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Sermon Introduction

When certain Jews from Asia saw Paul at the Jerusalem temple, they incited the mob against him. They attacked the apostle with baseless charges, sparking a riot in which some Jews attempted to assassinate Paul. Roman troops arrived at the scene to quell the riot; they arrested Paul for his protection. Then Paul appealed to Cesar's legal system to avoid being taken to a Jewish court, which was undoubtedly a trap. Thus, Paul made his defense before King Agrippa and Festus, and the latter thought Paul had gone insane with too much learning. Paul included the essentials of the gospel message in his narrative. The essentials include the resurrection and repentance. Paul justified his mission by referencing the writings of the Prophets and Moses and a supernatural encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.

Ed Pilapil Jr.
Senior Pastor

Acts 26:19-23

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass. 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles”.

Notes

When certain Jews from Asia saw Paul at the Jerusalem temple, they incited the mob against him. They attacked the apostle with baseless charges, sparking a riot in which some Jews attempted to assassinate Paul. Roman troops arrived at the scene to quell the riot; they arrested Paul for his protection. Then Paul appealed to Cesar's legal system to avoid being taken to a Jewish court, which was undoubtedly a trap. Thus, Paul made his defense before King Agrippa and Festus, and the latter thought Paul had gone insane with too much learning. Paul included the essentials of the gospel message in his narrative. The essentials include the resurrection and repentance. Paul justified his mission by referencing the writings of the Prophets and Moses and a supernatural encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.

1. Repentance

   Paul narrated what he proclaimed in Jerusalem, Damascus, and Judea, and to the Gentiles, which was to repent and turn to God. Aside from repentance, Paul instructed that they should do deeds in keeping with repentance. Everything Paul did was aligned with the vision in Damascus.

   
   19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance (Acts 26:19-20).

   Application: Let us remain faithful to the heavenly vision that God gave Paul, which is to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. One of the critical elements of the gospel is repentance, which also reflects believing. We must never neglect to proclaim repentance and to challenge people to live according to God’s word.

   
   

2. Scripture

   Paul experienced persecution from the Jews because he proclaimed repentance, plus the fulfillment of the writings of Moses and the prophets in Christ. The Jews could not accept that Jesus was the Messiah. However, despite persecution, God protected and led Paul to the path God ordained.

   21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass (Acts 26:21-22).

   Application: Despite remaining Scriptural in Paul’s proclamation, the Jews would not receive it. Some would listen to the clear explanation, but others would remain blind. Like Paul, our proclamation must be rooted in Scripture even if many will not believe in our message.

3. Resurrection

   Paul testified that the Scripture revealed that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead. It is the same message Peter preached in Luke’s account in Acts (Acts 2:36-41), fully aligned with Christ’s explanation and instruction. Moreover, due to the resurrection, He would proclaim light to both Jews and Gentiles.

   
   23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23).

   Application: We must always explain Christ’s resurrection in gospel proclamations. We cannot neglect it because it is the center of the gospel. Those who neglect it misunderstand the gospel.

Highlights of the Chapter

1. Paul declared that Jews and Gentiles should repent and turn to God.

2. The Old Testament prophesied and foreshadowed that the Christ should suffer, die, and rise from the dead.

3. Paul’s message is aligned with the explanation and instruction of the Lord to His disciples found in Luke 24.

Reflection & Discussion

1. What did Paul declare in different places and to Gentiles?

2. What was the reason that the Jews seized Paul?

3. What should come to pass according to Moses and the prophets?