When we speak to others about the Resurrection and Christ’s salvation it is out of love. Paul’s heart is on fire with the Holy Spirit’s love, his words are simple and factual, and he is yearning with utmost hope that they are listening with their hearts to hear. The Holy Spirit seeks to light up new believer’s hearts as Paul speaks. And his witness to his personal experience of our Resurrected Christ is truly inspiring.
To speak of Christ who is Resurrected and seeks believers within the Jews, Greeks, and Romans is laying out the clear Plan of God as prophesied. There are still live witnesses to Jesus Resurrected walking in Jerusalem, Judea, and surrounding areas. Jesus gave sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, restored hearing to the deaf, made the lame to walk, cleansed sinners, rebuked evil, and brought back Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was crucified, died and on the third day Rose from the dead, and for forty says made appearances to hundreds.
After Paul speaks Festus accuses Paul of begin out of his mind. Not so. Festus’ self-centered mind turns away from, and his heart rejects Truth in Christ and Spirit’s holiness within himself. Festus is not in his right mind while he denies Christ.
After Paul is told his is out of his mind Paul still responds respectfully to Festus as he says, “most excellent Festus,” calling him by name and honoring his status. Paul is solid in faith and not angered. Paul speaks the sober truth and in his right mind. And after all the beatings, stonings, almost being killed quite a few times, and having been left outside a gate for dead, and yet Paul is in his right mind. Paul has the mind of Christ.
And God has kept Paul safe just as God Promised.
Paul then asks, “King Agrippa do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And having believed these Agrippa an Bernice would have to believe Paul. Yet here we view Agrippa speaking of being a Christian as solely being within his own power, not Paul’s. It is a choice for Agrippa to make and when he does he will find that Power belongs solely to Christ Resurrected. Paul’s great desire is that the king and all who are listening to him speak choose repentance and make commitment to believe in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Saying nothing more Agrippa gets up and all who are seated with him get up. Agrippa speaks a favorable report of the preacher to Festus yet Paul has been urging and inviting each to listen to his witness, invitation to our Risen Lord, and yearning for them to join Paul wants them to know the One who is love, peace, and the Holy Spirit. Agrippa may say that the preacher is favorable but His salvation is utmost. Glory to God for Paul’s witness. All of Acts chapter 26 is Paul’s witness. 26 is a template for our witness to others.
24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 26 Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
30 Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; 31 and as they were leaving, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.” Acts 26 24-32
