Acts - Week 13 / Wednesday

Reading for today: Acts 26:1-11

King Agrippa allows Paul to speak on his own behalf, and so Paul launches into his Faith Story for the third time in this book of Acts. He feels fortunate to be able to make his defense before Agrippa because Agrippa is well versed in Jewish customs and "controversies" (or topics that Jews are not in agreement over).

One of the controversies pertinent to this trial is the resurrection of the dead. Agrippa would have considered himself a Jew, in name only. This religious affiliation with the Jews was for political purposes. He was not a practicing Jew.

Paul, unlike the orator/lawyer, Tertullus, in chapter 24, does not promise to be brief, but asks for patience in hearing him out. Paul first states his background and then raises the real issue of his trial. He pointed out that all the Jews knew his manner of life both in Tarsus and Jerusalem. He also mentions that they all knew he was a member of the sect of the Pharisees.

He then states that it is because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead that the Jews were bringing charges against him. He ends this portion of his defense with a great question, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"

He goes on to describe his zeal in persecuting the followers of Jesus. He told how the Sanhedrin had given him authority to arrest and jail believers in Jesus. So zealous was Paul in this persecution that he even traveled to cities outside of Judea to pursue them.

Paul has now set his listeners up for the meat of his story, which we will look at tomorrow. Once again we see this master communicator very much aware of whom he is speaking to. He identifies with them as much as possible so as to create common ground for the presentation of Jesus.

Tomorrow: And now, for the rest of the story!