Paul’s Testimony Interrupted
TRANSLATION
(19) (Paul continued) “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (20) but declared first to those in Damascus, then (to those) in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and finally to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their good works. (21) Because of this some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. (22) It is by God’s enablement that I stand here today, testifying both to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would take place, (23) namely, that the Messiah must suffer, and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would bring the message of light both to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
(24) While Paul was making his defense, Festus interrupted with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind! Your great learning is making you insane!” (25) Paul responded, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus. What I say is true and reasonable, (26) for the king is familiar with these things, and to him I speak boldly, for I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice. This has not been done in a corner. (27) King Agrippa, don’t you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” (28) Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?” (29) Paul responded, “Short time or long, I pray God that not only you, but also all who hear me today might become what I am, apart from these chains.”
(30) Then the king arose as did the governor and Bernice and all who sat with them. (31) After they had left the room, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or of imprisonment.” (32) Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
OBSERVATIONS
While Paul was still speaking, Festus, who was clearly unsettled by what he was hearing, interrupted him, using the phrase, “You are out of your mind,” and its synonym, “insane” to describe Paul’s state of mind (vs. 24). Paul repeated the phrase (vs. 25) in responding quite rationally to Festus’ charge. Several other repetitions help us determine the thrust of this passage. Proper names included “Agrippa” (vss. 19, 27, 28, & 32), “Gentiles” (vss. 20 & 23), “God” (vss. 20, 22, & 29), “Festus” (vss. 24, 25, & 32), “Paul” (vss. 24, 25, 28, & 29). Then we also find repetitions of “king” (vss. 19, 26, 27, & 30), “repent/repentance” (both in vs. 20), “believe” (both in vs. 27), and “short” (vss. 28 & 29).
The passage is notable for two additional reasons. The first was King Agrippa’s sarcastic dismissal of Paul’s strong appeal to him to place his faith in Christ: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?” The other was the brief statement Agrippa made to Festus at the conclusion of Paul’s testimony indicating that Paul could have been released apart from having made an appeal to Caesar.
OUTLINE
I. Paul was invited to present his case before Festus and King Agrippa. (19-23)
II. Festus interrupted Paul with his charge, “You are out of your mind.” (24-26)
III. Paul’s appeal to King Agrippa to believe in Christ was met with a cynical response. (27-29)
IV. King Agrippa told Festus that Paul could have been freed if he had not appealed to Caesar. (30-32)
IDEA STATEMENT
After describing his life-transforming encounter with the risen Lord, Paul met with both unbelief and cynicism when he urged King Agrippa to trust in Christ.
APPLICATION
In each of the three synoptic Gospels we find this cryptic comment from Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Mt. 19:24, Mk. 10:25, & Lk. 18:25). In other words, entry into God’s kingdom requires a sacrifice far greater than most people are willing to make, especially the wealthy. This includes not only those with great possessions but also those in positions of power and authority. For King Agrippa to acknowledge the truth of the Gospel would have required him to do the unthinkable for a person in his position: to humble himself, admit his sinfulness, and confess his need for a Savior. Like the rich young ruler who was grieved when Jesus told him he was required to renounce the idol of wealth in which he had been trusting to become his disciple, King Agrippa could not accept the high cost of becoming a follower of Christ.
After the end of Communism, believers in Iasi, Romania were able to purchase an old synagogue to house a Christian school for their children’s education. On a tour of the renovated building, I noted that the doorways to each classroom were half the height of ordinary entrances. When I asked the reason for this, the headmaster told me that these doors had been designed to force everyone to stoop when they entered, conveying the message: “You must humble yourself before you can learn.” Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount with that same requirement: “Blessed are the poor in spirit (those who acknowledge their need), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”