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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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 !!!

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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