Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Acts 26:19-29
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  April 8, 2018

I wonder what Festus did to deserve this? Of all the places in the Roman Empire to be made governor, this had to be the worst. Those pesky Jews were always making trouble. They were always rebelling, always bringing trivial matters before the court. Pilate had struggled with them. Felix struggled with them, but then again, he was just inept. Now Festus was left cleaning up his mess, which included a Roman citizen who had been in prison for two years with no credible charge brought against him. So, Festus heads straight to Jerusalem to try and straighten out this mess.

The Jewish leaders again trumped up charges they couldn’t verify. They wanted Festus to bring this man back to Jerusalem for they had a plot to kill him along the way. Festus told them to come to Caesarea, where this man already was, and take care of the trial there. So the Jews came to Caesarea and again were unable to prove any of the charges against this man. Festus should have washed his hands of the matter and set him free. But he didn’t want any more trouble. He knew what these Jews were capable of, so he asked the man if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem for a trial. But this man knew what that mean. There would be no trial. He would be dead before he got to Jerusalem. He had no other choice. As a Roman citizen, he appealed to the highest court. He appealed to Caesar. He would go to Rome.

But before that would happen, Festus was trying his best to have things run smoothly in his region. King Herod Agrippa and Bernice had come to pay their respects to the new governor. Agrippa, the great grandson of Herod the Great, had just taken over rule in parts of Galilee and Perea. He and Festus would be working together to try and keep the Jews in check. Agrippa had the special responsibility of appointing high priests and controlling the money in the temple. It was vital that they start on good terms. Then Festus had a novel idea. Agrippa would understand this Jewish Roman citizen better than anyone. He would bring this man out before him and have him explain the situation. Then at least Festus would have something to say when he sent him to Rome.

And that brings us to our story today. Festus, Agrippa, and Bernice are all listening intently to this Jewish Roman citizen, the Apostle Paul. Chapter 26 of Acts records for the third time, Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. Paul recounts how he was persecuting the church and how Jesus struck him blind on the way to Damascus. He repeats the message that Jesus gave him there—Paul would take the good news to the Gentiles. And Paul was doing just that. He was doing exactly what God had told him to do in the vision. And that brings us to our verses.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. Rather, I first told those in Damascus and Jerusalem about it, and then throughout the entire country of Judea and also the Gentiles. I told them that they should repent and turn to God, while also doing works that are consistent with repentance. These are the reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. “But I have had help from God right up to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great. I am saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

If you were the Apostle Paul, wouldn’t you have wanted to give Festus and Agrippa a piece of your mind! There wasn’t really anything they could have done to him. He’s already appealed to Rome. Wouldn’t you have wanted to call them on the carpet for two years of false imprisonment? Two years of his life wasted! I think we all would! Paul takes this opportunity to speak his piece, his p-i-e-c-e, but he does so by speaking his peace, his p-e-a-c-e. He speaks of the peace that he has in God, the peace that God had given him, even while he was falsely imprisoned. He speaks of the peace that comes from knowing that Jesus is alive, that his sins were forgiven, that he had peace with God. He kept speaking of that peace even though many people didn’t want to hear it.

Paul lays it out there plainly. He’s only standing before these three because he was speaking the truth. The Jews didn’t like hearing that they had sinned in killing Jesus and that God was calling them to repent. Maybe that surprises us, but it shouldn’t. There are plenty of people who get upset when someone tries to point out their sin, even when the goal is to lead them to repentance and a right relationship with God. You don’t think so? Then why is it so hard for us to contact people who aren’t here with us, worshiping regularly? Why do people hesitate to talk to their family members, their loved ones when they see them living contrary to God and his Word? People usually don’t take it well. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we usually don’t take it well either. How many of us haven’t reacted or overreacted to someone calling us to repentance, only to feel horrible about it later, to realize how wrong we were, and come back repentant and begging for forgiveness. Taking a stand on God’s Word is never easy. It almost always has consequences that some would view as negative. That’s part of being a follower of Christ, taking up our crosses after him. But thankfully, our risen Savior still ACTS. As we see here in the acts of the Apostle Paul, Jesus gives Paul the courage to speak of his peace. Friends, he does the same for you and me!

I think it’s important to understand here that Paul isn’t simply sharing his story so he can garner some sympathy. Remember, he’s already appealed to Rome. No, Paul is taking this opportunity to share the peace of his Savior, the Gospel with Festus, but especially with Agrippa. He wanted to show him a Savior who wasn’t just hanging on the cross, but Jesus who was risen from the dead. But that last part was too much for Festus.

While Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.” Festus just couldn’t stomach the idea of the resurrection. It was too much for him. He could tell Paul was intelligent and educated. But this talk of the resurrection made Festus think Paul was out of his mind. But here’s the interesting thing: Festus couldn’t contradict what Paul was saying. He couldn’t prove that what he said was false. What Jesus had told his apostles had been fulfilled again here with Paul: “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Paul had spoken the truth and Festus, like Pilate, just couldn’t handle it.  

“I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am clearly speaking words that are true and sensible. Certainly the king to whom I am freely speaking knows about these things. Indeed, I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, because this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” Festus may not have been able to handle this thought, but this was nothing new for Agrippa. Paul knew that Agrippa had followed the events in Israel. ALl that happened was very public. It had encompassed the whole nation. It was nearly impossible not to see the connection between what the prophets had written and what Jesus fulfilled. Paul is taking this opportunity to share the Gospel with Agrippa—but Agrippa rejected it.

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you going to   persuade me to become a Christian?”

Friends, you and I are very much like Paul today. There are more than enough people who believe that we are “out of our minds,” because we believe that Jesus rose from the dead. It surpasses the logical human mind. It defies the laws of nature. It doesn’t make sense to human reason. And people think that we’re out of our minds to base our entire lives, our entire hope and beliefs on that illogical truth.

But God’s Word cannot be broken. The Scriptures couldn’t be any clearer. And we don’t need anything else to make us believe. Yet, there is no other historical event that is better or variously supported than the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection was taught throughout the Old Testament. There are numerous accounts from the prophets, from Job, that speak to the resurrection. The chief priests and the teachers of the law knew this, which is why they established the guard in the first place. They had the eyewitness of the soldiers and they rejected it. Thomas knew this and rejected it until he saw Jesus standing before him. Agrippa knew it too, yet like the others he too rejected it.

And the same is true today. People are hesitant to put their faith in Jesus and his gospel of peace and forgiveness. People are hesitant because it doesn’t seem logical or possible. It’s not how we would arrange things. No king would take off his crown and die for the members of his kingdom who hated him so he could save them. No king would exchange his life for the worst of the kingdom. Yet, that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us. And Jesus gives us the courage to speak of that peace. And sure, people may think we’re out of our minds. People may think we’re trying to persuade them. We can’t persuade them, but God can. Through the power of his Word, God can overcome the sinful hearts of men. God’s Word can thwart sinful logic and reason of the flesh. Only God’s Word can change hearts of stone in to hearts of faith. And so our prayer today is Paul’s prayer: “I pray God, that whether in a short time or a long time, not only you, but also all those who are listening to me today would become what I am, except for these chains.” May Jesus continue to act through us and give us the courage to speak of the peace that only comes from knowing that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! Amen