Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews, especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. Acts 26:1-4 (HCSB) In this final hearing before King Agrippa the Book of Acts records for the third time the account of Paul’s conversion, giving some details which had not previously been recorded. Often I hear people say I do not know how to witness and I will refer them to the Book of Acts to see how Stephen and Paul gave their testimonies. They just simply related how they were transformed to a believer. Our testimony should be what Christ has done in and through us. Not who we are. There is power in the name of Jesus who transformed us. This speech is an excellent example of Paul’s powerful oratory. Beginning with the compliment to King Agrippa, he told his story, including the resurrection of Christ, and the royal audience was spellbound. We can see in this audience how God was in control of Paul’s circumstances because he once again was given the opportunity to speak before royalty. Paul began to speak with King Agrippa’s permission stretching out his hand and proceeding to make his defense. He counted himself happy to make a defense before him because King Agrippa was especially expert in all the things concerning Jewish customs and questions. Therefore he begged him to listen patiently. Actually, Agrippa was a Jew by religion and could be expected to have a concern over these things.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 12:50:13 +0000
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