ACTS 26:24-3224 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know y...
ACTS 26:24-32
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 29 Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is n o doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment." 32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
FROM THE LESSON
The Herod Dynasty and the New Testament Timeline:
Herod the Great - he tried to kill Jesus at his birth and had all of the boys in Bethlehem under the age of two killed.
Herod Antipas - he beheaded John the Baptist and mocked and ridiculed Jesus on the morning of his crucifixion.
Herod Agrippa I - he beheaded the apostle James, the brother of John
Herod Agrippa II - Paul was a witness to him in Acts 26
Three Aspects of Paul's Witness:
1 His witness was to all people - small and great (verse 22).
2 His witness was persuasive - true and reasonable (verse 25).
3 His witness was patient - short or long (verse 29).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1 The witness of Paul to Herod Agrippa II after all the Herod dynasty had done during the New Testament is an amazing testimony to the grace of God. What is your response to this example?
2 Whether great or small, how does the message to use every opportunity to be a witness encourage you? Can you think of a small way you could be a witness this week?
3 Our witness is persuasive because it is true and reasonable. It does not depend on you being a great storyteller or a good communicator. It does not depend on your personality or your charisma. How does this important aspect of our witness encourage you?
4 What do you think about our witness being compared to seed planting? Discuss the role of prayer in the life of a witness. Spend time at the conclusion of your meeting praying specifically for people who you have been a witness.
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