“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!” Acts 26:1-3 NLT
Saul, then becoming the Apostle Paul, is a favorite of New Testament characters that God used to get to declare the message of the gospel of Jesus. Paul’s discipleship methods, his evangelism plans are so clever.
One, because Paul had a secular job as a tent maker and repair, he setup his shop in most of the cities he traveled to. In these open-air malls or city marketplaces he would talk shop and Jesus with other shop owners. This was very effective in leading Gentiles to Christ. The other method was not only unique, it was dangerous and painful.
Paul saw his arrests by the Jewish leaders as an opportunity to share his testimony, which is key in sharing the gospel. And Paul had a riveting story to share! The Bible records three official arrests of Paul. However, other accounts and Paul’s own words suggest he was imprisoned more frequently, possibly seven times. As a Roman citizen, Paul knew he had rights and eventually he exercised one of those rights to appeal to Caesar himself – Acts 25:11: “But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!
As we see here with Agrippa, Paul had a method to his incarceration madness. It’s a perfect outline for us to use to easily and humbly share the gospel to everyone that God would open a door to listen.
One: Paul shares his past, who he was before Jesus transformed his life. He writes that he was thoroughly Jewish, even becoming a part of the elite Sanhedrin as a Pharisee, “the strictest sect of our religion.” He told of his obsession, ridding the world of any mention of the name of Jesus the Nazarene. He had ordered the arrest and imprisonment of many believers in Jesus, having them beaten to get them to curse Jesus. He personally chased them down city by city.
Two: Paul shared the moment he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. A blinding light from heaven forced his entourage to fall face down in the dirt. Paul heard a voice in Aramaic – ”We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’ “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.” Acts 26:14-15. Paul was directly and personally confronted by Jesus!
Three: Paul shared his purpose: Jesus gave him his calling, his true purpose in life – an Apostle to the Gentiles! Jesus told him, “And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles…” And Paul told Agrippa he said yes, “I obeyed that vision from heaven.” Paul even shared his strategy of gaining access to high officials and invites King Agrippa to surrender his life to Christ – ”Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest.”
Four: Paul directly pops the question to Agrippa- because at some point, this is what we are called to do! “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—” Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
Finally, Luke records a key verse letting us know that Paul understood what was ahead of him and that the plan was working. “Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.” Acts 26:30-32. Now you see, as Paul already knew! Oh, but he was set free by Jesus and imprisonment was just part of the plan!
Prayer
Dad,
Paul clearly understood that suffering, riots, arrests and imprisonment was simply a part of the plan you had for him. It’s not everyone’s purpose, but you were glorified through his life. I am amazed because Paul was resolute, even content with this! Can I be content, even in suffering, and still be in Your will? It is apparent the answer should be YES! Am I willing to see and be fully aware that You are in control and that I can yield rather than struggle or complain? I want the answer to be YES. Thank you for Paul’s plan (and yours), sharing the gospel. It’s a great template to use.