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Acts 26 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
In this chapter, Paul gives his most exhaustive and evangelistic appeal to Agrippa II. If you remember, he has appealed to Caesar. But in the meantime, Agrippa II is passing through visiting Festus along with his sister Bernice. Festus asks Agrippa what he should write on the charge sheet before sending Paul over for his appeal, but Agrippa would like to speak with Paul first. Much like his great-grandfather Herod the Great, he liked to be entertained by Jewish religious matters.
In fact, he was considered a well-known authority on Jewish scriptures as well as their affairs. Although he didn’t quite live up to the Herod dynasty of murder and tyranny, he still arrogantly considered himself intellectually and socially superior to someone like Paul. The truth was, at this time, Agrippa was living in an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. In the end, as we will read, he didn’t really care that much about the Jews or the Christians, as he was truly a politician at heart.
So Agrippa speaks with Paul, and we read that Paul gives a full testimony of his personal experience with Jesus. Paul knows that Agrippa is well-schooled in the Scriptures, and would, at the very least, listen and be entertained by his words. At the most, Paul was hoping for a conversion! He gives an evangelistic message, and Agrippa responds by saying, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’
Paul didn’t waver. He boldly responded by saying, “Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Again, the amazing faith of Paul on display.
And with that, Agrippa had heard enough. He was entertained. He had shown up and felt important for his contribution. But he would not sit and listen any longer because he had been forced into a corner. If he had said to those who were gathered that he did not believe in the prophets of old, he would have enraged the Jews. However, if he admitted that he did believe in the prophets, then he would have been forced to deal with Paul’s words.
Though knowing a lot about the Scriptures, hearing of how his great-grandfather tried to kill a baby Jesus, watching as his father, Agrippa I, beheaded James and arrested Peter, and finally hearing the firsthand testimony of Paul; his heart was still hardened. The sad part is, he was a decently fair man. As he walked out, he admitted privately to Festus that Paul was innocent of all charges!
The hard lesson for Agrippa that applies so much today is that we can have a lot of Bible knowledge, hear a personal testimony, and even be a pretty good person. Those things won’t provide us justification before a Holy God.