Acts 26: Are You Almost A Christian?
Verse of the Day: (V28) “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
1. Accused (V1-27)
V2 “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:”
Apostle Paul, the accused, happily testified before king Agrippa, and Bernice, his wife, and Festus, the new Roman governor, and other leaders present, of his testimony. Paul shared how he was brought up as a Pharisee, and had persecuted the Christians, until one day, God spoke to him on the way to Damascus. The Lord blinded him and then healed and called him to be His preacher of the gospel to the Jews and mainly the Gentiles. In short, Paul obeyed God’s heavenly vision, but was instead falsely accused by the Jews.
V19 “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:”
2. Almost (V28-29)
V28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
So near yet so far. king Agrippa almost became a Christian, but he was not a Christian. Why? Agrippa was almost persuaded, but he rejected Christ. Many in this world may have heard the gospel and are almost persuaded like Agrippa, but deep down in their hearts, they have unbelief in them. Paul would be most glad to lead Agrippa and others present to the saving grace of Christ, but he did not have the opportunity to do so. Instead, Paul replied to Agrippa that he desired that he and all who had heard the gospel would totally be persuaded in believing in Jesus. Indeed, though Paul was a suffering prisoner yet he was bound for glorious heaven because he believed in Christ. In contrast, though Agrippa was the glorious king, yet he was bound for fiery hell because he rejected Christ.
V29 “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.”
3. Appealed (V30-32)
V31 “And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
Agrippa and Festus believed that Paul was innocent and should not be in prison or even sentenced to death. However they could not release Paul as he had appealed to Caesar, the Roman emperor. Indeed, it was God’s will that Paul should appear before Caesar.
V32 “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am a totally persuaded Christian bound for heaven.
