A DECLARATION IN CHAINS – Acts 26:29

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 3, 2019 under 2019 |

Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; February 3, 2019 from Acts 26:29

Theme: We are to walk as a faithful Christian in the place of life where God has called us to Himself.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

I am inspired by famous quotes—and particularly by great declarations, spoken by great people, in great moments of history. Often those quotes become memorialized in writings and on monuments for the rest of the world to see.

Think, for example, of these words: “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.” Those words have been traditionally summarized in this way: “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” Martin Luther’s testimony before the Diet of Worms was one of the most pivotal moments in history; and “Here I stand” became one of the great declarations of the evangelical faith—repeated on the lips of many who have committed their lives to the truth of God’s word.

Centuries later, another Martin—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—gave a speech in in Memphis. As he spoke of the struggle for equality for all people, he said, “We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.” Those were words that he took from the story of Moses as he led the people of Israel toward the promised land. Moses looked at the land from the mountaintop; but he himself could not enter. Dr. King spoke those words, because he was sure that the things he dreamed of would come to pass; but he wasn’t sure he himself would live to see it. And the day after he spoke those words, his life was taken from him. Today, the words “I have been to the mountaintop” are remembered on several monuments and in countless textbooks; and have been an encouragement to millions.

Perhaps there are other such declarations that have been an inspiration to you. Well; this morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I would like to point you to a declaration that was made by a great hero of faith in the Bible—a declaration that ought to be similarly loved and memorialized by us. But as I hope to show, this particular declaration is unique. It has divine authority behind it. You find it at the end of Acts 26. It was a declaration that was spoken by the apostle Paul—a prisoner, shackled in chains—as he stood to give an accounting of himself before a king. He boldly told that king;

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains” (Acts 26:29).

These words had to do with the life-transform through God’s grace that Paul had experienced by faith in Jesus Christ. They express the conviction of the truth that moved him to declare the gospel everywhere that he could. They are words that ought to be carved permanently upon our hearts. They give us the kind of inspiration we need to be faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ in this dark and fallen world, and to share the message of Jesus’ love with others all around us.

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Now; with those other quotes I mentioned, it was important to know the story of the circumstances in which they were first spoken. The stories behind them are what give them meaning and power. And the same is true with this great declaration by the apostle Paul.

These words were spoken at a time after Paul had gone bravely to the city of Jerusalem. He went there to proclaim the gospel to his Jewish kinsmen—though he knew that he would be made to suffer for it. He was arrested and brought by the Roman authorities to the city of Caesarea for protection; but once there, the Roman governor Festus was unsure of how to account for his case. The controversy seemed to be over a man named Jesus who had been crucified—but that Paul insisted was alive. And when the Jewish king, Herod Agrippa came to Caesarea to visit Festus, the governor then asked him if he would hear Paul’s case and render an opinion.

That’s the context in which Paul’s great declaration was given. It’s important to remember that his testimony was not being given to Governor Festus. Rather, he was speaking his testimony specifically and directly to the Jewish ruler, King Herod Agrippa. I would like to read that testimony to you now. It is found in Acts 26. And as I read it, please pay careful attention to every word. Imagine yourself in the hearing room among Roman and Jewish officials, listening in on Paul’s testimony. See if you don’t agree that it is one of the most remarkable ‘courtroom testimonies’ you’ve ever heard.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:1-23).

That was basically a presentation of the gospel; wasn’t it? King Agrippa was a Jewish man—an expert in the customs and traditions of his people. He would have listened to every word that Paul spoke; and all that he said would have been familiar to him. I believe that Agrippa—and everyone else in that room—would have listened carefully to Paul’s personal testimony; and they would have heard the message of the gospel in the process.

And the reason why it’s important to read Paul’s personal testimony is because it would explain what it was that he meant when he said to Agrippa, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” When he said that he wished everyone to be such as he was, he meant that he wanted everyone to experience God’s grace as he had. He had personally encountered the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ; and this encounter had changed his life. He was saved and was on his way to heaven. He went from being Christianity’s greatest antagonist to becoming its greatest missionary. He became a whole-hearted follower of Jesus Christ. And he wanted everyone to have the same kind of faith in Jesus that had changed him. He stood before those officials as living evidence that not even chains of men can stop someone from being completely transformed by the power of Jesus.

That’s why this declaration is such a great one for us, dear brothers and sisters. We ourselves—who have experienced life-transformation through Jesus Christ—should want everyone else to know Him as we have come to know Him, and to be changed by Him as we have been changed by Him.

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Now; those bold and amazing words were spoken by Paul directly to King Agrippa. The role of the Roman governor Festus was not to comment or cross-examine; but only to preside over the hearing. But it seems that Festus couldn’t contain himself. Acts 26 goes on to tell us that Paul’s testimony was suddenly and abruptly interrupted by him:

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” (v. 24).

Whenever I read that, I think to myself what a flattering insult that would be to receive. But Paul would not let the truth of his testimony be set aside so easily. He spoken in a very respectful manner and told the governor,

“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe” (vv. 25-27).

Then, King Agrippa said something that Bible scholars have interpreted in a variety of different ways. The king looked down upon Paul and said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (v. 28). The way that this can literally be translated is: “In a little, you persuade me to act a Christian.” But how exactly did Agrippa mean this? Did he mean it as a question? That’s how some have translated it—as if Agrippa took offense against Paul and said, “Do you actually think that in a few words you could make a Christian out of me?” But another way it can be translated is as a statement of fact—as if, in contrast to Festus, he meant to compliment Paul’s convincing testimony by saying, “If you keep this up, in a few words you’ll almost persuade me to become a Christian!” In other words, though he fell short of making a commitment, Agrippa recognized that Paul’s testimony was powerful and persuasive. And I believe that that’s what Agrippa really meant. I take this to be so because of the positive way he spoke of Paul’s testimony a little later in this chapter.

Now; in whatever way it may have been that Agrippa meant these words, Paul responded to them with the deepest earnestness. It was then that Paul looked right up at Agrippa and—I would suggest with sincere love for the king—spoke those great words: “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” Literally, Paul said that whether it was with ‘little’ or with ‘much’, he wanted Agrippa—and everyone else there—to be transformed by the grace of God through faith in Jesus.

Paul’s case was, in the end, received favorably. The Bible goes on to tell us that when the official hearing was over, they all gathered together and talked among themselves, saying

“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar” (vv. 31-32).

So; that’s the story behind Paul’s declaration. And knowing the details that lay behind it, please consider how significant a declaration it really was.

First consider that it was an encounter of great importance. Paul spoke did not speak these words just before the king of his own people—a king who knew the truth of the things that he was saying from the Scriptures. Paul also spoke them before the Roman governor—the representative of the ruling secular authority. And along with those two men were several officials and authorities—both Jewish and Roman. They all heard it. And it was declared by Paul in the seat of Roman authority over the land—in Caesarea (‘Caesar City’, if you will). It was a very official hearing; having been called for by the ruling authorities in order to gather information before presenting the case to the emperor himself. They told Paul that he may speak freely; and there they all sat listening carefully, as Paul was given full freedom to proclaim the gospel to them. We should consider Paul’s declaration to be of great importance because only God could have arranged such an amazing set of circumstances for the gospel to be declared!

Second, consider that Paul’s testimony was actually an authoritative word from God. Paul spoke his own words; but the words that he spoke were given to him to speak—in that particular occasion and for those particular circumstances—by the Holy Spirit. I say this because this is what the Lord Jesus Himself promised would happen. In Matthew 10:17-20, He told His followers;

“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:17-20).

The wonderful declaration that Paul gave to Agrippa—before the attentive ears of all—would have been given to him, for that unique occasion, by the Holy Spirit.

Third, consider that it was a testimony that would be resisted. We see resistance most clearly in the outburst from the Roman governor that Paul’s testimony was ‘madness’. But perhaps we can detect resistance also in the way the Jewish king said he was only ‘almost persuaded’. Paul wrote about this once. He told the Corinthian believers;

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:22-25).

If Paul’s remarkable, Holy Spirit-inspired declaration was met with resistance, we should expect resistance too when we proclaim Jesus to others.

But finally, we should consider that Paul’s declaration involved an affirmation of truth that could be examined and confirmed. He testified that his words were words of truth and of sound reason; and that none of the things that he spoke of were done in some secret corner somewhere. The message behind his declaration was a testimony of an event that occurred in the real world, in real time, with real people, in real places, with eyewitnesses—an event that was as testable and as verifiable as any event that could be proven true in a court of law.

All of these providential circumstances help us to appreciate the remarkable significance of Paul’s declaration to the king: “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

It truly deserves to be memorialized as one of the greatest declarations in human history.

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Now, dear brothers and sisters in Christ; before we end our time in God’s word, let me share with you what I believe this story is meant to teach us as we serve as the faithful witnesses of the Lord Jesus in this world. Specifically, let’s consider the example that Paul’s great declaration sets for us.

First, consider Paul’s example of reverence toward God in bearing witness for Jesus. When he gave his great declaration to Agrippa, he was clear that his trust wasn’t in his own powers of speech or in his own skills as a debater. It’s true that he gave a very reasonable argument. But when it all came down to a response, he said, ‘I would to God that all become as I am.’ That can be translated, “I would pray to God”. In other words, his trust was in God. Let’s make sure that when we testify to the gospel, we also trust God to open hearts.

Second, consider Paul’s example of boldness before men. Paul gave this testimony before powerful people—a Roman governor, and a Jewish monarch. They were individuals who quite literally had the power of life or death over him. And yet, as he stood before them in chains, he didn’t compromise. He bravely told them the full story of how his life had been changed by Jesus Christ. He even told the king, ‘I would that you—O mighty King Agrippa; sitting in power and authority; clothed in robes of majesty—would become like me in my faith in Jesus Christ.’ With God’s help, let’s also be bold and fearless in inviting other people to trust our Savior.

Third, consider Paul’s example of sacrificial love for all. I believe that the secret to Paul’s great boldness was his love. He genuinely loved King Agrippa. He loved him enough to tell him the truth. He, in fact, loved everyone in that room; because he not only wished that the king would experience the grace of God that he experienced, but that everyone else who heard him would do so also. May God give us a boldness that is born of holy love, and that extends to all classes of people, and that wishes for them to know the Lord Jesus as we have come to know Him.

Fourth, consider Paul’s passion to share God’s grace. He testified of how he had not been negligent; but had obeyed God’s call upon him to proclaim the gospel of God’s grace. His declaration was an expression of heart-felt obedience to the Great Commission—an obedience that often cost him dearly. It was a momentary declaration—in a few words—of the driving passion of his whole life of sacrifice to the Lord Jesus. Let’s pray and ask God to give us the kind of passion that Paul had to share the love of Jesus with others around us.

And finally, consider Paul’s willingness to pay the price to share that love. He once said that he was an “ambassador in chains” for the gospel. He, of course, didn’t want everyone else to have to wear the chains he was wearing. In fact, he even said that he wanted everyone to be like he was—except for those chains. But those chains—dangling from his wrists as he spoke those words—were testimony to how much of a price he was willing to pay to declare Jesus’ love to others. May God help us to be willing to pay price—whatever it may be—to proclaim Jesus to others.

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Now; I started off by saying that I thought these words of Paul’s deserve to be treated like one of the great declarations of history that get etched onto monuments and statues today. But the fact is that they have already been memorialized for us. They have been kept for us—for the past two-thousand years—in the pages of the greatest Book ever written. They have been preserved for us in God’s own holy word. And that’s far better than any man-made monument could ever be.

May God etch them onto our hearts, and give us the passion for souls that Paul had; so that we also can say to others,

“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

EA

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