Tell your story

S: Acts 26

O: Paul gave his testimony before King Agrippa—both in the legal sense, as a defense against the charges against him, and in the spiritual sense, as his personal story of encountering Christ.

While Festus was not persuaded, saying “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” Agrippa, having the Jewish context Paul was addressing, understood what he was getting at, replying “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”

Nonetheless, they both agreed “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” and “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

While one might have thought that Paul had made a mistake to appeal to Caesar, in actual fact, back in Acts 23, God had already told Paul he was going to Rome, so this effectively meant that the Roman government would cover the cost of his journey to Rome!

A: Sharing our testimony—our personal journey to faith in Christ—is a powerful way to share the Gospel. People may argue against doctrine, but they can’t deny the reality of your experience. While not everyone will be persuaded, as we saw with Festus and Agrippa, it can plant a seed that causes them to reflect and seek the truth.

P: Father, help me to be alert to opportunities to share my story. Give me the wisdom to share it in a way that points others to you and the courage to speak even when I don’t know how they will respond. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Paul’s Appeal to Caesar: Trusting God and Using Our Rights Wisely

 

S: Acts 25

O: After 2 years in prison, now there’s a new governor, Festus. Again, the Jewish leaders tried the ploy of getting him sent to Jerusalem for trial there, but Paul may have suspected they were still going to try to kill him on the way as before. So, he exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar – if a Roman citizen believed the provincial authorities were treating them unjustly, they could appeal to a higher authority—ultimately to Caesar.

At this time, Nero was still in his early years, before he became known as a despot and tyrant. As a result, Paul may have expected a fair trial from him, as he wouldn’t have any personal stake in the matter and could be impartial.

Moreover, Paul already knew that God was sending him to eventually testify in Rome, as God had revealed that to him back in Jerusalem. So, since appealing to Caesar would send him to Rome, that was in line with what he knew God had planned.

A: We don’t always know what God has in store, but we can still trust him because he is in control. At the same time, it is also reasonable to exercise our rights as citizens of our country and use legal proceedings to our advantage and for the sake of the Gospel when it helps us stand for truth and advance God's mission.

P: Father, help me to trust in you and follow your wisdom in difficult circumstances. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Trust and obey

S: Acts 24

O: It seems like standard practice to try to butter up the governor at the start of your speech to present your case… both the lawyer Tertullus and Paul did it. 😅 Though Paul didn’t do it as much as Tertullus, who relied heavily on flattery. Paul was respectful but restrained, showing that while tact is good, truth should not be compromised.

Interesting that Paul said that these men accusing him also accepted the resurrection – that means that these accusers were Pharisees, not Sadducees. This highlights how divided these Jewish leaders were, even as they united against Paul.

Felix was intrigued by Paul’s message and called for him many times, yet he never made a decision to follow Christ. When Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and sent him away—clearly, the message was hitting too close to home! Despite this conviction, he kept delaying, waiting for a “more convenient time” that never came.

Ironically, his greed also kept Paul in prison—he was hoping for a bribe. But that very delay meant Paul had repeated opportunities to share the Gospel with him. This shows how God's purposes can work even through human injustice.

A: Paul was respectful but did not rely on flattery like Tertullus. This reminds us to speak truthfully, even when trying to make a good impression. Sometimes I’m tempted to say what people want to hear rather than what is true, or at least to soften it. I need God’s guidance to know when to be more forthright.

Felix felt God’s conviction, but he kept putting off making the decision to follow Christ, and he also let his greed keep Paul in prison, hoping for a bribe, and as far as we know, he never got saved. If I know God has asked me to do something, I need to stop putting it off and do it.

Even though Paul was unjustly imprisoned, God used it for good. As Paul himself reminded us in Romans 8:28, God works all things for good for those who are called according to his purpose. So we can take heart if we’re faced with an unfair situation.

P: Lord, have your way in me. Shape me like the potter shapes the clay. Help me to be truthful, obedient, and trusting, even in unfair situations. May I not delay when you convict me but respond with faith and action. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Trusting God in difficult circumstances

S: Acts 23

O: Paul took advantage of the fact that the Pharisees had some affinity to Christian teachings because they believed in the resurrection. So he pitted the Pharisees and the Sadducees against each other, dividing the Sanhedrin.

Later, we find out that many Pharisees become Christians, so much so that they became a problem in the church – they became the Judaisers who wanted to impose the Mosaic Law on Gentile believers.

The anti-Paul faction, however, formed a conspiracy to kill Paul by asking for him to be brought to the high priest, so that they could ambush and kill him on the way. But Paul’s nephew somehow heard of this, and so the Roman commanding officer, Claudius Lysias, sent him to Procurator Felix. He took the opportunity to spin the circumstances as if he had rescued Paul from the initial mob because he was a Roman citizen. In actual fact, as we read in the last chapter, he didn’t know Paul was a Roman when he stopped the mob and was about to have him flogged without trial when he found out and stopped at the last moment!

A: Paul used his knowledge of the Pharisees' and Sadducees' theological differences to create division, preventing immediate harm. This shows that wisdom and discernment are valuable when navigating opposition. We should ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) to handle conflicts, especially when facing hostility or difficult conversations about faith.

Paul was in danger multiple times, yet God ensured his safety through unexpected means—his Roman citizenship, the intervention of his nephew, and the Romans’ involvement. Even when circumstances seem against us, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes to accomplish His plans (Romans 8:28).

Paul faced death threats from those who rejected his message, yet he did not compromise his mission. We should remain faithful in our calling, even if we face opposition from others who misunderstand our faith.

P: Father, thank you that because you are for us, nobody can succeed against us, because nothing can keep us from the love of Christ. Help us to be steadfast in Christ, and lead us by your wisdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.