in for us:
Are we like Agrippa—content to be “almost” persuaded, confident in our head knowledge, respectful of prophets, or will we surrender to the Savior that all prophecy points toward?
Paul’s burden is the call for every one of us—to refuse complacency in the “almost” and plead for “altogether.” Is that your burden for those around you?
Religious society may rule, deliberate, and seem to hold the future, but God is writing the outcome. Freedom and calling are found only in faithfulness to His purpose—even in chains.
Final word: Don’t live in “almost.” Almost is not Christ. Almost is not enough. Only a life fully surrendered—“altogether”—can say with Paul, “I wish you had what I have, except these bonds.”
That’s the challenge of Acts 26. That’s the invitation of Christ still echoing through the centuries.
Acts Series Chapter 26 Audio
Acts Series Chapter 26 Audio
Other Related Sermons:
Acts Series Chapter 5 Part 2 Audio
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