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Acts 26     English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,¹⁷ delivering you from your people and from the gentiles—to whom I am sending you ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. ²¹ For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.²² To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: ²³ that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the gentiles.”

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” ²⁹ And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

REFLECTION:

• Though clearly his innocence had been stated many times, Paul remained a prisoner. He repeatedly had to face the unfair charges of the Jewish leaders. He made his defense with integrity and power, and in return he got only death threats. In it all, Paul’s witness remains consistent. And his greatest desire is that his accusers and those in judgment over him “should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (v20).
• How do you respond to the unfairness and injustice in the world around you—poverty, homelessness, and the unfairness in your own life? It is difficult to assume an attitude like Paul’s in the face of injustice. But God sees and knows what is right, and He understands the anger we feel.
• Ask God to give you the proper response to injustice and a heart that is soft toward those who do not know Him.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank You for granting humanity the gift of eloquence. It can be used to defend the oppressed and speak out against injustice, but it can also confuse truth and lies, and turn black into white. Right and wrong often come from the same mouth, just as sweet water and bitter water flow from the same well. Heavenly Father, grant me the power of silence, for it is a precious and invaluable treasure that cannot be melted by fire or eroded by water. Behold, the heavens, the earth, the mountains, and the rivers are all silent. The clouds and sunlight are silent, and the flowers, grass, and trees are also silent. They remain silent between good and evil, light and darkness. Heavenly Father, in the midst of silence, I see the vastness of Your grace, for since ancient times, You have let the sun shine on the righteous and the wicked, and sent rain to the righteous and the unrighteous. Please increase the strength in my heart, so that when faced with injustice and unfairness, I can remain silent without the need to defend myself, just as my Lord Jesus Christ remained silent on the cross. Heavenly Father, let me grow in silence, calm the anger in my heart, and treat others with the gentleness and love of my Lord Jesus. Heavenly Father, I know that justice is in Your hands, and you will repay. Amen!

HYMN:

We Look To You – youtu.be/iia_owSfv-8