I AM PERSUADED; NOW YOU MUST BE

  

  Jesus was accused of being crazy for claiming to be God in the Flesh. He was crucified for that silly (sic) notion. The crowd saw Him dead, and afterwards alive. They saw Jesus translated into Heaven, but still did not believe. They disbelieved their own religion as Moses and the prophets visions were all about that occasion. Paul used that argument to persuade King Agrippa who knew scripture thoroughly.

  Agrippa knew beforehand that Jesus died and was raised from the dead. He had not, however, considered that as evidence for his own faith. He seemed to have faith that a Messiah would come, die on a tree, and rise again, but when it occurred, he disbelieved. Paul, under arrest for professing Jesus to be the awaited Messiah, used reason and logic to convince Agrippa that what he believed had really happened.

KEY VERSES: For it seemeth to me unreasonable (to Festus) to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. (Acts 25:27)… 3 I beseech thee (Agrippa) to hear me patiently… 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.” 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness… 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26)

  Festus was governor of Judea because Agrippa was too young to rule that Roman colony by himself. Agrippa thoroughly knew Jewish Law, but surely had no training in Roman Law. The strict Jews often convicted based on appearances. If anyone even appeared to break the Law, they were accused and often convicted. They even convicted Jesus of breaking the Law for healing on the Sabbath. Paul would not stand a chance with the chief priest, but perhaps more so with Festus and Agrippa.

  Festus judged Paul first and found no wrong according to Roman Law, so he sent Paul to Agrippa to be judged by the Law of Moses, of course expanded to 611 offenses. Adam could not even keep one Law, but Jews were expected to abide by hundreds. Surely, as the mob judged, Paul surely must have broken at least one. Their excessive regulations were an assurance that all have sinned and deserve punishment. Paul was accused, and if not convicted, laid in wait to kill him.

  Festus was rational whereas the mob was emotional. Paul had not harmed Festus, any Romans, Roman Law, or even Caesar. His accusers were all Jews. Festus rightfully believed that although Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, he should he judged on religious matters according to Judean Law.

  Festus was more reasonable in his approach. He said, “It seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes against him.” Festus thought it unreasonable that Paul would be convicted of a crime because he was surely guilty of sinning. To the Jews he must have done something wrong; they needed only to determine what it was! Festus did the rational thing; he thought it fair for Paul to face his accusers and defend himself.

  Festus controlled the mob. They were again out for blood, but Festus would not have mob law even under the pretext of Jewish justice. The fair thing for Festus to do was send Paul to King Agrippa where he could face his accusers. Paul’s accusers failed to show up at Agrippa’s judgment seat. They still waited to murder Paul. They did not want justice; it was only blood that would satisfy their thirst.

  As a side-note, I saw the same thing on television this morning. The mob is on the streets again for Klan-type justice. A policeman killed another black person, and a bunch of emotional, irrational people want their form of justice, regardless whether it is just or not! Neither the judgment seat of Festus nor Agrippa were emotional judgement seats, but reasonable ones.

  Festus did not sin, nor did Agrippa. Only the self-righteous Jews sinned. Paul, as Jesus before him, was accused on “presumptuous sin” —  Paul’s beliefs and speech were inappropriate in their viewpoint. This was a case of the PC Police against freedom of thought, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.

  Then the hearing began. Paul said to Agrippa, “I beseech thee to hear me patiently.” The implication therein was that the mob was impatient and refused to hear the evidence. Does that not sound familiar? Mobs do not want the truth; they want vengeance, and then have the audacity to call their vengeance “justice.” Can you not hear them now? Justice for Moses! Justice for Ananias! For what? Offending the Law and chief priest. Paul hurt nobody. What he said was merely offensive to arrogant Jews!

  Then Paul began with the truth: “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.” Paul began his defense with an incredible story. He saw the Holy Ghost of Jesus! Who would believe such a story?

  Well, most church denominations would not believe that! One mention of the “Holy Ghost” becomes laughable to them, but King Agrippa neither ridiculed nor laughed. He knew scripture. He knew that Jesus would die and be raised from death! Christians should believe that as well. Yet, few Christians would consider the Holy Ghost speaking as credible, let alone the evidence of bright life, which perhaps was in “bodily shape” (Luke 3:22).  However, Agrippa fit that piece of evidence into what he had heard about Jesus, and thought, That is beginning to make sense! But not before doubting.

  Agrippa first accused Paul of being a “mad man.” Name-calling  or insults are acceptable evidence, and those who use vulgar language in debates, lose debates. Agrippa soon backed off. Paul was surely not crazy because he was saying what Moses and the prophets said. Paul had envisioned what Moses had at the burning bush! Paul’s story was credible because it was consistent with Agrippa’s own knowledge. However, Christians today believe in the burning bush but not the Holy Ghost. How inconsistent!

  Mobs used ridicule and mockery because mobs are irrational and emotional. Modern day mobs show limited knowledge, limited vocabularies, and nor much reason. Their “defense” is hatred, name-calling, and the F-word. Biden used the same technique in his debate with the President. He name-called with “clown” etc. When he resorted to that, he persuaded nobody but only reinforced the mob outside!

  Paul’s defense was, “I speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” In other words, Paul was not emotional, would speak rationally, and present evidence. That contrasted to the mob that was emotional, irrational, and full of false accusations.

  Mobs kill with impunity and nowadays burn down their own cities. How emotional and irrational is that? Yet the modern Democrat “Sanhedrin” accepts that as sober, rational behavior, as they encourage the mob to continue with their false perception of justice. The mob was out to kill because the authority (Ananias) condoned it. The mob is out for blood today because Democrats condone it!

  Paul then presented his defense. He explained that he once disbelieved, but Jesus made a believer of him. He also presented evidence from Agrippa’s own scripture to support the Way of Jesus. He also professed to violence only before he was a Christian, and not afterward. He persuaded Agrippa that before he was a Christian, he was a threat, but that he no longer was. He calmly presented a reasonable argument. If Paul had called the mob a “mob,” then Agrippa would have been dissuaded because he was a reasonable man.

  Agrippa listened to reason, unlike the mob. Paul used reason, and what was the result? “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Paul’s words were inspired by God, and Agrippa seemed to hear God’s calling to become a Christian.

  What kept Agrippa from being fully persuaded? We do not know, but we do know that he was only a “king” in name. He was a pretender to the Herodian throne. In other words, politics may have kept Agrippa from being convinced. He was surely afraid of offending both Caesar and his Jewish constituents. Perhaps he was persuaded but was afraid to admit it! After conferring with Festus, both found Paul innocent, but Paul asked for judgment from Caesar and so be it.

  What would have happened if Agrippa had released Paul? He would have been murdered by the Jews just like Jesus before him. God had a Plan, and unwittingly to them, both Festus and Agrippa were part of it. Why was Felix replaced by Festus in the middle of Paul’s incarceration? Because it was part of God’s Plan. Why did Paul appeal to Caesar? Not because he erred, but that was God’s Plan. The Holy Ghost traveled with Paul to Festus, then to Agrippa, and he would go to Rome with Paul. But for today’s Christians, the Holy Ghost does not even go to Church with them!

  Paul wanted Nero to hear first-hand the gospel of Christ. Paul was picked to persuade the Gentile world. Like it or not, if you live in the west, you are a Christian because Paul went to Rome to present the truth to the known world at that time. Because Festus and Agrippa were not persuaded to become Christians, may be why you are persuaded. Think on that! If the mob had their way, the Way of Jesus would have never reached America, and perhaps you and I would perish in the end!

  Why are all those stories in the Bible? Why should we care that Paul was persecuted and disbelieved? So that we are persuaded by scripture of the truth.

  Paul died in Rome. His purpose was finished. Why do I write about Paul and present the gospel? Because that is my purpose. When I cease spreading the Word to the world, my existence is no longer necessary. With that, I will write until unable to see the keyboard. That is my “Great Commission.” What is yours?

(picture credit: Early Church History; "Roman Trial")