How does Acts 26:27 challenge us to affirm our belief in Scripture? Text: Acts 26:27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Immediate Context • Paul stands on trial before Festus and Agrippa, recounting his conversion and the gospel. • He culminates with a call for Agrippa to affirm the Hebrew prophets—written Scripture that foretold Messiah’s suffering and resurrection. • Paul treats belief in the prophetic writings as both assumed and essential. A Direct Challenge That Echoes Today • Scripture is not merely historical; it demands present-tense faith. • Paul moves from information to affirmation—belief is the required response. • A public ruler is pressed to declare personal conviction, showing that social status never excuses neutrality toward God’s Word. Why This Matters for Every Believer • The prophets anchor the gospel; denying them unravels Christ’s work (Luke 24:25-27). • All Scripture carries divine breath and authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Prophecy originates with God, not human invention (2 Peter 1:19-21). • God’s Word is eternally fixed and trustworthy (Psalm 119:89). Affirming Our Belief in Scripture • Receive the entire biblical record as accurate, literal revelation. • Let the prophetic message set the framework for doctrine and worldview. • Confess Scripture’s authority openly, as Paul did before Agrippa. • Align personal decisions with written truth, because God speaks decisively through it (John 5:39). Putting Belief into Action 1. Daily reading plan that spans both Testaments, highlighting prophetic fulfillment. 2. Memorize key prophetic passages to strengthen confidence in God’s unfolding plan. 3. Evaluate cultural claims through the lens of Scripture’s clear statements. 4. Speak of biblical authority in conversations, demonstrating that belief extends beyond private opinion. 5. Obey promptly when Scripture confronts attitudes or behaviors, proving trust in its literal directives. Summary Acts 26:27 confronts every listener with the same choice Paul presented to Agrippa: acknowledge the prophets—and by extension all Scripture—as God’s infallible voice, or stand in unbelief. Genuine faith affirms, submits to, and proclaims that Word without reservation. |
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