YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO SPEAK. Festus was the one who had the authority in this province, but this session of the court was arranged to permit Agrippa to investigate the case and help him write something the Emperor would accept. PAUL STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND. Not to gain silence, but as part of his st... [ Continue Reading ]
I CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE. Agrippa was a Jew, one who had been brought up in the Jewish religion. He claimed to live by the Jewish Law and traditions, and he was the legal guardian of the temple. Therefore, he is competent to judge whether Paul's preaching contradicts the Law of Moses, or is the f... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE JEWS KNOW HOW I HAVE LIVED. His life had been lived in agreement with the Law. They knew about his education in Jerusalem, and that he lived as a Pharisee, the strictest of the Jewish sects [the Essenes were a quasi-Jewish sect, with some pagan elements]. BECAUSE I HOPE IN THE PROMISE. Note... [ Continue Reading ]
I MYSELF THOUGHT. He shows his motivation as it had been when he persecuted the Christians. He did it, thinking that he honored God by doing it. I ALSO VOTED FOR IT. This may only mean that Paul approved of what was done (_compare_ Acts 8:1), The literal meaning is that Paul was a member of the Coun... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS FOR THIS PURPOSE. He had gone to Damascus with the idea of trying to crush the Christian movement. This is the third time he tells about his converting to Christ. See Acts 9:1-9 and notes. Here he points out the brilliance of the light (God's glory), and tells us he heard the voice speak in t... [ Continue Reading ]
I DID NOT DISOBEY THE VISION. He could have disobeyed, as Judas did. But since he had already decided to serve God, this decision made him follow Jesus. FIRST IN DAMASCUS. He had probably been a "missionary" for Judaism. Now he immediately begins to preach Jesus as the Messiah. See Acts 9:27-29... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS FOR THIS REASON. Because he both obeyed and preached Christ. BUT TO THIS VERY DAY. God had helped him and showed his work to be genuine. WHAT I SAY IS THE VERY SAME THING. The _historical Christ_ was always the subject of Paul's preaching. The prophets and Moses had all predicted the things t... [ Continue Reading ]
21-30. REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND TURN TO GOD. Compare Acts 3:19 and note. Paul preached a NEW LIFE!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE MAD, PAUL! Notice it is Festus, a Gentile, who breaks in on Paul and shouts that only a deranged brain could imagine such things, Compare this outburst with the reaction of the Athenians (Acts 17:32). YOUR GREAT LEARNING may refer to Paul's obvious religious education, since Festus and many... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YOU BELIEVE THE PROPHETS? Agrippa did believe the prophets, as all Jews did. Therefore he would not appraise the idea of the prophecies being fulfilled as mad and irrational. DO YOU THINK YOU WILL MAKE ME A CHRISTIAN? _McGarvey_ says there is strong evidence to take this expression as ironic, tea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAID TO EACH OTHER. They agree that Paul is not guilty of any crime. THIS MAN COULD HAVE BEEN RELEASED. Paul would have been a free man, if he had not appealed to the Emperor. However, the Jews still wanted to kill him, and his freedom might not have lasted very long. But it is God's will that... [ Continue Reading ]