What is the meaning of Acts 26:28? Then Agrippa said to Paul • Paul is standing in chains before King Agrippa II and Governor Festus (Acts 25:23–27). • The apostle has just finished recounting his Damascus-road conversion and the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 26:12-23). • Scripture shows God placing His witnesses before rulers so His word reaches every level of society, just as Jesus foretold in Matthew 10:18 and as Paul later affirms in Philippians 1:12-13. • Agrippa’s response proves he has understood Paul’s message; Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Can you persuade me • The verb “persuade” reveals that saving faith involves both the mind and the will—God presents truth, and people decide whether to receive it (Acts 17:2-4). • Paul relies on the Holy Spirit to convict, not on rhetoric (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). • Earlier in Acts we see crowds “pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and a jailer asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Agrippa’s remark shows the same inner struggle. in such a short time • The gospel is powerful enough to save instantly; the thief on the cross believed within minutes (Luke 23:42-43). • At the same time, people often delay; Felix told Paul, “When I find time I will listen to you” (Acts 24:25). • Scripture warns against postponing decision: “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Agrippa voices the tension between immediacy and hesitation. to become a Christian? • “Christian” appears only here, in Acts 11:26, and in 1 Peter 4:16, always identifying those who openly follow Christ. • Paul’s aim is not self-defense but the salvation of his hearers (Acts 26:29). • Becoming a Christian means repentance, forgiveness, and new life (Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17), yet it also involves reproach and possible suffering (1 Peter 4:16). • Agrippa recognizes that accepting Paul’s message would require a public break with his world, echoing Jesus’ call to count the cost (Luke 14:26-33). summary Agrippa’s remark captures the drama of the moment: confronted with clear testimony about the risen Christ, he senses the persuasive pull of truth yet hesitates under the weight of the decision. Acts 26:28 highlights the immediacy of the gospel’s call, the sufficiency of God’s word to convince any heart, and the necessity of a personal, timely response. |
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