Faithful on Fridays Blog

Paul’s personal testimony included a supernatural encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, however, the risen Christ appeared to him again in Acts 23:11 with an another assignment.

“Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Acts 23:11 

Even though it took several years Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled after Paul defended himself to three other rulers: Gov. Felix, Gov. Festus, and King Herod Agrippa. Paul seemed excited to share his faith with these influential men who were also used by God to keep him safe from the death threats of some Jewish leaders.

Acts 24:10-21 gives the account of Paul explaining his New Testament faith to Gov. Felix. He called it The Way and described his faith as worship of the God of our fathers, belief in the Law and Prophets (Old Testament), hope of the resurrection for both the just and the unjust, and a clear conscience toward God and man. In reality Paul connected his faith to his actions in life and the way he treated people. 

Felix and his Jewish wife Drusilla were intrigued by Paul who helped them connect the Old Testament to the New: the Jewish Messiah was Jesus. He reasoned with discussions of righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment; Paul knew good doctrine was important to faith since it gave credence to his beliefs.

In this historical account of Paul’s life from the second half of the Book of Acts we find Felix followed by Festus (Acts 25) who also wanted to know this infamous man named Paul. It was clear that Jesus’ prophecy must be fulfilled, therefore, Paul refused to go back to Jerusalem where his life was threatened and an unfair trial awaited him. He stood firmly in his rights as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar, subsequently Festus replied, ‘then to Caesar you shall go!’

The last ruler to hear Paul’s defense of his faith was King Agrippa (Acts 26) and he hit the king hard questioning why it’s too incredible to believe that God raises the dead? Paul repeated his experience with the risen Christ who spoke to him in Hebrew with the following assignment:

“… to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.” Acts of the Apostles 26:18 

Paul completed his testimony to Agrippa by preaching the gospel: repentance from sin, the suffering and death of Christ in our place, and His resurrection from the dead. The king decided Paul was crazy thinking he could bring him to faith in Jesus and sent Paul on to Rome, to Nero. 

Paul knew his end was inevitable but had received courage from Jesus Himself in order to complete his assignment. He was ready to go.