Hear the testimony of a converted terrorist.
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 to do with 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 the 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 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 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 might 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.
These are words of truth and reason.
ASK OURSELVES –
WHAT IS OUR STATUS AND TESTIMONY
BEFORE GOD AND MAN
CONCERNING OUR FAITH, LIFE AND HOPE.
