Acts 26 is the story of Paul and his disciples in the city of Antioch. The chapter contains the account of Paul’s conversion, the death of Christians, and Agrippa’s question. This article offers a study guide for the chapter.
Paul’s consent to the death of the Christians
Paul, a Pharisee, was a convert to Christianity on the road to Damascus. While on the road, he was struck blind. He went on to become one of the most famous converts of all time.
After his conversion, he began to travel throughout the Eastern Empire to preach the message. His mission was to take the message to the non-Jewish people. During his time in Antioch, he met a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles.
There were forty thousand Jews living in Antioch, a large Jewish community outside of the Jewish homeland during the Roman period. This caused conflict. In response, the leadership of Jerusalem agreed to allow Paul to convert the gentiles without forcing them to be circumcised.
Paul’s attitude toward the converts sparked controversy in Antioch. He claimed that the law was not violated and that the converts were free from all dietary laws. However, he argued that God was using the government to deal with evil.
Paul’s conversion
One of the most significant parts of Acts of the Apostles is the account of Paul’s conversion. It relates to how Paul came to know Jesus. The conversion is described as a miraculous event. This encounter with Christ shaped Paul’s life and reshaped the mission of the church.
The conversion is recorded in three different chapters of the book of Acts. In the first chapter, it is explained that Jesus appeared to Paul. He called him to preach the gospel to all people and to turn many from darkness to light.
Acts 26:12-23 reveals the testimonies of Paul to the Caesarea Maritima leaders. It also describes how Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles in Caesarea. After his conversion, he traveled to foreign cities to preach the gospel of repentance.
Paul’s conversion is discussed in several epistles. The conversion is also described in the medieval play The Digby Conversion of Saint Paul.
There are minor differences between the accounts of the conversion. These differences do not invalidate the accounts but are expected in historical records.
Agrippa’s rejection of the gospel
The infamous Agrippa of Acts 26 may not have been a true Christian, but he did have some knowledge of the gospel. He knew about the resurrection of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, and the wonders of God. However, he did not want to be set apart by faith in Jesus, so his answer was not a surprise.
His response appears to be devastating. In fact, it fits protocol and fits the plan of God.
Although he may not have been a true believer, his response is the right way to respond. It does not have to be the case.
Moreover, it is not the only time that a person has responded to a gospel that they may not have heard before. If they have heard it before, they would have been in a better position to assess its merits.
Similarly, the most common response to the resurrection of Jesus is to deny its existence. For instance, if they were to deny its existence, they would have no reason to consider the miracles of Jesus.
Agrippa’s question was a legitimate question
Agrippa was a well-rounded jack of all trades, which explains why he was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He was a bona fide expert in Jewish lore, so it makes sense that he would know that something is a thing if it is done well. It was also his civic duty to do the right thing at the right time. The result was a happy and healthy Agrippa. The one thing that wasn’t so happy was his mistress, Bernice. She was a tad ribbing about her pampered life as the wife of a tycoon. In a roundabout way, she scolded her husband, whom she had a crush on for a good portion of their lives. So Agrippa decided to do something about it. Using her as a pawn if you will. This paved the way for a new found love.
Upon closer inspection, Agrippa noticed that the aforementioned tamer was squirtin’ away. Seeing that her mistress was more than just a tamer, Agrippa was left with no option but to make amends for her ailment and make the frocks hers.
