Acts 26:24-32

Summary retelling of Acts 26:24-32

As Paul began to explain about Jesus, the vision, and the mission, Festus got up and told Paul that he is being driven mad by his intense academic study of the Law.  Paul returns that he is not out of his mind and that Festus needs to inquire from Herod Agrippa as to the truth of his claims about the Messiah and the resurrection.    Then Paul turns and directly asks Herod Agrippa if he believes in the prophets.  Herod Agrippa very deftly sidesteps making a confession of faith by asking Paul if Paul plans on making him a Christian in such a short amount of time.  Paul then confesses that his goal is that all who are willing would come to know God and Jesus Christ.  Herod Agrippa, Festus, and Bernice get up at this point and leave Paul’s presence.  However, once they are out of Paul’s presence Herod Agrippa tells Festus that Paul has done nothing worthy of being kept in custody.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Festus thinks Paul is out of his mind.  When you think logically about what it is that Christians proclaim, it is illogical.  We believe that God became man.  We believe that God was killed.  We believe that God was resurrected. We believe that God can and will resurrect us into new life.  On the whole, those are some pretty illogical claims.  But after all, that’s the purpose of faith!  As Paul says elsewhere in his writings, if we believe only is what we see, it is neither faith nor hope!

Why is it important to understand the somewhat illogical (from a human perspective) nature of Christianity?  How can that help us work with people like Festus who have a difficult time coming to grips with believing in what seems impossible?

Second Thought:

Paul turns and confronts both Festus and Herod Agrippa.  He puts them on the spot.  It is time for them to either believe or not believe.  Paul puts his neck on the line, but these men need to come face to face with the question: “Do they believe or not?”

Why is it important to ask that question of people?  What could happen if someone is never asked whether or not they believe?  How important is timing in asking that question? 

Third Thought:

Festus, Herod Agrippa, and Bernice leave rather than face Paul’s question.  They “escape the fire” so to speak.  This might seem like a defeat – and considering that they didn’t repent of their sins on the spot perhaps on some level it is a defeat.  However, neither did they argumentatively refute Paul’s claims and questions, either.  They are not so antagonistic to Paul that they are willing to rebuke him.  In that sense, this story is very much a victory.  Paul allowed God to use him to challenge Festus, Herod Agrippa, and Bernice and give them something about which they can think for the time to come.  In that sense, this story is absolutely a victory story.

Did you see this story as a potential victory when you initially read it?  Why is it important to learn to be able to shift our perspective to find the victory?  How can we also learn to shift our perspective to see things through God’s eyes rather than through our own eyes?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 27:1-12