December 9, 2024
Acts 26 exemplifies for modern believers how to share the gospel even in difficult circumstances. This chapter includes one of three accounts of Paul’s testimony within the Book of Acts. The others are in chapters 9 and 22. Acts 9 describes Paul’s Damascus Road experience with Christ, his baptism by Ananias, and how he immediately shared the gospel as a new believer in Christ.
Paul the persecutor became the foremost advocate of the gospel message. In our focal passage, Paul shared his testimony with King Agrippa II. I ask myself if I would be willing to share with governing authorities who have hardened their hearts against Jesus and the proclamation of the Church.
Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ resulted in a complete turnaround in his life. Paul stopped persecuting the Church and became the foremost preacher of the gospel message in Church history by proclaiming the Lord Jesus and the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles.
The best tools we have in sharing the gospel are the Bible and our testimony. In a folksy way I at times share my assurance of salvation: “I know I am saved because I was there when it happened.” What role should a believer’s personal experience play when sharing the gospel?
Nero was the Roman emperor of the time who appointed Festus to serve as procurator of Judea. Felix Festus began his trial of Paul in concert with Herod three days after he arrived in Judea. As Paul shared his testimony before Festus and his entourage, Festus proclaimed that Paul was out of his mind.
Paul denied the charge. From a Christian perspective, Paul was the only one of those men who possessed a sound mind. Paul proclaimed the truth with good judgment. How can we respond when we are mocked or face opposition for our faith?
Paul the evangelist asked King Agrippa if he believed the prophets. Paul answered his own question by stating, “I know you believe.” Agrippa’s question to Paul may be flippant. “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?” The term “Christian” occurs three times in the New Testament — in Acts 11 and 26 and in 1 Peter 4.
The term was not a self-designation but a designation ascribed to followers of Christ by unbelievers in Antioch. The label “Christian” kept the Gentiles from believing Christianity was a sect of Judaism.
Agrippa apparently thought that he possessed more knowledge than Paul. Yet Paul was one of the great intellects of the first century.
How can we prepare ourselves to initiate gospel conversations?
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This lesson was written by Mark Rathel, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
