Sovereign Grace Church

The Light of Christ

Acts 26:12-32

Introduction

Last week we were introduced to a few new faces on the horizon in the Book of Acts.  We learned who Governor Festus was.  We learned that he had taken Felix’s place as Rome’s representative in Caesarea.  We also learned who King Agrippa and Bernice were, literally, the puppet king of Rome who’s background was Jewish.  If you remember, Festus was in a difficult position due to the fact that Paul had made his appeal to Caesar and so, Festus had to write a letter explaining the charges.  The problem was none of the charges the Jews had on Paul were true.  So, when Agrippa pays Festus a courtesy visit, Festus sets up a time for him to meet with Paul, hoping that his knowledge of Judaism would give Festus something to write to Nero when he sent Paul on his way.  Our text today continues Paul’s defense before King Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, and the other Jews.  This will be Paul’s last defense speech in the Book of Acts.
We’ll notice in this section, even though there are many present, Paul has his sights set on one person, King Agrippa.

TT- God saves through opening blind eyes to Gospel truth.
Human need met by text
The passage should remind us just how important it is to share the Gospel wherever God places us.  We often try to plan our day and when our plans go bad we may right it off.  But notice through Paul’s life it is often when his plans are thwarted that God’s plans become evident.  He didn’t plan of being in prison for two years but that was how Jesus’ promises to him were fulfilled.  Whenever, our plans are frustrated look closely to see if God does not have another agenda in mind.  It seems also; when God changes things there are Gospel opportunities for Paul…and us.

Acts 26:12-32 (ESV)
¹² “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
¹⁶ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
¹⁷ delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you
¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”
²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.
²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.
²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
²⁹ And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”
³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

1.  I Did Not Choose Jesus, Jesus chose Me

¹² “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Paul has told this story before.  Each time he tells of his conversion, something different is emphasized.  This time, one point he makes is that the light of Christ was brighter than the sun and even though he would suffer temporary blindness, his eyes would also be opened because of the light of Christ.
Revelation 1:12-16 (ESV)
¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
¹⁴ The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
¹⁵ his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Another key emphasis here is the fact that Paul was not looking to become a Christian.  In fact, the exact opposite was true.  Paul hated Christians and hated Jesus and was on a mission that day to exterminate, what according to Paul was the plague that Jesus brought into existence. By way of verification, he explains that everyone with him also saw the light and fell to the ground.  This was an objective event not mere some psychological phenomena faced by Paul.  We are told elsewhere that it was only the Apostle who heard Jesus speak.  The point here is that he didn’t seek out Jesus but rather Jesus apprehended Paul.While we probably can’t tell a story with so many amazing details like Paul, but if you are a believer today it is because Jesus sought you out as well.  We looked in some detail last week at the truth of salvation by grace through faith in Ephesians 2.  Here is Ephesians 2 right before our eyes in the life of one of the greatest sinners/persecutors of the church.  Paul was dead in trespasses and sin.  He had been blinded by the prince of this age, Satan.There is a phrase here in this version that Paul doesn’t mention in his other accounts of his conversion.  I think we can discover why he mentions it here… It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
A goad was a tool that shepherds would often use with their most stubborn lambs.  It was basically a sharpened spear. When a lamb refused to listen, he would jab it with the goad to get the lamb moving in the right direction.  Here, Jesus was literally goading Paul and the Apostle was even fighting the spear or goad of Christ.  He had probably been fighting Jesus’ call perhaps even since he witnessed the faithfulness of the martyr Steven’s death.Paul is determined to make King Agrippa realize that he was not looking to become a Christian.  Jesus found him and he even resisted at first.  However, Jesus always wins.2.  Jesus Doesn’t Serve Me, I serve Jesus

¹⁶ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
¹⁷ delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you
¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Once Paul was brought from death to life through the power of Christ, he tells Agrippa that he was obedient to the commands. 
What was the purpose of Paul’s salvation?  To be Christ’s servant.  Now, this speaks volumes and we must pause to look into this claim.  Here, the Apostle is reaching back into the OT.  He is comparing his mission to that of the OT prophets.
He was to be a servant.  This call comes from the servant section of Isaiah.
Isaiah 42:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
⁷ to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
Isaiah 42:16 (ESV)
¹⁶ And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
Isaiah, in this section, is referring to the Messiah, Jesus Himself did this.  He is the fulfillment of this passage.  He is God’s Servant who came preaching the message to open up the eyes of those who heard Him.  Now, the Apostle Paul is given the exact same task.  He preaches and teaches the Gospel and God opens the eyes of the blind with this truth. 
Jeremiah 1:7-8 (ESV)
⁷ But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

Ezekiel 2:3 (ESV)
³ And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day.
So, the Apostle is being called and sent much like God sent the prophets.  This also speaks to the deity of Jesus.  God sends prophets and apostles to speak for Him to the people.
His calling to go also came with specific nuance.  He was to speak the Gospel to those who were, as Jesus said, in darkness.  Here’s an amazing point.  God saves.  Salvation is of the Lord.  Very important for us to pray for the salvation of those we know who are lost.  We pray hard and ask God to save them.  God has the power to save any person He wants at any time.  We see a wonderful truth here.  However, He choses, as in this example, to save when the good news of Jesus is taught.  Boldly proclaiming the truth about Jesus is our job and God’s job is to open the eyes of those in darkness to behold this truth.  Unless God works all the Gospel preaching goes without conversions.3.  My Only Proper Response Was Obedience

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Here, he tells Agrippa that this light (heavenly vision) was what saved him and brought him into ministry.  John picks up on this truth when in his Gospel Jesus is often referred to as the Light. 
The light shone from heaven and caused Paul to see.  His job now is to serve Jesus sharing the truth to others so God can extend light to them, open their eyes to see.  He tells Agrippa that he had to obey Jesus.4. God Opens Blind Eyes to See Gospel Truth
²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
The Apostle is coming to the end of his ministry and life.  But he is beholding the promise Jesus made to him.  He is seeing it come to pass right before his eyes…Jesus told his followers that they would have the opportunity to preach to very powerful people.  Paul is learning this firsthand.  
Luke 21:12-13 (ESV)
¹² But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
¹³ This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
It is important to notice that Paul calls Gospel preaching of Jesus…proclaiming light.
The clear truth or the clear Gospel Light Paul preached was…
            A. That the OT predicted a suffering Messiah/Savior.
Isaiah 53 that _________read this morning is just one very strong example.  Do you think when Paul spoke about the fact that the Messiah was suffer bearing the sin of many that he used Isaiah 53?
            B. He also preached that Christ…²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead.  He would teach that first did not mean chronologically, first but first in importance or in preeminence. 
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Everything Paul preached was backed up with the Bible.  He read the promises made by God to the prophets and saw that they had been fulfilled in the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. 
Now, once the truth about Jesus is taught from the Scriptures then the rest is up to God. 
Based on the historical account given in Acts, He had opened the eyes of many.  

5.  The Cross is Foolishness to Those Who are Perishing

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”
²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.
²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.
²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
²⁹ And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”
³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
The dynamic at work here is God must do the regenerative work.  This message proclaimed to Agrippa, Bernice, Festus and the others was the same message the Apostle had preached everywhere.  In some cases many were converted, having their eyes opened.  In some cases the message fell on deaf ears and keeping in context, blind eyes.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
We are not told what happened to Festus, Agrippa and Bernice.  We don’t know if they were ever saved.  But we do know at that moment they were perishing and to them the cross was foolishness. 
This is why it is vital that prayers are offered to God for the salvation of those we know and love.  God has to open the eyes of the skeptics.  Once He does, it is important that they have Gospel truth to see and believe.
You may be here today and view the cross as foolishness.  If you do, you are perishing as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians.  Festus and King Agrippa both thought Paul was crazy.  They were perishing.  Notice what happens when God opens the eyes of those who are perishing in darkness, and Paul is a wonderful example, they now view the cross as the power of God.  Paul hated Christians and thought they were crazy until God opened his eyes. 
Where are you today?  Is God perhaps opening your eyes?  Would you be one whom God takes from death to life from darkness to light from folly to power?
Trust Jesus today and be saved.