Acts 26

Paul's speech to King Agrippa is very similar to what he has said elsewhere. As usual he starts off by making some respectful remarks, and draws his attention to the Jewish "customs and controversies".

Then Paul points to his own life prior to his conversion, when he was a strict Jew and a member of the Pharisees. In the gospel Paul found the fulfilment of all that he had been taught to hope for. Note that the resurrection is central to what he says, and he points out that we should not consider it strange that God raises someone from the dead. If God is God, then He is perfectly capable of doing whatever He wants to do.

Then Paul recounts how he used to persecute Christians with great zeal. He then tells of his conversion on the road to Damascus. "Kicking against the goads" is a Greek proverbial phrase referring to a pointless exercise. It is a waste of time to oppose God.

Paul then gives the fullest account of what Jesus said to him. Paul was to be a witness, especially to the Gentiles. He would face much opposition, but God would rescue him from this. He was being sent to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to the power of God, and receive forgiveness for their sins.

Paul saw the present events as a fulfilment of this mission. Festus, however, considered him to be out of his mind. So Paul knows what it is like to fail to convince people of the truth. Agrippa and Festus agree that if Paul had not appealed to Caesar he could have been set free. However, if he had not appealed to Caesar he could well have been killed on the way to Jerusalem, and it was God's will that he should go to Rome.