King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” – Acts 26:27-28
The Caesarean courtroom was the highest political setting in the region. And it was there that the Apostle Paul stood in chains before the Roman governor Festus and the Jewish king Herod Agrippa II.
For most people standing before rulers who held the power of imprisonment or death, the natural instinct would’ve been to avoid controversy and spend every ounce of energy defending themselves.
But not Paul. He wasn’t concerned about himself or his reputation. He was defending Christ, and the courtroom became his mission field. Instead of a prisoner pleading his case, it turned into a preacher proclaiming the gospel to the two most powerful men in the city… men who had enormous influence over where he might’ve spent the rest of his days.
Paul didn’t see them as judges – but as souls in desperate need of salvation. Think about it – the men who ridiculed him and called him insane were the very men he longed to see redeemed!
At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
Acts 26:24
Luke’s account of Paul here reveals a heart that burned with such great zeal for Christ! He was willing to speak of Jesus in the most intimidating environment imaginable, speaking to powerful men who mocked him, even when his own future hung in the balance. Paul truly believed that everyone needed to hear the gospel!
Question: Do we believe what Paul believed – that everyone needs to hear the gospel? How might we overcome potential fear of rejection or ridicule, if that’s a concern? When we sense a door being opened for that conversation, how should we approach it?
Let us think about these things more often than we do.
Former Blackout Artist 