1. An influential audience (25:23-27)
 a) King Agrippa wanted to hear Paul’s defense to help Festus. Agrippa was the last of the royal Herodian line. He ruled over significant parts of northern Israel (incestuous relationship with his sister, Bernice). He was also responsible for the temple & appointment of the high priest. For this occasion, Governor Felix called together many distinguished Roman guests in Caesar, including commanders of troops & prominent men.
 b) Festus declared Paul’s innocence up front, but since he appealed to Caesar, he had to present a charge to Rome.
 c) Do not be intimidate by distinguished, influential people: they need to hear of Christ.
2. Paul’s introduction (26:1-3)
 a) Agrippa was an expert on Jewish matters (Bernice was Jewish). He was familiar with what Paul would share.
 b) Paul’s opening remarks are kind & with appreciation:  learn from this in addressing others.
3. Paul’s life before Christ (26:4-11)
 a) Paul’s testimony is given for the 3rd time in Acts (9, 22). Facts are added, or left out, to appeal to King Agrippa & the Roman audience (wise use of a testimony).
 b) All Jews, including his accusers, knew of his upbringing at Jerusalem: he lived as a Pharisee, the strictest sect in Judaism (not the upbringing of a revolutionist against the Jewish religion).
 c) Once again, he gets to the heart of charges against him. It had to do with the hope of the resurrection for which the 12 tribes of Israel earnestly long. His question in v8 (“incredible/unbelievable”) would appeal to the Roman worldview where the concept of a resurrection was absurd. Agrippa knew of this strong hope in Israel.
 d) Paul admits he was once like his accusers (even more zealous, Gal. 1:13-14). He acted with hostility against the name of Jesus of Nazareth, by persecuting His followers. With the chief priest’s authority, he locked up saints (Christians), and cast his vote (black stone) against them as deserving death. He punished them in synagogues (39 lashes) & tried to force them to blaspheme (deny Christ). In his zeal for God, he pursued Christians to foreign cities.
4. Paul’s encounter with Christ (26:12-18)
 a) He headed to Damascus to confront more Christians. At noon, he & his companions were overwhelmed by a light brighter than the sun & they fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice in Hebrew, asking, “Saul…why... persecuting Me?” “It is hard/kick against the goads”- imagery commonly used in Greek/Roman circles for someone resisting a god to their own detriment.
 b) Obviously this encounter from heaven was from God. Paul was confused who was speaking. The heavenly being identified Himself as Jesus (risen & glorified). Paul was persecuting Him by going after his followers. Christ was the Messiah who fulfilled the hope of Israel with His death & resurrection. Then Jesus commissioned Paul to be a minister & witness of what happened, and other things Jesus would show him later. He promised to rescue him from Jewish & Gentile opposition so he could open people’s eyes to turn from spiritual darkness to light & from the dominion/authority of satan to God (his audience understood authority). Such individuals would be forgiven and receive an inheritance among those had been set apart by faith in the risen/exalted One.
5. Paul’s life after Christ (26:19-23)
 a) Paul was obedient to this sudden redirection of his life. He preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, all over Judea & to Gentiles (Antioch & 3 missionary journeys). In light of what Jesus accomplished, they should repent & turn to God with a genuine life-changing repentance.
 b) The Jews who did not believe this seized him in the temple, to kill him. However, God helped him (through Roman forces) to continue to testify to the small & great what their Scriptures said was going to happen: the Christ would suffer for sin & then conquer death & sin by rising from the dead so that both Jews & Gentiles could come to Him to experience God’s salvation from sin.
6. Paul’s appeal to his audience (26:24-32)
 a) Festus interrupted Paul declaring he was out of his mind. His great learning drove him to insanity.
 b) Paul respectively countered this and made an earnest appeal to King Agrippa. Agrippa knew of these matters. It was out in the open & spreading. He asked if he believed the Prophets, coaxing him on. This put Agrippa in an awkward position so he dodged the question, “In a short time/with little effort…”(likely a dismissive question)
 c) Paul using “short/long,” expressed that was his desire for his entire audience except for the chains.
 d) This hearing gave Caesar more information about Paul’s case. Agrippa declared Paul’s innocence (3rd time, important for the church), but they were obligated to send him to Caesar since Paul made that appeal.
 e) Let us be bold before great & small to point to humankind’s hope through faith in the resurrected Lord.