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1. Agrippa appeared to be cordial to Paul. Indeed, he had to be, for Paul had appealed to Caesar, which precluded him from any other trials. Paul was permitted to make a “defense” (apologia).

2. Paul himself could have legally refrained from attending the informal session. But he probably would have been unlawfully forced to attend by either the Jews or the Romans.

B. Fortunate Appeal Before Agrippa (2)

1. Paul was not flattering Agrippa when he stated that he was “fortunate” (makarios – blessing from God) to make his defense before him.

2. Herod Agrippa II was especially fitted to hear Paul’s defense because he was a ruler of Jewish lands (tetrarch of Chalcis and northern territory), appointed guardian of the Jerusalem temple, and professedly a Jew.

3. Herod Agrippa I was known for his rigid observance of all Jewish customs and rites. As for Herod Agrippa II, he was known for his knowledge of the Law and the Prophets (and prophecies cf. Act 26:7), according to rabbinic writings.

C. Familiarity with Jewish Customs (3)

1. Agrippa, according to Paul (and tradition), was an “expert” (gnōstês – thoroughly acquainted or skilled) in the customs and questions among the Jews.

2. Some of which would consist of questions regarding prophecies (including the resurrection).

II. PAUL’S BACKGROUND (4-11)

A. Paul’s Jewish Background (4)

1. Paul may have been born in Tarsus, but he was “brought up” in Jerusalem (Act 22:3).

2. He remained in Jerusalem while being educated under the Great Rabbi Gamaliel and became a Pharisee (Act 23:6; Phil 3:5).

B. Paul’s Former Reputation (5)

1. Paul was known by some and heard about by others for a long time. If some of them would be honest and willing, they could testify that Paul was a Pharisee.

2. Pharisees were the strictest sect of Judaism who, unlike the Sadducees, believed in the entire OT, an afterlife, and the resurrection.

C. Paul’s Trial Based on God’s Promise (6)

1. Paul had done everything that he was supposed to do. He was raised in Jerusalem, the city of David. He was educated under the greatest rabbi, Gamaliel. He became a Pharisee, the most scholarly students in regard to the OT.

2. He had been looking for and standing on the promises made to the fathers. It was for that he was on trial.

D. Paul’s Charge for Jewish Hope (7)

1. He found the One who fulfilled the promise, the Messiah (Act 3:22-24; Gal 4:4; Tit 2:13; 1Pe 1:11-12). This was who all the Jews (twelve tribes), especially the Pharisees, were waiting for (hope elpis). This was why the Jews served God night and day.

2. The promise was originally made to Abraham, that he would be the father of many nations (Gen 17:5 cf. Rom 4:16-18) and by his seed all nations would be blessed (Gen 12:3; 22:18; Gal 3:17-18). These references pointed to the fact that the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham (and then David). The Messiah would fulfill these promises and would become a Savior to Israel and the Gentiles (Act 13:23 cf. Act 13:24-29).

3. Paul’s main defense was that he was a Jew and doing what a Jew should do, namely waiting, looking for, and receiving the Messiah. That is what he has done, yet, it was for this hope, that he was being accused by Jews.

E. Paul’s Bewilderment at Jews (8)

1. Not for argument sake, but in emotional bewilderment, Paul called out the Jews for their unbelief in the resurrection. He asked them why they viewed the resurrection as unbelievable (incredible apistos – unbelievable).

2. The OT concept of the promise included the resurrection. The Messiah would come, be a sacrifice for their sins (Isa 53:5-6), establish a long awaited kingdom (Dan 2:44; 7:14; Act 1:6), and resurrect the faithful Jews who had died in order to enjoy the kingdom (Job 19:25-27; Isa 53:10; 26:19; Dan 12:2).

3. In order for the Messiah to establish and rule in the kingdom, He had to be raised from the dead. In order for the Messiah to have a kingdom to rule, a resurrection of the faithful has to take place. The Scriptures taught this, the Jews should have known and believed it. Agrippa II probably knew these things. This was Paul’s message and defense (Act 13:32-39).

F. Paul’s Past Persecutions (9)

1. In light of Act 26:8, vs. 9 was a great conciliatory statement by Paul. It revealed his own spiritual blindness and hostility until Christ saved him.

G. Paul’s Votes for Death (10)

1. Paul spoke “murderous” threats against believers and backed it up with persecution unto death (cf. Act 9:1a; 22:4)

2. Paul most likely cast his vote of death against Stephen (Act 8:1). In fact, the accuser held the cloaks of those who stoned the guilty victim (Act 7:58).

H. Paul’s Punishment Toward Believers (11)

1. Paul was known for his zeal and rampages against believers (cf. Act 8:3; Act 22:4)

III. PAUL’S CONVERSION AND COMMISSION (12-16)

A. Paul Traveled to Damascus (12)

1. The trip was to obtain written permission in order to abduct Christian in other regions for persecution (cf. Act 9:2; Act 22:5b).

B. Light of the Lord Shown (13)

1. In Paul’s two previous accounts, it was mentioned that the light from heaven shown around him. In this account, he stated that the light was around Paul and his companions (cf. Act 9:3; Act 22:6).

2. This was no contradiction or fabrication. It makes sense that Paul would mention something that Agrippa could very easily search out.

C. Lord Spoke to Paul (14)

1. The Lord spoke and implied that by persecuting believers; Paul was persecuting the Lord Himself (Act 9:4; Act 22:7). Paul alone understood the Lord’s words and not his companions (Act 22:9).

2. It is only here are we told that Jesus spoke to Paul in Aramaic (Hebrew dialect, cf. Act 21:40; 22:2).

D. Lord Identified Himself (15)

1. When Paul asked the Lord who He was, the Lord identified Himself as “Jesus.” By this time, no one needed to identify Him as “Jesus of Nazareth.” (Act 9:5; Act 22:8).

E. Lord Commissioned Paul (16)

1. Jesus told Paul that He appeared to him to appoint him as a servant and witness (Act 9:6; Act 22:10).

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Paul’s defense was an opportunity for evangelism

1. Legally, Paul did not have to go before Festus nor did his defense make a bit of difference because Paul had already appealed to Caesar.

2. Therefore, though Paul’s defense was compelling, Paul ultimate purpose was to share the gospel to Agrippa (and Bernice) and his hearers.

3. As believers, we must understand that our number one purpose is the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20).

B. Paul’s bewilderment at Jewish unbelief

1. Though Paul wrote of the unbeliever’s spiritual darkness (Eph 2:1-5) and the Jew’s partial hardening (Rom 11:25), Paul still found it inconceivable that the Jews would condemn him for believing in the resurrection.

2. Yet, the resurrection alone was not the issue, but rather man’s hostility toward God and His gospel (Act 26:9; Rom 8:7; Col 1:21; cf. 1Th 2:15).

3. As believers we should remember our former life, unbelief, and hostility.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516