1. Political Politeness Acts 25-26

2. I. The People

3. Jews – political force 1. Paul: Jews most-wanted 2. Trump up charges to convict him JesusStephen

4. Jews – political force Festus – typical politician Right words, wrong actions (25:15-16) 1. Ignorance. 1 Co.6 2. Bias. Favored Jews over Paul

5. Jews – political force Festus – typical politician Agrippa II – non-typical Herod 1. Family

6. Gave him kingdom of Chalcis, AD 48...... territories of Philip & Lysanias, AD 53 Nero: parts of Galilee & Perea, AD 55 Agrippa grew up in Rome w. Claudius

7. Jews – political force Festus – typical politician Agrippa II – non-typical Herod 1. Family 2. Bernice

8. Bernice “…lived a widow a long while after the death of Herod [king of Chalcis], who was both her husband and her uncle. But, when the report went that she had criminal conversation with her brother [Agrippa, junior], she persuaded Polemo, who was king of Cilicia, to…marry her, as supposing, that by this means she should prove those calumnies upon her to be false… –Antiquities 20.7.3

9. Jews – political force Festus – typical politician Agrippa II – non-typical Herod 1. Family 2. Bernice 3. Desire – to hear Paul Luke 9:9Luke 23:8

10. Jews – political force Festus – typical politician Agrippa II – non-typical Herod 1. Family 2. Bernice 3. Desire – to hear Paul 4. Companions, 23 – pomp & ceremony Implying a cheap display of high status

11. I. The People II. The Plea

12. Acts 26 1-3, happy to defend gospel before Ag. II 4-8, Saul, the Pharisee (5). Ga.1:14 – 6-8: resurrected Lord. Ga.3:24 9-11, Saul, violent persecutor (10; 22:20) 12-16 (19), Paul’s questions: Would you… Remain a Jew if this happened to you? Give up power / approval for persecution?

13. Acts 26 1-3, happy to defend gospel before Ag. II 4-8, Saul, the Pharisee. Ga.1:14 – 6-8: resurrected Lord. Ga.3:24 9-11, Saul, violent persecutor (10; 22:20) 12-16 (19), Paul’s questions: Would you… 16-18, Saul’s vision (witness) 19-23, Saul’s new life; death plots… 24-25: interruption (cf. 2:13) 26-29, Paul’s appeal; Agrippa’s will 30-32, Verdict: Paul is innocent! Confession: aligns him w. madman Denial: aligns him w. unbelievers

14. I. The People III. The Purpose II. The Plea Why does Luke include this section?

15. 1. We learn by watching people Jews: only ones who do not treat opponents w. respect & courtesy Paul: does not defend himself, seek release; preaches gospel… Agrippa: too absorbed in world affairs to care for soul? WinsomenessConviction

16. 1. We learn by watching people 2. We learn by witnessing God’s plan 28: “You” – a man, not vision (Mt.28) 29: no one obeyed gospel 29: what did Paul want? 29: what did Paul want for all? Everyone to be like him Acts 22:16 / 9:18

17. “Only Gentiles here; no baptism” Does Ac.26 Contradict Ac.22:16? Agrippa was a Jew Ananias not mentioned in chap.26 Repentance & faith not in Ac.9 / 22  Ac.14:15; Rv.14:7 – whole gospel? Truth, once stated, remains in effect Agrippa already believed (27) yet... Works worthy of repentance (20) Repent and turn (20)

18. Turn! Acts 26:20 RepentTurn Acts 3:19 RepentTurn Acts 2:38 Repent Be baptized

19. 1. We learn by watching people 2. We learn by witnessing God’s plan 3. We learn by welcoming God’s providence Festus must send innocent man to Nero. What state did Paul live in?  Ph.4:11  Ph.1:12-18 God’s protective providence? ‘Adversity is the whetstone that keeps a Christian sharp’