Class Lesson January 12, 2020

THE POINT: It’s hard to ignore a changed life.

THE PASSAGES: Acts 26:2-5,12-18,24-26

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Celebrity endorsements are nothing new. As far back as the 1760's, Josiah Wedgwood used British royalty in advertisements to sell pottery. 1 Mark Twain loaned his name and image to endorse fountain pens, clothes, and shaving products. 2 Of course, celebrity endorsements have become a common practice today.

What real connection is there between the star athlete and the quality of the shirt he is selling? Do we really think an actor knows a thing or two about the life insurance he is paid to promote? On the other hand, what really gets our attention is when a friend tells us about a product he personally uses.

In a similar way, we can invite skeptics to read books defending the faith, but what can best catch their attention is seeing how Christ has transformed our lives. My grandfather spent eighteen of his retirement years making weekly visits to the county jail. Armed with nothing but a Bible and his testimony, he led over 2,200 men to faith in Christ. His story was no celebrity endorsement; he was a man truly changed by the gospel. Our own testimony of Christ can make a difference too, and Acts 26 shows us how to do just that.

Acts 26:2-5

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. 4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

KEY WORDS: King Agrippa (v. 2)—King Agrippa II was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and a territorial governor in Israel and the surrounding regions.

Pharisee (v. 5)—The Pharisees were the largest religious-political group in first-century Israel (Sadducees, Herodians, Essenes, and Zealots were the others).

My wife and I once led an early morning Bible study group. I challenged everyone in the group to write down their personal testimonies of coming to faith in Jesus Christ. I discovered few had ever done this before. One man, a CEO, later told me it was one of the greatest responsibilities he had ever undertaken, but it was also the most rewarding. The apostle Paul’s defense in Acts 26 gives us a great example to follow.

Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and falsely accused of stirring up trouble and desecrating the temple (Acts 24:5-6). He had a hearing before Felix, the governor in Caesarea; then after Paul spent two years in prison, Festus replaced Felix and presented the apostle’s case to King Agrippa, and now the king would hear him. Paul was not required to give a defense of his faith before the king; in fact, he had already appealed to be tried before Caesar. Paul could have stayed in his cell, but he saw this as an opportunity to talk about Jesus. Agrippa was an immoral man and was likely involved in an incestuous relationship with his sister, Bernice. Also in attendance were “the chief captains, and principal men of the city” (25:23), so this was an opportunity to point many to Christ.

Paul opened by announcing, “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.” Answer renders the Greek word apologia, from which we get the word apologetics. A form of this word appears three times in this chapter (vv. 1,2,24). Paul’s personal story of transformation would inspire the early Christians to persevere in sharing their faith, no matter the circumstances or the audience. Paul even declared, “I think myself happy,” because he recognized this as a God-ordained circumstance to share his personal testimony.

In Acts 26:4-5, Paul told about his life before coming to Jesus Christ. We, too, should always begin our testimonies by sharing what our lives were like before Christ and what led to our need for Christ. Details of our lives before Christ are only important insofar as they set up our need for Christ and our transformation in Him.

The point of sharing our story is not to offer endless details about our sins and, in effect, glorify them. We should share just enough to show the emptiness of the old life. In another passage, Paul wrote, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death” (Rom. 6:21). Paul’s testimony in Acts 26 comprises twenty-six verses, and only five of those detail Paul’s life before Christ. In other words, less than 20 percent of his testimony was the “before” picture. That’s a good model for us to follow.

Question 2: What are some words that describe your life before you encountered Jesus?

Acts 26:12-18

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

When we share our personal testimony, it is important to adapt our narrative to fit the audience. That’s what Paul did. This was the third account of Paul’s conversion story in the Book of Acts (Acts 9:1-9; 22:2-21), and while the structure was similar in each one, different details emerged.

For example, Paul emphasized one element before King Agrippa that was not brought out in the other two accounts. When Jesus asked Paul, then named Saul, why he was persecuting Him, Jesus said, “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” (A “prick” or goad was a sharpened branch, spear-like, used to move animals in a desired direction.) This referred to a Greek proverb that would have been familiar to the highly educated Paul as well as the prominent people he was now addressing. Over 400 years earlier, a Greek named Euripides wrote a play titled Bacchae, which included this line: “You are a mortal, he is a god. If I were you I would control my rage and sacrifice to him, rather than kick against the pricks.” Jesus took something familiar to Paul to help him see that his efforts to persecute Christ’s church were only hurting himself—and now Paul shared this with King Agrippa to show how his life was harmed without Christ.

Paul’s conversation centered on the appearance of Christ in a bright light. “I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun.” Even today, the church has embraced that phrase as a shortened way of expressing conversion: I saw the light. But for Paul, it was no mere metaphor; he really saw a light. He had witnesses who could back this up because Christ’s bright light was “shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.”

Paul’s testimony from this moment forward focused on the work of Christ and the change He brought to Paul’s life. Everyone’s testimony should do the same: emphasize Christ. After all, our goal is not to get people to follow us; our desire is for them to embrace and follow Christ.

The work of Christ is more than what He saved us from; the change in our lives includes what Christ saved us to. A key part of Paul’s testimony is the life and the work Christ called him to. Even as he was converted from his old life, Jesus gave him a new charge. “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee.” Paul’s testimony did not center on a one-time event; he shared how it had changed the whole course of his life.

Paul’s story was dramatic. A person might read Paul’s testimony and bemoan that his own conversion is hardly dramatic at all in comparison—but that does not make his testimony any less valid or important. Spiritual transformation in Christ is miraculous and glorious regardless of the details and circumstances!

• To be transformed from an unfaithful spouse to a faithful, loving spouse is powerful.

• To be transformed from unprincipled to trustworthy is powerful.

• To be transformed from one who never prays to a prayer warrior is powerful.

• To be transformed from loving self to loving others is powerful.

• To be transformed from self-centered to Christ-centered is powerful.

In Christ, we are daily being transformed more and more into His likeness—and that’s powerful.

Question 3: How has your life changed since you started following Christ?

Acts 26:24-26

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

It takes courage to share our faith—sometimes profound courage. That certainly must have been the case for Paul as he stood before King Agrippa. Specifically, this was Agrippa II, the last Herodian ruler. This family had a history of opposing Christ and His followers.

• Herod the Great attempted to kill Jesus when the Lord was a young child (Matt. 2:16-18).

• Joseph was warned in a dream to avoid living in Judea where Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, was ruling after his father had died. So Joseph took Mary and Jesus and settled in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (vv. 19-23).

• Herod Antipas (another son of Herod the Great) beheaded John the Baptist (14:1-11) and participated in the trial of Jesus (Luke 23:6-12).

• King Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great, killed the apostle James “with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2).

No one could argue with the profound change seen after Paul’s conversion to Christianity. Paul’s transformation could only be attributed to one thing: his encounter with the resurrected Christ. 

Every sermon Paul preached ultimately centered on the resurrection of Jesus. He labeled the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as “first of all” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). The bodily resurrection of Jesus is the pivot point of our faith and sets it apart from all other religions and belief systems. Belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus was the driving force behind the growth and expansion of the early church from 120 people in Acts 1 to a movement that, by the time it had reached Thessalonica in Greece, had “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

Paul introduced the resurrection early in his testimony—“Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” (26:8)—and returned to it at the end: “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles” (v. 23).

Now the thought of a resurrection was too much for Festus’s cynicism. He “said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself.” Of course, Paul was not out of his mind. He had seen the resurrected Christ. An empty tomb and the multiple attested appearances of Jesus convinced His followers that God had acted decisively in Jesus Christ, who alone is sufficient to bring salvation to everyone who embraces the gospel.

As ludicrous as the resurrection might sound to people like Festus and King Agrippa, all the evidence points to the reality and validity of the resurrection of Christ. Our own conviction of the truth of the resurrection is backed up by the transformation Christ has brought into our lives. People may question the resurrection, but they can’t dismiss the change they see.

Question 4: What are some of the personal challenges we face in sharing our testimony with others?

Question 5: What are some practical ways we can share our stories with others?

LIVE IT OUT

What will you do to tell others of your changed life in Christ?

• Write. Write out your story of faith in Christ. Note what your life was like before Christ, how you came to faith in Him, and what your life is like now.

• Pray. Ask God to lead you to those with whom you could share your testimony. Pray for an open door into a conversation about the difference Christ has made in your life.

• Share. Share the testimony of your walk with Christ. Let it be a natural part of a conversation.

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Hope to see everyone on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Teacher Notes:

Makeovers on television have been a long-standing favorite for many viewers. From What Not to Wear, which ran from 2003 to 2013 and focused on people’s clothing, hair, and makeup choices, to Fixer Upper, which aired from 2013 to 2018, and followed Chip and Joanna Gaines as they renovated old homes throughout Waco, Texas, we love a good makeover show. We love the drama of the before-and-after shots—the home suddenly made beautiful, or the haggard-looking mom-of-three walking out confidently, with shine in her hair and new clothes on her back.

But what is the most fascinating part of these shows?

The part that takes up most of the hour of television, is the process from before to after. That’s where the good television happens—in the messy, beautiful, sometimes difficult process of transforming someone or something to something “better.”

Christians all have a before, during, and after.

The Setting: Paul’s dedication to preaching the gospel caused him all kinds of trouble with Jews and Gentiles alike. Because of his preaching and the disruptions that often came because of it, he was accused of contributing to a worldwide insurrection. Such charges landed him before various governing authorities: the Sanhedrin; Felix, the Roman governor; his successor, Festus; and Agrippa, a regional king considered an expert in Jewish culture and religion. Acts 26 is a record of Paul’s defense before Agrippa.

Acts 26:2-5

“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee.

What motivated Paul in life before he met Christ? What makes Paul’s story so surprising?

• Paul was the perfect Pharisee. He did not need convincing about God’s existence. Nor did someone persuade him that absolute truth existed, that the Roman gods were idols fashioned by men, or that God could not be reached through some other world religion. He knew who God was, and Paul worshipped God his whole life according to the pathway laid out for him. He sought God in the Temple at Jerusalem and by tightly following Jewish law. As far as he knew, he had found God. Paul was a defender of the Jewish faith, long before he became a Christian. He viewed followers of the Way as those who misled others with false teaching about a dead teacher who they claimed to be the Messiah. He worked to destroy them like the infection he believed them to be. That’s what put him on the road to Damascus.

What motivated you in life before you met Christ?

• To live my life for myself. What the world says makes life important. Successful, influential people. Money, accomplishments (title)

I.  Point to your life before Christ.

• We ought to rejoice at opportunities to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus and to tell our story of being changed in Christ.
• No matter how good we may have been, if we have not accepted Jesus as Savior, we are living in opposition to Him.
• No matter how strict our religious convictions, we still need to have a personal, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:12-18

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

What does a changed life for Christ look like? (Repentance)

• A Christian change is radical. The NT word means changing one’s mind, so that one’s views, goals and ways are changed and one’s whole life is lived differently. The change is radical, both inwardly and outwardly; mind and judgment, will and affections, behavior and lifestyle, motives and purpose.

How does Paul’s change reinforce the truth of the Gospel?

• Paul went to Damascus to arrest Christians. He hoped that if he harassed enough of them, the movement would die, and if it didn’t naturally, then he would help the process along. He believed in his heart that what he was doing was what God wanted him to do. Unbeknown to Paul, while he was seeking Christians, God was seeking him. Paul sought his prey to destroy them; God sought Paul to heal and repurpose him. Paul heard God’s voice. Anyone who has heard God’s voice knows that God exists. Paul’s life was radically changed. He wound up at his intended destination, but with an outcome he did not intend.
• Paul’s pursuit of Christians increased the distance between him and God. He kept running in the wrong direction. Thankfully, God was just as relentless to have Paul become one of His children as Paul was to arrest and imprison those who claimed they already were. Paul expected to find God in the majestic temple. God revealed Himself on a common road. Paul believed the Law was the way to make himself pleasing to God. God wanted to show him grace so that Paul could be a testimony to others. Christians, to Paul, were misled at best and his sworn enemy at worst. Paul became their greatest human champion.

II.  Point to your changed life in Christ.

• No one is beyond the reach of Jesus.
• Jesus has the power to change lives.
• To resist the call and will of the Lord is foolish.
• To persecute believers is to oppose Jesus Himself.
• The Lord calls His people to be on mission as His servants and witnesses.
• The gospel has a powerful effect on those who believe.

Acts 26:24-26

At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

III. Others may question your story, but they can’t dismiss a transformed life.

• Our opponents may be quick to criticize, ridicule, or denounce our testimony.
• The decision is ours; will we live openly for Jesus or in secret.

Conclusion:

Paul’s transformation story is incredibly fascinating. Can you imagine anyone who has undergone a greater change of heart (or lifestyle)? He went from persecuting Christians, to becoming a persecuted Christian. He was blinded by Jesus, brought completely to His mercy, and told he, a Jew, was going to become a messenger to bring good news of salvation to the Gentiles! He spent the rest of his life living out the mission God gave him.

While our conversion stories may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, we all still have a “before,” a “during,” and an “after.” No matter how young or old you were when you became a follower of Christ, we all have a story to share with others—the story of God slowly sanctifying us to become more like Christ. None of us are perfect “after’s,” but that just makes for a more interesting story! The important thing is that we share the goodness of God in our lives as often as we can.