Sunday, July 26, 2015

Sermon notes




2015.07.26                                    Acts  26
                 Paul before Festus and Agrippa
Ok, now we will continue verse by verse through the scriptures… At the moment we are studying the birth of the early church in the book of Acts….   To remind us about the last few weeks… Paul has been arrested… After several attempts to kill Paul…. He is now in Cesaerea in the custody of Felix… He has already been there for 2 years…. Felix was a bad man…. He was violent and cruel…. He even killed the High Priest... He  caused a lot of damage to the image of Rome in Judea… Finally he was called back to Rome….. Then a better…wiser man took over…. His name was Festus... Festus was a good man… But he doesn´t know everything that has happened in Israel…. He doesn´t know the culture…. The High Priest and the rulers try to trick Festus…. And arrange an ambush for Paul….. It has been 2 years since their last attempt to kill him…. But Festus refuses to be manipulated by them… Because he is fair… He asks Paul if he is willing to go back to Jerusalem for trial… Now Paul knew that his enemies were still trying to kill him…. And so He refused and instead appealed to Cesar…. That kept him safe for now… By the way Nero is Cesar now…. He will show himself to be a great enemy of Christians….
Then King Agrippa and Bernice came to welcome the new Roman ruler Festus….. While they were there….. Festus told them what he knew about his famous prisoner Paul…. Agrippa was Jewish and an expert on Jewish law and tradition…. Festus asked him to examine Paul and give him advice on charges to write to Rome…. Agrippa willingly agreed…. That´s where we will pickup the text…. Turn with me to Acts 26…v1…
Acts 26: 1- 3                                     NKJV
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
Acts 26: 1- 3                                 slt 2000
1 Agrippa aber sprach zu Paulus: Es ist dir erlaubt, für dich zu reden! Da streckte Paulus die Hand aus und verteidigte sich so:
2 Ich schätze mich glücklich, König Agrippa, mich heute vor dir verantworten zu dürfen wegen aller Anklagen, die die Juden gegen mich erheben,
3 da du ja alle Gebräuche und Streitfragen der Juden genau kennst. Darum bitte ich dich, mich geduldig anzuhören.
v1… Then Agrippa said to Paul… Remember Paul stands before the man whose great-grandfather had tried to kill Jesus as a baby…. his grandfather had John the Baptist beheaded…. his father had martyred the apostle, James…..
v2… I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you… Paul is happy to speak before Agrippa….. First, because he is pleased to have the evidence of his case examined closely by the highest possible officials….. but also because he is wants to preach the gospel to this king! The Lord had told him that he would go before kings and be a witness…
This was a partial fulfillment of what the Lord promised Paul at his conversion…..  (Acts 9:15)
So…Paul begins to give his testimony to Agrippa and Bernice…
Acts 26: 4-   11                                   NKJV
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Acts 26: 4-11                     slt 2000
4 Mein Lebenswandel von Jugend auf, den ich von Anfang an unter meinem Volk in Jerusalem führte, ist allen Juden bekannt;
5 da sie mich von früher her kennen (wenn sie es bezeugen wollen), daß ich nach der strengsten Richtung unserer Religion gelebt habe, als ein Pharisäer.
6 Und jetzt stehe ich vor Gericht wegen der Hoffnung auf die Verheißung, die von Gott an die Väter ergangen ist,
7 zu welcher unsere zwölf Stämme durch Tag und Nacht anhaltenden Gottesdienst zu gelangen hoffen. Wegen dieser Hoffnung werde ich, König Agrippa, von den Juden angeklagt!
8 Warum wird es bei euch für unglaublich gehalten, daß Gott Tote auferweckt?
9 Ich habe zwar auch gemeint, ich müßte gegen den Namen Jesu, des Nazareners viel Feindseliges verüben,
10 was ich auch in Jerusalem tat; und viele der Heiligen ließ ich ins Gefängnis schließen, wozu ich von den obersten Priestern die Vollmacht empfangen hatte, und wenn sie getötet werden sollten, gab ich die Stimme dazu.
11 Und in allen Synagogen wollte ich sie oft durch Strafen zur Lästerung zwingen, und über die Maßen wütend gegen sie, verfolgte ich sie sogar bis in die auswärtigen Städte.
v5… According to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee… Paul shows his credentials as a faithful Jew before his conversion….  
V6…. Paul says… I am a Pharisee and we proclaim the resurrection of the dead….. That´s why I am on trial…. But listen… God promised resurrection and He raised Jesus from the dead… He is the Messiah and Savoir… Now… Agrippa was an expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews…. But he did not believe that God   would raise the dead….
v8…Why should it be thought incredible that God can do anything?.... God promised this in the scriptures…. He always honors His word… But listen…
v9… I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth… I was  a very loyal son of Abraham…. I was radical in my persecution of the Christians… Paul described his hatred of Christianity before his conversion….
v10… I cast my vote against them… Paul voted to kill those followers of the way….  He had hated Jesus and his followers… But then something happened on the way to Damascus… v 12…
Acts 26: 12-20                            NKJV
12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now[a] send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Acts 26: 12-20                           slt 2000
12 Als ich dabei mit Vollmacht und Erlaubnis von den obersten Priestern auch nach Damaskus reiste,
13 da sah ich mitten am Tag auf dem Weg, o König, vom Himmel her ein Licht, heller als der Glanz der Sonne, das mich und meine Reisegefährten umleuchtete.
14 Als wir aber alle zur Erde fielen, hörte ich eine Stimme zu mir reden und in hebräischer Sprache sagen: Saul! Saul! Warum verfolgst du mich? Es wird dir schwer werden, gegen den Stachel auszuschlagen!
15 Ich aber sprach: Wer bist du, Herr? Er aber sprach: Ich bin Jesus, den du verfolgst!
16 Aber steh auf und stelle dich auf deine Füße! Denn dazu bin ich dir erschienen, um dich zum Diener und Zeugen zu bestimmen für das, was du gesehen hast und für das, worin ich mich dir noch offenbaren werde;
17 und ich will dich erretten von dem Volk und den Heiden, unter die ich dich jetzt sende,
18 um ihnen die Augen zu öffnen, damit sie sich bekehren von der Finsternis zum Licht und von der Herrschaft1 des Satans zu Gott, damit sie Vergebung der Sünden empfangen und ein Erbteil unter denen, die durch den Glauben an mich geheiligt sind!
19 Daher, König Agrippa, bin ich der himmlischen Erscheinung nicht ungehorsam gewesen,
20 sondern ich verkündigte zuerst denen in Damaskus und in Jerusalem und dann im ganzen Gebiet von Judäa und auch den Heiden, sie sollten Buße tun2 und sich zu Gott bekehren, indem sie Werke tun, die der Buße würdig sind.
12-20… As I journeyed to Damascus… Here Paul gives the testimony of his experience on the Damascus road…. Paul says that immediately Jesus made him aware of his commission to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles…. Jesus called him to be a minister and a witness of the truth…
Right now as he stands before Agrippa and Bernice…. Paul is being a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus….. Paul knew the significance of telling others what Jesus had done in his life…. He knew how to present the gospel not only in words…. but also by using his own life story…. Paul powerfully presented the great truth that once he was lost in sin and pride… But now he was forgiven and secure in Christ… That´s Paul…! Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel to everyone who would listen….His message was powerful…. It was the same as every man of God…. Judgment is certain… Repent… The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand… v21…
Acts 26: 21-23     NKJV
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26: 21-23                                   slt 2000
21 Deswegen ergriffen mich die Juden im Tempel und suchten mich umzubringen.
22 Aber da mir Hilfe von Gott zuteil wurde, so stehe ich fest bis zu diesem Tag und lege Zeugnis ab vor Kleinen und Großen und lehre nichts anderes, als was die Propheten und Mose gesagt haben, daß es geschehen werde:
23 nämlich, daß der Christus leiden müsse und daß er als der Erstling aus der Auferstehung der Toten Licht verkündigen werde dem Volk und auch den Heiden.
v21… For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me… It is only because he sought to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles that the Jews seized him and tried to kill him….. Look at this list here in v23…
v23… That the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles…


1 Jesus' death for our sins… Substitutionary Atonement
2 Jesus Resurrection from the dead… Proof of His sovereign Authority
3 The preaching of the Good news of the gospel to the whole world… God´s great plan of redemption…. Freely offered to all who were willing to repent and turn from their sins
These were the same main points that were usually in Paul's preaching…. And here in his sermon to Agrippa too…… v 24…
Acts 26: 24-26          NKJV
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
Acts 26: 24-26                            slt 2000
24 Als er aber dies zu seiner Verteidigung vorbrachte, sprach Festus mit lauter Stimme: Paulus, du bist von Sinnen! Das viele Studieren bringt dich um den Verstand!
25 Er aber sprach: Hochedler Festus, ich bin nicht von Sinnen, sondern ich rede wahre und wohlüberlegte Worte!
26 Denn der König versteht dies sehr wohl! An ihn richte ich meine freimütige Rede. Denn ich bin überzeugt, daß ihm nichts davon unbekannt ist; denn dies ist nicht im Verborgenen geschehen!
v24… Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!.... You know… The Good news of the Gospel will make some people think we are crazy…
v25… I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason… Yet, Paul knows that not only is his gospel true…. it is also reasonable….. The problem is that unbelievers refuse to repent and believe the Good News…. They reject the Gospel as foolishness… 
As usual…. Paul preached the  cross to these representatives of Rome… It was a Roman cross that Jesus died on….. We know from the scriptures That It is the Cross that is the power of God… Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1…v17… Let’s read what Paul said 
1 Corinthians 1: 17-19                      NKJV  
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
1 Corinthians 1: 17-19                          slt 2000
17 denn Christus hat mich nicht gesandt zu taufen, sondern das Evangelium zu verkündigen, [und zwar] nicht in Redeweisheit, damit nicht das Kreuz des Christus entkräftet wird.
18 Denn das Wort vom Kreuz ist eine Torheit denen, die verlorengehen; uns aber, die wir gerettet werden, ist es eine Gotteskraft;
19 denn es steht geschrieben: »Ich will zunichte machen die Weisheit der Weisen, und den Verstand der Verständigen will ich verwerfen«.
Back to Acts ch 26… v27…
Acts 26: 27-29          NKJV
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts 26: 27-29               slt 2000
27 Glaubst du den Propheten, König Agrippa? Ich weiß, daß du glaubst!
28 Da sagte Agrippa zu Paulus: Es fehlt nicht viel, und du überredest mich, daß ich ein Christ werde!
29 Paulus aber sprach: Ich wünschte mir von Gott, daß über kurz oder lang nicht allein du, sondern auch alle, die mich heute hören, solche würden, wie ich bin, ausgenommen diese Fesseln!
v27… King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe… Paul brought the message home with a shot to the heart…..  do you believe?
Paul knew that this was the perfect time…. We never know when or if….. we will get a second chance to lead someone to Christ..…
v28… You almost persuade me to become a Christian… Agrippa is very close…. And yet he hesitates To become a Christian…
Agrippa did not repent and cry out to the Lord that day… What stopped Him? Why did he not repent of his sins and become a Christian?
I do not know…. But we are all warned over and over in the scriptures…. Tomorrow is promised to no man…. Today is the day of Salvation…. Hebrews 3… turn with me to Ephesians 2..v1… Paul is writing letters to the churches while he is in prison…. The letter he wrote to the Ephesians gives us a wonderful look at the miracle of the new birth…. The grace of God poured out on us who repent of our sins and cry out to the Lord….
Ephesians 2:1-5                           NLT  
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!
Ephesians 2:1-5                            Neues Leben
1 Auch ihr wart früher tot aufgrund eurer Sünden.
2 Ihr habt genauso in der Sünde gelebt wie der Rest der Welt, beherrscht von Satan, der im Machtbereich der Luft regiert. Er ist der Geist, der in den Herzen derer wirkt, die Gott nicht gehorchen wollen.
3 Wir alle haben früher so gelebt und uns von den Leidenschaften und Begierden unserer alten Natur beherrschen lassen. Wir wurden mit dieser Natur geboren und waren Gottes Zorn ausgeliefert wie alle anderen Menschen auch.
4 Doch Gott ist so barmherzig und liebte uns so sehr,
5 dass er uns, die wir durch unsere Sünden tot waren, mit Christus neues Leben schenkte, als er ihn von den Toten auferweckte. Nur durch die Gnade Gottes seid ihr gerettet worden!
Our forgiveness and salvation is all Grace…!
Wherever Paul was…. Whoever Paul preached to… there was a sense of urgency in his message…. I think that there was also a sense of urgency in his voice… It was and is a matter of life and death…. He said that he often pleads with men to be reconciled to God… 2 Cor 5: 20… 
Back to Acts 26…v29… Look at this scene…. Paul is holding his chains in his hands….
v29… I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains… As Paul rattles his chains…. He declares his continued trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ….. He has not held back from boldly proclaiming the Gospel to them….  Nothing could stop him from boldly declaring the Gospel… v30…
Acts 26: 30-32                             NKJV
30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;
31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Acts 26: 30- 32                                 slt 2000
30 Und als er dies gesagt hatte, stand der König auf, ebenso der Statthalter und Bernice und die bei ihnen saßen.
31 Und sie zogen sich zurück und redeten miteinander und sprachen: Dieser Mensch tut nichts, was den Tod oder die Gefangenschaft verdient!
32 Agrippa aber sprach zu Festus: Man könnte diesen Menschen freilassen, wenn er sich nicht auf den Kaiser berufen hätte!
v31,32… This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains… Agrippa   respects Paul's great integrity… even while rejecting Paul's gospel…. So, Agrippa   pronounced Paul "not guilty”…..
But Paul cannot be set free because he has appealed to Caesar…. Some people believe that was a mistake….. But I think that we should see the fulfillment of God's plan through all these events…. By his appeal to Caesar…. Paul avoided the plot by the High Priest and leaders… Now  Paul will have the opportunity to preach to the Emperor Nero in Rome.... Paul was at a cross roads in Jewish history…. In a few years the Temple  will be destroyed and both Jews and Christians will be persecuted heavily… During this rather long imprisonment….  And through his many trials and court appearances… Paul proclaimed the Gospel  to Felix, Festus, Agrippa, and Nero himself…thus fulfilling Jesus´ promise that Paul would bear testify   before… kings (Acts 9:15)…..  Let´s pray

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