Act 26:27-29 | KingComments | STEP | Then Paul turned directly to Agrippa and forced him to make a choice. Paul knows that Agrippa believes the prophets. Now the kind of faith Agrippa has does not bring someone to repentance. Familiarity with the facts of Christendom is not enough. There must be a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, the application of the Word of God to heart and conscience, through which someone confesses his sins and resorts to the Lord Jesus. This does not take away from the fact that Paul takes Agrippa at his confession. He sees this as a starting point to win him to the gospel. For Agrippa, who will have listened very attentively, this confrontation is too frontal. With a feint he turns away from the confrontation. He wanted to know everything about this new religion, but he does not want to be addressed personally. With a remark, perhaps mockingly intended, he avoids the pressure that Paul puts on him. He realizes that Paul’s concern is to make him a Christian. He uses the name “Christian”, which indicates that this name has become widespread and used for the followers of Christ since Acts 11 ( ). He may be using this excuse because he does not really want to expose himself to the high society (cf. ). In his reaction Paul makes an even broader appeal and speaks to all those present. The motivation of his heart is not only the salvation of Agrippa, but of all. He is rich in God and as such he can call himself an example of happiness. The years in captivity have been blessed years. The more than two years he has been unjustly imprisoned have not made him a bitter man, but a man who can make grace shine all the brighter. He grants them his inward happiness, not his chains. He does not want someone to be treated as unjustly as he is. This is Christendom. Grace surpasses all evil. Grace desires the best, even for those who surrender to a temporary enjoyment of sin. For Felix, Paul was the preacher of righteousness ( ). For Agrippa and Festus, he is the possessor of blessing far beyond all earthly glory. After these words of Paul, there is no more mocking language, no more threatening language, but a standing up and going of the whole company. They retreat to confer. In these deliberations it is again established that Paul has done nothing illicit. The conclusion is that “this man” could have been set free. However, since he appealed to the emperor, he had to go to Rome. They cannot decide otherwise either, for it is the path that God has determined in His sovereignty for His servant.

‏ Acts 26:27-29

Agrippa Must Choose

Then Paul turned directly to Agrippa and forced him to make a choice. Paul knows that Agrippa believes the prophets. Now the kind of faith Agrippa has does not bring someone to repentance. Familiarity with the facts of Christendom is not enough. There must be a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, the application of the Word of God to heart and conscience, through which someone confesses his sins and resorts to the Lord Jesus. This does not take away from the fact that Paul takes Agrippa at his confession. He sees this as a starting point to win him to the gospel.

For Agrippa, who will have listened very attentively, this confrontation is too frontal. With a feint he turns away from the confrontation. He wanted to know everything about this new religion, but he does not want to be addressed personally. With a remark, perhaps mockingly intended, he avoids the pressure that Paul puts on him. He realizes that Paul’s concern is to make him a Christian. He uses the name “Christian”, which indicates that this name has become widespread and used for the followers of Christ since Acts 11 (Acts 11:26). He may be using this excuse because he does not really want to expose himself to the high society (cf. Mt 14:9).

In his reaction Paul makes an even broader appeal and speaks to all those present. The motivation of his heart is not only the salvation of Agrippa, but of all. He is rich in God and as such he can call himself an example of happiness. The years in captivity have been blessed years. The more than two years he has been unjustly imprisoned have not made him a bitter man, but a man who can make grace shine all the brighter.

He grants them his inward happiness, not his chains. He does not want someone to be treated as unjustly as he is. This is Christendom. Grace surpasses all evil. Grace desires the best, even for those who surrender to a temporary enjoyment of sin. For Felix, Paul was the preacher of righteousness (Acts 24:25). For Agrippa and Festus, he is the possessor of blessing far beyond all earthly glory.

After these words of Paul, there is no more mocking language, no more threatening language, but a standing up and going of the whole company. They retreat to confer. In these deliberations it is again established that Paul has done nothing illicit. The conclusion is that “this man” could have been set free. However, since he appealed to the emperor, he had to go to Rome. They cannot decide otherwise either, for it is the path that God has determined in His sovereignty for His servant.