22. Permission to Speak Acts 26:1-29 p. 1031

Permission to Speak Most comprehensive of all Paul’s sermons Fulfills God’s word to Ananias (Ac 9:15) All the important people gather to hear Paul (Ac 25:23) Paul shares his testimony.

1. Hope: Resurrection & Restoration Paul has always been a devout Jew He was a Pharisee (v 5) His hope was resurrection & Restoration (v 6) The prophets (Isa 25:8; Eze 37:12; Dan 12:2; Hos 6:2; Jer 23:5-6) He poses a rhetorical question ( v 8) An all-powerful God able to raise the dead is a given

1. Hope: Resurrection & Restoration It took him a while to get to this place himself (v 9) He realized Jesus is the fulfilment of the hopes of Israel Given a responsibility: take this message to the world

2. Message: Turn Paul describes his encounter with Jesus (v 15-18) Three aspects to his task: Open their eyes They may turn from darkness to light They may turn from the power of Satan to God Most explicit picture of reality in Scripture

2. Message: Turn . . . So offensive to our culture of inclusion We do not stand on neutral ground We are living in darkness We are living under the power of Satan With the coming of Jesus light has come (John 1:4-9)

2. Message: Turn . . . Through Jesus we have the opportunity of rescue If we turn, the consequences are huge: We receive forgiveness of sins We have a place with the sanctified He has taken this message wherever he goes (v 20) Repent, turn to God Perform deeds in keeping with repentance

3. Scope: Everyone Paul does not speak to the charges against him Shares his testimony; tells everyone about Jesus His motive is obvious: conversion (v 28-29) He is doing what God told him to (Ac 23:11) He wants to testify before Caesar Everyone is in darkness, under Satan’s power … and they don’t know it !!!

Living It Reality of darkness & the power of Satan are obvious The lostness, emptiness, lack of peace evident everywhere The issue of identity: Define my identity in terms of Christ Created “in the image of God” (Gen 1:27) I do not accept the identity markers promoted in the world

Living It . . . Paul offers new life, salvation, shalom to everyone He wished everyone would “become what I am” (v 29) We must escape the darkness of the world

Living It . . . Not be blind to what we have in Christ: Forgiveness of sins A place among the sanctified Hope of resurrection Assurance of restoration Not be hesitant to offer it to the world