July 21, 2020
Lost and Found
Acts 26
Cam Close
Central Truth
Jesus died, but Jesus did not stay dead. Because Jesus died AND rose, our salvation is complete. We have hope.
Key Verse | Acts 26:6-8
"And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?"
Acts 26
Paul's Defense Before Agrippa
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.
4 My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 1 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic) ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 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, 20 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. 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.”
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.” 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?” 2 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian! 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.”
30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Dive Deeper | Acts 26
My senior year of college, I sat across the table from a multitude of my peers. I asked them, "Can you explain the gospel to me?" Their words were sweet as honey as I listened to them share God's rescue plan for His people. But I would dock them points on their application if they left Jesus at the cross. Some of my brothers and sisters forgot to mention the resurrection of Christ. I kindly reminded them that we have no real gospel to preach if we fail to rejoice that Jesus' death was not final. As I encouraged my fellow believers, the Spirit convicted me—I, too, needed to remember the hope I have because of the finished work of Jesus.
"The New Testament writers speak as if Christ's achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the 'first fruits,' the 'pioneer of life,' He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so." —C.S. Lewis, Miracles.
Our hope exists and is different because Jesus defeated death. Peter writes, "[B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you . . . ." (1 Peter 3:15, emphasis added). We see this in Acts, as the hope of Christ is the foundation of Paul's defense. Paul is saying to Agrippa that Jesus proved He IS who He said He is. Paul believed in the gospel of truth, and he would testify until his death for this hope being found only in the King of Kings because of the salvation offered to us through Christ. This is what we've been called to do, people!
We have been charged to let Christ's resurrection inform our hearts—doing so by living in pursuit of Christlikeness and sharing with others the hope in Him that is found even in the loss of death.
Discussion Questions
1. Review Paul's conversion in Acts 9. Make note of the redeeming work of God in Paul's life and your own.
2. Read more on the hope of Christ in Romans 8:18-25 and Ephesians 1. Reflect on what the implications are of these passages in regard to what God has given us through His Son.
3. Consider where and in whom you place your hope: in the things of this world or in Christ? What does your answer reveal about your view of God?
4. Are you prepared to make a defense for your hope? Pray through what you would share if a nonbeliever were to ask you about your hope.
5. Remind yourself why it is important that Christ died AND rose. What reasons would you give for why it matters that Christ rose from the dead?
Listen to "Goodbye Road" by Johnnyswim, Drew Holcomb, and Penny and Sparrow. This song is a beautiful decree of hope, and it mentions the road to Damascus.