Posted by Rev. Ronald Parker
July 31, 2010 -
789 views
verse by verse of acts 26:1-11
Paul is at a hearing at his account Festus, Bernice and all the great men of the city of Caesarea, upon the bench, or about it, waiting to hear what he had to say for himself.
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:
2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,
3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
vs1-3) Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself."
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: hs arm was chained to a garud
" 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
"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today. I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,and especially so (WHY?)
Paul answers that question because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Paul starts he life from child what he did until now
4"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.
5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
( being a pharisee was his job and he did it really well) I was a pharisee
6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today.
7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.
What Paul is saying in verses 4-7. "Been there done that and I even got the medal.
8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
vs 9-13 Paul give account of his converion
9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
Or I went out of my way to have them punished, not only that I had the authority to do it. it was my main obsession was to punished and put them to death.
and nothing was going to get in my way,
