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: 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. Acts 26:22–23

Acts 26:1–32 – The Story of the Church: Living Into This Drama in the 21st Century
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany – February 6, 2022 (am)

Paul wrote to the Roman church: 1:16 … I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. There’s no part of us that doesn’t agree with this, except the part that recoils from bearing open witness to the gospel, or freezes up on the spur of any moment when the subject arises unexpectedly—the part of us that instinctively lowers our voice to a whisper when we say words like Jesus or Savior or cross or resurrection or gospel. But I don’t say this to heap guilt on our shoulders. Rather, I think that not being ashamed of the gospel, not feeling that unease/strangeness is actually freedom! It’s the guilt and unease that feel like burdens! Paul shows us just what this freedom looks like as he presents his fifth, final, and longest defense in this last panel of Acts (19:21-28:31). And that is our aim today. Let’s take this chapter in two parts.

Reviewing Paul’s Life – 1-23

As the curtain rises in today’s passage, we see a courtroom with the proceedings ready to begin. The dramatic, even pompous (25:23), entry of the king and his sister had already occurred. And the governor had already briefed them (25:14-27) and identified the desired outcome of this day’s hearing. So, the first words we hear are the king’s granting Paul permission to speak for [himself] (1). And that’s just what Paul did (1). He appropriately honored the king as the most well-equipped authority thus far to understand and appreciate the issues (2-3), since he was the king of Judea. And though his ancestors appear to have been Edomites, they were brought into the Jewish faith by the Maccabean leader, John Hyrcanus back in about 130 bc (nubd). So, he knew the ins-and-outs of it all.

And Paul drew on that. 4 My manner of life from my youth… is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time… that… 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. The worst thing I’ve done, Paul says, is to believe that the hope of Israel, the promise of God made to our fathers, has actually been fulfilled in Jesus! (7) Giving even passing thought to these matters, we could recognize that the keeping of those promises would make resurrection a necessity, and eternal life also! The promises themselves are eternal (Gen.17:7; 2Sa.7:13), and include eternal life! (cf. Psa.16:10-11; 21:9; 103:4) So Paul asks: 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? If He couldn’t, would He truly be God? Would He be worthy of our worship and praise? Why?

Paul is reminding the king and the governor that, if there is a God, which they likely believe there is, He would actually be able to do God-like things. The real irrationality in this world is affirming belief in a God, even calling out to a God in times of need, as so many so often do, and yet somehow thinking that He can’t really intervene! He can’t help! He can’t do supernatural things! That’s really odd!

But Paul knows God can do these things. He’s experienced them. He was going hard after the Christians in protection of Judaism (9-11) when he was suddenly interrupted in the middle of the day with a light from heaven that was brighter than the sun (13). And we know this story. This is the third time it’s been told in the book of Acts (9:3-8; 22:6-11; 26:12-18). It’s a bit conflated this time, compressed together to include both the Damascus Road experience as well as Paul’s time in that city with the devout man Ananias. The bottom line was that Paul was going to be [sent] to the Gentiles (17), 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 [Jesus]. That’s just what he’s been pursuing (19-20). And therefore, the Jews are now pursuing him! 21 For this reason [they] seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. But he’s just testifying to nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would [happen] (22), and that it’s been fulfilled through the work of Jesus, His suffering on the cross and His being the first to rise from the dead (23), thus bringing salvation both to [the Jews] and also to the Gentiles (23). This story is simple and clear, and it’s made certain by the supernatural work of Christ. That’s just all there is to it!

Appreciating Paul’s Witness – 24-32

But that was just too much for Festus! 24 … [He] said with a loud voice, believing himself to be the rational one, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul comes right back at him, fully denying the charge of madness! [He] said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. Then he looks toward Agrippa to strengthen his statement. 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. This all played out right there in Jerusalem. Jesus’ body wasn’t just missing from the tomb, he was seen and heard in a number of places—1Co.15:5 … he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all… he appeared also to me. Sure, resurrection is hard to believe under normal circumstances. But when God Himself is factored in, and when He’s made promises that need to be fulfilled, I’m not sure why resurrection would seem so strange to you, Festus, Agrippa!

Now speaking fully to the king: 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. But the king’s pride likely won the moment (Stott 377). Paul, [you think] you can persuade me to [repentance and faith] in so short a time? (28) However long it takes, Paul responded, [I really do wish that everyone here today] might [experience what I’ve experienced]—except for [my imprisonment] (29). And that ended this session. Festus and Agrippa agreed that if Paul hadn’t appealed to Caesar, he could have been [released] (30-32). But he was headed to Rome in any case. Plus, for us there are a couple other matters to note and tie off before we leave Festus’ courtroom, matters that have to do with Paul’s being completely unashamed of the gospel (Rom.1:16).

So, what’s the key factor that has him so boldly persuaded that he’s willing to stand toe-to-toe with kings and governors in defense of it, even when he’s on trial for his life? We’ve seen it from the very start of Luke’s history: the resurrection of Jesus! Way back in c.1 (22), you had to be a witness to it in order to be an apostle. In c.2 (31) it stood at the heart of Peter’s sermon in the streets of Jerusalem at Pentecost—he said that David [prophetically] foresaw the resurrection of Jesus in Psa.16. The resurrection is what annoyed the Sadducees about the apostles’ teaching in 4:2, and disturbed all the leaders in vv.5-12 when Peter and John were answering them about the lame man whom they healed (3:1-10). Still later in that chapter, the resurrection was a summary of the whole gospel message! (4:33) It was alluded to by Steven (7:55-56). And soon after that comes the first telling of Paul’s conversion, where the resurrected Jesus speaks to him (9:5). Then the resurrection was the climax of his sermons in Antioch (13:30-37), in the marketplace at Athens (17:18), and on [Mars Hill] (17:31). Now it comes up three more times (23:6; 24:15, 21; 26:8) as he defends himself in Jerusalem and Caesarea; he even says that the hope of the resurrection is the reason he’s on trial (23:6). Now it stands at the heart of today’s speech as the key question: 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? And that’s a very good question, even for us.

Why [would we ever think it’s] incredible that God raises the dead? Answer: we wouldn’t, really. We might even say: because He’s already done it, since we’re so confident that Jesus has been raised. But, my friends, just think. Our confidence in the reliability of the gospel is anchored to resurrection, to the fact that Jesus arose! That’s what confirms the reliability of all the amazing, outlandish statements He made! I and the Father are one (Joh.10:30). No one comes to [Him] except through Me (Joh.14:6). Resurrection is what infuses biblical meaning into all the miracles He performed! They are invasions of the new heavens and new earth into this present, fallen world—in-breakings of resurrection life and health into our sin-laden disease and death! But this is what God does! He delivers and saves! He 18 … [opens our] eyes, so that [we]may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that [we] may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus]. He raises us from death unto life, from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, that we might experience the abundant of joy that comes from leaving sin and emptiness behind in favor or cleansing and fullness! This is the gospel Paul was called to preach, and we to believe!

This is the promise of the OT. It’s precisely what Moses and the prophets said would come to pass (22): 23 that [Messiah] 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. This is what seemed crazy to Festus in his courtroom that day, the whole world saved by the Jewish Messiah Who [rose] from the dead (23) as a promise that [all] who are [made holy] by faith in [Him] (18) will likewise rise and live with Him forever.

But the fact that it sounded crazy to Festus, and maybe a bit embarrassing to Agrippa in that setting, didn’t dampen Paul’s zeal in the slightest! He had seen the resurrected Jesus! He’d spoken with Him! And he knew this is what the Scriptures had said all along must happen. Now it had happened! And there was just no way to be quiet about it, or timid or uneasy or ashamed. It was the truth. And it was precisely what confirmed that no other religion can stand alongside this one. Jesus is [risen]! And He’s just the first! (23) That happened in real space and time! And nothing like it had ever happened before, nor has anything like it ever happened since! How could we ever be ashamed of that?

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Resources

Beale, G. K., and D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Acts, by I. Howard Marshall, 513-606. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Beveridge, Henry, ed. Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles, vol. 1, by John Calvin. Translated by Christopher Featherstone.

Bruce, F. F., ed. 1988. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The book of Acts, revised, by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Acts, by Conrad Gempf, 1066-1114. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Dockery, David S, ed. 1992. New American Commentary. Vol. 26, Acts, by John B. Polhill. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Acts, 2073-2156, by John B. Polhill. Wheaton: Crossway.

Harrison, R. K., ed. 1988. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, by Merrill F. Unger. Herod, by Henry F. Vos. Chicago: Moody.

Longman III, Tremper, and David E. Garland, eds. 2007. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 10, Luke-Acts. Acts, by Richard N. Longenecker, 665-1102. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Morris, Leon, ed. 1980. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 5 Acts, by I. Howard Marshall. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

Stott, John, ed. 1990. The Bible Speaks Today. The Message of Acts, by John Stott. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

NEXT WEEK: Acts 27:1–44, Todd Walker