A Christian's Defense

Acts 26:28-29

Acts 26 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. John 4 reveals to me the love of Christ towards someone as unlikeable and irredeemable as me. That is not pious talk, I really do see myself like the woman at the well. On the other hand, Acts 26 reveals to me how the love of Christ should reveal itself through me.

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Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

Acts 26:28-29

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Paul is on trial for preaching Jesus. If you read the three chapters prior to this, you will see that one of the biggest contentions was the fact that he obeyed the law while worshipping Jesus as the promised Messiah. Thus, none of the courts he appeared before could condemn him.

What I absolutely love about Paul's defense is that he pled not guilty to breaking the law and GUILTY to preaching Jesus. When he gave his defense, he preached Jesus. Paul said, my guilt is Jesus, my defense is Jesus, my defender is Jesus, my witness is Jesus, my defense is Jesus, so guess what, you are goin to hear about Jesus.

Paul's focus was never himself. When he did speak of himself, it was about his conversion. He told of how Jesus changed him from a persecutor of the gospel to a preacher of the gospel. Even when he spoke of himself, the focus was Jesus.

At the end of the trial, Paul asks Agrippa, "Do you believe?", to which Agrippa responds, "You have almost persuaded me to be a Christian". What a sad statement! To be almost saved to is be completely lost. To almost get to Heaven is to be completely in Hell.

Paul reveals his heart in the next verse. "I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds". Paul's principle desire was not to get out of jail, but to see his judges and accusers saved. He wanted them to be saved and serving Christ just as he was. The only thing he did not desire for them was to be in prison and shackles like he was.

There will be many religious people in Hell. There will be many people whose names are on church rolls who are in Hell. Agrippa understood the Jewish religion. He understood what Paul was saying. Yet, he said he was almost persuaded. There will be many people who almost get to Heaven but will not make it because they were "almost persuaded". Just like Paul desired for all those who heard him preach, we should desire that everyone who hears us are "both almost and altogether" saved.

Getting out of trouble should not be our primary desire in life. Jesus said that if we serve Him we will suffer persecution. It seems as though that persecution is beginning to increase in America. We must follow Paul's lead. We must be willing to share the Gospel with those around us, even at the cost of our liberties. After all, Jesus gave up His liberties to save us from our sins. If we are going to bear His name, we should be willing to do the same.

Father, increase my faith. Help me to be willing to proclaim the gospel, no matter the cost. May I always remember that you are my defense. May you use me to see people saved.