Acts 26 - A Study Guide by Kevin Scott

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                           Chapter Twenty-Six

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To consider Paul's defense before King Agrippa

2) To review Paul's question on belief of the prophets to Agrippa

3) To observe King Agrippa, Festus, and others in deliberation on Paul

SUMMARY

Paul went before King Agrippa and made his defense.  In the beginning,
Paul reviewed his life as a Jew - before his conversion.  King Agrippa
gave Paul permission to speak for himself.  Paul began by acknowledging
that Agrippa was an "expert" in the Jewish customs and questions
concerning the Jews.  Paul told of his former life as a Jew/Pharisee.
Paul had spent his early life in Jerusalem - all the Jews knew this.  He
was a member of the strictest sect, the Pharisees.  Paul noted that he
was being judged for the "hope of the promise made by God to our
fathers."  Paul reiterated that this was the core of the accusation -
this "hope."  Paul asked Agrippa, "Why should it be thought incredible
by you that God raises the dead?"  Paul then stated that he originally
thought he should act contrary to Jesus.  He cast Christians into
prison, voted for their deaths, punished them, compelled them to
blaspheme; he even persecuted them to foreign cities.  Paul then told of
the Lord's appearance on the road to Damascus.  While Paul was engaged
in persecuting Christians, he journeyed toward Damascus.  At midday, a
bright light shone on him and his companions.  They all fell to the
ground.  The Lord spoke to Paul in the Hebrew language.  The Lord
identified Himself as Jesus.  The Lord told Paul of the purpose of His
appearing:  to make him a minister and witness of the things he had seen
and of the things that would be revealed to him.  Paul was sent by the
Lord to the Gentiles, to open their eyes - that they may receive
forgiveness of sins.  Paul told Agrippa that he had to be obedient to
the heavenly vision.  He declared the Gospel in Damascus, Jerusalem,
Judea, and then to the Gentiles.  Paul told the Gentiles to "repent,
turn to God, and do works befitting repentance."  He said for these
things the Jews seized him at the temple and tried to kill him.  He
recognized that God had helped him to that very time.  Paul only
preached those things which the prophets and Moses had said would come
to pass:  that Christ would suffer; that Christ would be the first to
rise from the dead; and, that He would proclaim light to the Jews and
Gentiles.  Festus then interrupted Paul.  He interjected at Paul's
defense with a loud voice.  He said, "Paul, you are beside yourself!
Much learning is driving you mad!"  Paul replied, "I am not mad, most
noble Festus, but speak words of truth and reason."  He pointed out that
Agrippa knew of these things.  Paul further noted that none of these
things had been "done in a corner."  (1-26)

Paul asked King Agrippa if he believed the prophets.  He had a brief
dialogue with Agrippa about his belief.  He addressed King Agrippa, "do
you believe the prophets?  I know that you do believe."  Agrippa
replied, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."  Paul responded
that he would, for not only Agrippa, but for all who heard him to become
Christians.  Of course, Paul did not desire for any to be in bonds, as
he was.  (27-29)

King Agrippa, Festus, and the others then deliberated about Paul.  No
charges were found against him.  They said, "This man is doing nothing
deserving of death or chains."  Agrippa pointed out that Paul might have
been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.  (30-32)

OUTLINE

I. PAUL MADE HIS DEFENSE BEFORE KING AGRIPPA (1-26)

   A. PAUL AS A JEW - BEFORE HIS CONVERSION (1-11)
      1. King Agrippa gave Paul permission to speak for himself
      2. Paul began by acknowledging that Agrippa was "expert" in the
         Jewish customs and questions about the Jews
      3. Paul told of his former life as a Jew/Pharisee
         a. Paul had spent his early life in Jerusalem - all Jews knew
            this
         b. He was a member of the strictest sect, the Pharisees
         c. Paul noted that he was being judged for the "hope of the
            promise made by God to our fathers"
         d. Paul reiterated that this was the accusation - this "hope"
         e. Paul asked Agrippa, "Why should it be thought incredible by
            you that God raises the dead?"
         f. Paul originally thought he should act contrary to Jesus
         g. Paul cast Christians in prison, voted for their deaths,
            punished them, compelled them to blaspheme; he even
            persecuted them to foreign cities

   B. PAUL TOLD OF THE LORD'S APPEARANCE ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD (12-18)
      1. While Paul was engaged in persecuting Christians, he journeyed
         on the road to Damascus
         a. At midday a bright light shone on him and his companions
         b. They all fell to the ground
         c. The Lord then spoke to Paul in the Hebrew language
         d. The Lord identified Himself as Jesus
         e. The Lord told Paul of the purpose of appearing:  to make him
            a minister and witness of the things he had seen and of the
            things that would be revealed to him
         f. Paul was sent by the Lord to the Gentiles, to open their
            eyes - that they may receive forgiveness of sins

   C. PAUL PROCLAIMED THE LIGHT TO THOSE IN DARKNESS (19-23)
      1. Paul told Agrippa that he had to be obedient to the heavenly
         vision
         a. He declared the Gospel in Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and
            then to the Gentiles
         b. Paul told the Gentiles to "repent, turn to God, and do works
            befitting repentance"
      2. Paul said for these things the Jews seized him at the temple
         and tried to kill him
         a. Paul recognized that God had helped him to that time
      3. Paul only preached those things which the prophets and Moses
         had said would come to pass
         a. That Christ would suffer
         b. That Christ would be the first to rise from the dead
         c. That Christ would proclaim light to the Jews and Gentiles

   D. FESTUS INTERRUPTED PAUL (24-26)
      1. Festus interjected at Paul's defense with a loud voice
         a. He said, "Paul, you are beside yourself!  Much learning is
            driving you mad!"
      2. Paul replied to Festus
         a. He said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak words
            of truth and reason."
         b. Paul pointed out that Agrippa knew of these things
         c. Paul further noted that none of these things had been "done
            in a corner"

II. PAUL ASKED AGRIPPA IF HE BELIEVED THE PROPHETS (27-29)

   A. PAUL HAD A DIALOGUE WITH KING AGRIPPA ABOUT HIS BELIEF (27-29)
      1. Paul addressed Agrippa, "do you believe the prophets?  I know
         that you do believe."
      2. Agrippa replied, "You almost persuade me to become a
         Christian."
      3. Paul responded that he would for not only Agrippa, but for all
         who heard him to become Christians
         a. Of course, Paul did not desire for any to be in bonds, as he
            was

III. KING AGRIPPA, FESTUS, AND OTHERS DELIBERATE ABOUT PAUL (30-32)

   A. NO CHARGES WERE FOUND AGAINST PAUL (30-32)
      1. Agrippa, Festus and the others went aside to deliberate
         a. They said, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or
            chains."
      2. Agrippa pointed out that Paul might have been set free if he
         had not appealed to Caesar

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - To consider Paul's defense before King Agrippa (1-26)
   - To review Paul's question on belief of the prophets to Agrippa
     (27-29)
   - To observe King Agrippa, Festus, and others in deliberation on Paul
     (30-32)

2) What did Paul indicate that King Agrippa was "expert" in? (3)
   - All customs and questions which have to do with the Jews (3)

3) In what city did Paul state that from his youth he spent with his own
   nation? (4)
   - Jerusalem (4)

4) What sect had Paul been a part?  What word did he use to describe it?
   (5)
   - Pharisees (5)
   - "strictest" (5)

 5) What did Paul say he was being judged for? (6)
   - "for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers" (6)

6) [Fill in the blank] "Why should it be thought ___________ by you that
   God raises the dead?" (8)

7) List some of the things that Paul did "contrary to the name of
   Jesus." (9-12)
   - Shut up saints in prison (10)
   - Cast his vote against them for death (10)
   - Punished Christians (11)
   - Compelled them to blaspheme (11)
   - Persecuted Christians even to foreign cities (11)

8) What did Paul see on the road to Damascus? What time of day? How
   bright was it? (12-13)
   - Paul saw a light from heaven (13)
   - At midday (13)
   - Brighter than the sun (13)

9) After falling to the ground, what language did the Lord speak to
   Paul? (14)
   - Hebrew (14)

10) What did the voice ask Paul? (14)
   - "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (14)

11) Who did the voice say he was? (15)
   - "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (15)

12) Why did the Lord appear to Paul? (16)
   - "to make you a minister and witness both of the things which you
     have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you" (16)

13) To whom (what people) was Paul sent? (17)
   - Gentiles (17)

14) What was Paul to do for these people?  For what purpose? (18)
   - To open their eyes (18)
   - To turn them from darkness to light (18)
   - To turn them from the power of Satan to God (18)
   - "that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among
     those who are sanctified by faith in Me" (18)

15) What did Paul declare that they should do? (19-20)
   - They should repent (20)
   - They should turn to God (20)
   - They should do works befitting repentance (20)

16) Because of his obedience to that heavenly vision, what did the Jews
    do to Paul? (21)
   - They seized Paul in the temple (21)
   - They tried to kill Paul (21)

17) How was Paul able to stand before Agrippa that day? (22)
   - Through the help of God (22)

18) What 3 things did Paul say in accordance with the prophets and
    Moses? (22-23)
   - Christ would suffer (23)
   - Christ would be the first to rise from the dead (23)
   - Christ would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the
     Gentiles (23)

19) What did Festus say to Paul at this point? (24)
   - "Paul, you are beside yourself!  Much learning is driving you mad!"
     (24)

20) How did Paul respond to Festus? (25)
   - "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak words of truth and
     reason." (25)

21) Where were all of these things NOT done? (26)
   - "not done in a corner" (26)

22) What did Paul ask King Agrippa? (27)
   - "do you believe the prophets?" (27)

23) What did King Agrippa say in response to Paul? (28)
   - "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (28)

24) What did Agrippa, Festus and the others say among themselves? (31)
   - "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains." (31)

25) What did Agrippa then say to Festus? (32)
   - "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to
     Caesar." (32)
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