Acts 21-26

Before the Jewish Mob (Acts 21-22) Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23) Before Felix (Acts 24) Before Festus (Acts 25) Before Agrippa (Acts 26)

They Rejected Him because he his mission to the gentiles Before the Mob Paul’s Speech Addressed them as brothers and fathers Spoke in Hebrew Identified with them v3-5 Jew Trained by Gamaliel Persecuted Christians Personal Testimony v 6-21 They Rejected Him because he his mission to the gentiles

Winning Arguments vs Winning Hearts

The Sanhedrin Tried to Proofed credibility through lifestyles Got Rejected Talked about resurrection Suducees vs Pharasees The Pharisees were supernaturalists, who believed in miracles, the soul, in the resurrection, in the absolute necessity of the fulfillment of the whole moral law, in the infallibility of the Scripture, and in the coming of a Messiah. The Sadducees denied every one of these things, and therefore their theology was farther from Christianity. Apologetics Not politics but theology

Felix The charge By the lawyer Tertullus vv1-9 1 Troublemaker There were many Jewish agitators at that time, Messianic pretenders who threatened the very ‘peace’ that Tertullus had attributed to Felix 2. Ringleader of a Sect Trying to argue that Christianity should not get the same “protection “ as Judaism 3 Profaning the Temple The basic : a) They charge him with acting contrary to Moses (of being unfaithful to the Scriptures and the faith of his people), and b) they charge him with acting contrary to Caesare (of being a disturber of the peace and of undermining society Paul’s Rebuttal vv10-21 Troublemaker ( trouble receiver )   vv11-13 He was not disputing with anyone , no proof Ringleader of a sect ( It’s not a sect ) 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect,  I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,  15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.  16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Profaning the temple v17-20 (No evidence or case ) For the right reasons ( offering – clean ) Accusations don’t hold ground even before the Sanhedrin

Festus Similar Charges Many and serious Paul : Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” Festus wants favor from the Jews and offers to trials at jerusalem Paul sees through it and asks to be sent to Rome Festus talks to Agrippa

Agrippa Pauls Argument Vv2-3 Setting the direction & tone a) He is going to assume that the king know much about Biblical teaching b) he is going to assume that the king has the intelligence and intellectual seriousness to listen to a sustained argument Summary : “I sense in you the intelligence to listen to a full presentation — so here goes.” vv.4-8. Paul opens by showing evidence that he is completely committed to the Biblical faith of his fathers. “Pharisee of the Pharisees” — as versed in and committed to the Biblical truth and Law of God as anyone ever has been. Also, like the Pharisees, he was committed to the future hope of the resurrection of the just. Summary: “Despite the charges, my record shows that no one has studied and loved the Law of God or hoped in the resurrection more than I, and I have not changed!” vv.9-11. Here Paul brings out a second fact — his violent persecution of Christians. First, it proves again that he was very committed to the Biblical faith, and second, it also in a sense shows that he understands how people could be opposed to Christianity and see it as a betrayal of the faith. Summary: “Indeed, I can understand how my brothers feel--I once saw Christianity this way myself. But the evidence for Christ was so strong it changed my mind.”

Agrippa vv.12-16. Here Paul recounts his meeting with Christ on the Damascus road. That this was not a hallucination or just a personal vision is seen by the fact that “we all fell to the ground” when the blazing light of Jesus shone on Paul and his companions (v.13-14). In this version of his experience he stresses that he was to be sent out as a witness to the Christ he met. Summary: “When I was confronted with the reality of the resurrected Christ, it changed the whole direction of my life.” vv.17-21. Here Paul gives Agrippa the explanation for the hostility of Jewish leaders. It is not because he is being untrue to the Biblical faith and the hope of Israel (see vv.22-23), but because he proclaiming that through Christ the Gentiles can share and be included in the Biblical faith and the hope of Israel. Summary: “I am accused not because I am unfaithful to our God, but because I teach that through Christ the Gentiles can also know our God.” vv.22-23. The second of the two lines of evidence that Paul uses is the testimony of the Scriptures. He argues that the Bible pointed to and looked to Jesus Christ. Everything about him was predicted, namely, that through his work, his death and resurrection, he would bring salvation (“light”) to both Jew and Gentile So, though Paul is proclaiming the God of Israel through the Scriptures of Israel and pointing to the hope of Israel (resurrection unto eternal life with God), he is putting Jew and Gentile on an equal spiritual footing. Summary: “And when I looked at the Scripture, I found that it predicted this same Christ, through whom both Jew and Gentile can have the light of God.”

Summary Appealing to win hearts Personal to be real It showed change (transformation ) Contextualized to be relatable Provoking to give a challenge It was Gospel (resurrection ) focused Truthful in spite of the consequences