Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains

Acts 26:24-32

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. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”  Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Why?

Paul explained what he believed and doing the mission let more people turn to Jesus Christ, even in front of King Agrippa and other officers. Paul hoped everyone who heard his message may become a Christian like Paul. But no chains like him.

To be a Christian, not relate to the long time or short time listening, but the chosen of the Lord working on everyone's heart.

King Agrippa has proved that Paul is innocent, he could be set free. The law of Rome protects the righteous man.

How?

May this good news and salvation be delivered to everyone around me.

I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven

Acts 26:1-23

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—  that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Why?

Here describe the mind and the mission of Paul to insist on preaching the gospel among Gentiles.

Do I have the vision of the Lord to serve the Lord? 

How?

May my mind and my heart be filled by the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord every day in my life.

It is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.

Acts 25:13-27

A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.

Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Why?

It is unreasonable to send a prisoner to Rome without specifying the charges against him. But Paul is innocent, not a crime.

Paul knows Jesus Christ is the savior, and resurrection from the dead. But most Jews did not believe it. Without the Holy Spirit or God's permission, no one will know Jesus Christ.

We are under the protection of the Lord so Paul was not afraid of any kings in this world, just say what we should say for the truth never changes.

How?

This is the authority of the Lord, who chose anyone in God's delight.

The charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar

Acts 25:1-12

After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. 

Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”

Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Why?

Paul insisted on his rights and did not negotiate with Jews or Festus. So Paul refused to go back to Jerusalem, but Paul liked to appeal to Caesar, No one could charge him for they had no evidence of it against the laws of Caesar or the Jews.

Paul keeps his rights in the court of Caesar. This is our defense way either.

Paul appealed to Caesar to make the way to Rome as the Lord said to Paul.

Our life is in the hands of the Lord, no one has the right to hand us over to others when we have not done any wrong to the Laws.

How?

Going on the way of the Lord arranged is a blessing in my life. No matter what situation I know that the Lord knows and my God will make it in His way is good to me.

Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come

Acts 24:17-27

But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.

Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Why?

The officials could not judge Paul as against the law of  Rome, but they wanted to grant a favor to the Jews so they left Paul in prison. And Paul hasn't money to offer Felix a bride.

This is the real situation in our world. No righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. 

Many men like Felix are well acquainted with the way but adjourned the proceeding.  No love, no righteousness, and no responsibility.

How? 

To stay in prison is hard to live, but it is another way to take a rest and be protected.

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man

Acts 24:1-16

When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Why?

Paul did not make any trouble in Jerusalem, or stir up a crowd in the synagogues in the city. Paul committed that he worshiped the God of their ancestors as a follower of the Way, but Tertullus could not prove Paul was a troublemaker. They called Paul's worship a sect. Because they worship in different ways.

Jews worship the Lord in Laws and regulations, and Paul worships the Lord in Love, Spirit, and Honesty.

Jesus is the Love, so we should worship the Lord with truth, love, and heart.

Regulation and Laws make man die, but love makes man live.

How?

Jesus is my savior, trust in Him in everything I am doing, serving and devoting myself to the Lord, God is my shepherd.

There was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment

Acts 23:12-35

The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” So he took him to the commander.

The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

 He wrote a letter as follows: ...This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

Why?

The Jews look at the laws as more important than love and salvation. But for the sins of men, no one could be the level of the Law says.

There was no hope and no way to get eternal life, so the Lord arranged for Jesus to come to this world and gave us the way of salvation.

The government seemed against the Jews, but actually protected and helped Christians, like Paul.

Who is really the son of the Lord, we don't know, but in the end, all will be revealed before the Lord.

This is the work of the Lord that let this murder message be known and the commander sent Paul to Caesarea. To keep the life of Paul.

How?

Do an effort to obey the word of the Lord preach the gospel to others and make a good witness every day in my life. 

Don't worry about anything, I belong to the Lord, For any trouble or unknown things the Lord has the best arrangement for me.