Commitments of an Enduring Witness | Acts 25-26
Paul persists in four commitments that contribute to his enduring witness for Christ: (1) innocence; (2) reason; (3) hope; and (4) persuasion. This sermon is part 5 of “Unhindered,” Bryan Craddock’s verse-by-verse sermon series on Acts 21-28.
Every day that we live, God gives us twenty-four hours. So, how are you using that gift? Some activities are clearly wrong. Others are just a waste of time. Some are good and necessary, offering obvious immediate benefits, like taking the time to eat or to sleep.
Then there are activities that are an investment. They may not be enjoyable but difficult, frustrating, or even painful. Yet they accomplish a bigger purpose, so you persist in them. Exercise can be like that and so can music practice. When I was young, I spent countless hours practicing guitar, drums, and piano. Thanks to that discipline, I am still free to use those skills today.
At the end of his life, the Apostle Paul summed up the purpose that guided his choices. In 2 Timothy 2:8-10, he says,
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Acts describes Paul’s first imprisonment that leads him to Rome. He wrote these words during a second much harsher imprisonment in Rome. In one sense, he has very little freedom by this point. But since he has invested so much of his life in proclaiming the word of God, the impact continues unhindered. Those whom God has chosen are coming to faith through the churches he planted, the letters he wrote, and the leaders he trained. But none of that happened by chance. Paul endured great difficulties, but he disciplined himself and stayed focused on what matters for eternity.
So, how can we do things that matter for eternity? What commitments must shape our everyday choices? I think that Luke shows us in Acts 25-26. Paul has spent two years imprisoned in Caesarea after being arrested in Jerusalem, and Luke seems to highlight that the days keep slipping away. But Paul’s case is reconsidered as a new Roman governor arrives, and those interactions show us that Paul persists in four commitments that contribute to his enduring witness for Christ.
These chapters repeat much that we have already heard in our study of Acts. So, we will go through them quickly, but I think that this approach will help us see these commitments in action. As we walk through them, I encourage you to consider whether they are shaping your life. The first one is foundational.
Innocence
When runners compete in a race, there are rules that they must follow. They cannot step off the blocks until the starting gun is fired. They must stay in their lane, and they cannot interfere with another runner. Doing any of those things can disqualify them.
There are also boundaries in serving the Lord. If Christians are not careful, we can behave in ways that end up disqualifying our ministry efforts. We must commit ourselves to living a blameless and innocent life that is above reproach. Paul articulates this commitment in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, using this picture of a runner. He says,
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
The Lord is the judge who will reward us with that imperishable wreath. He sees our hearts. He knows the motives that drive us, and he wants us to live for his glory. On our own, we all fall short. We are anything but innocent. But in Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and can begin to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through him, we can humbly serve God with integrity and innocence to accomplish things of eternal significance. But doing that requires focus, discipline, and self-control.
A commitment to innocence is also important for effective ministry here and now. Without it, people are quick to dismiss us as hypocrites. In Paul’s case, his innocence allows him to enjoy Roman legal protection from his hostile Jewish accusers. He is unjustly kept in prison for two years by the Roman governor, Felix, but that protected him from the Jews who would have murdered him. In fact, when the new governor, Festus, arrives, the Jews renew their attack. Acts 25:1-3 tells us,
Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem--because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
Even after two years, their animosity has not cooled. They are out for blood, and they seem to think that they can pressure Festus into cooperating. He decides to investigate the situation for himself. Verses 4-8 say,
Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. "So," said he, "let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him." After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense."
Their charges against Paul are baseless. Because of his innocence, he can stand before Festus with confidence. But when Festus begins to give way to the Jewish leaders, Paul takes an even bolder stand. Verses 9-12 tell us,
But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?" But Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar." Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, "To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go."
Later in the chapter, we will see that Festus is convinced of Paul’s innocence. He would have released him, but one way or the other the Jews would have still tried to kill him. So, appealing to Caesar as a Roman citizen gives Paul a safe way to leave Caesarea. He had already planned to go to Rome (Rom 15:23-24), but he probably never guessed that he would do so with a squad of Roman soldiers.
Most of us will never find ourselves in a situation like that. But our behavior still needs to be above reproach, and that requires more than simply following the law of the land. We must live in a way that reflects the gospel. Peter puts it this way in 1 Peter 2:12,
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Are we living with innocence, integrity, and honor? Do people see the goodness of God and the transforming power of Christ in our deeds? Committing ourselves to that kind of behavior is foundational for us to have an enduring witness for Christ. We must also consider how we speak, and that leads us to a second commitment.
Reason
When I got my driver’s license, I was eager to go places. But I lived in Los Angeles where the freeway system is bewilderingly complicated. To make matters worse, when they’re not stuck in traffic, the locals drive way too fast. So, it is challenging to get to where you want to go. We didn’t have GPS or mobile phones to give turn-by-turn directions. We had maps, but it was easy to miss a turn and find yourself lost.
A lot of people have a similar experience with Christianity. The stories and ideas in the Bible can seem bewilderingly complicated. Once you’re familiar with them, you may be able to speed through them. But new people find it hard to keep up. They tend to get lost and give up. They need turn-by-turn directions. So, to have an enduring witness we must commit ourselves to communicating with careful, methodical reason.
The Apostle Paul sets a great example for us to follow. In Acts 17-18, Luke speaks of reason four times to describe how Paul communicates the gospel to people in different cities, particularly in Athens before the Areopagus. Paul’s letter to the Romans provides an even fuller demonstration of a logical step-by-step explanation that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. Acts 24:25 even says that Paul reasoned with Felix and Drusilla about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment.
Many people, however, approach religious matters by appealing to emotion rather than logic. We just saw an example of that in Acts 25:7, when the Jewish leaders brought charges against Paul without any proof. They were undoubtedly passionate, but there was no substance to their case. It was driven by hatred.
Luke does not record Paul’s whole defense, but he apparently responds in a reasonable way that helps Festus begin to understand one of their core disagreements. This comes out as Festus recounts the case to Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. Agrippa governs the territory north of Judea, so he comes to welcome Festus, and Acts 25:13-22 tells us,
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix, and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.] But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," said he, "you will hear him."
I doubt that Agrippa would have been interested if Paul only delivered baseless passionate assertions. But he wants to hear what Paul has to say, and an impressive collection of people are gathered. As they do, Festus himself speaks to the importance of reason. Acts 25:23-27 tells us,
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him."
So, Festus recognizes Paul’s innocence. He is not necessarily on Paul’s side, but he is looking for something to write to Emperor Nero. Paul, of course, will take this opportunity to share the gospel through his personal story.
Before moving on, we should understand that we are all called to follow Paul’s reasonable approach. In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter makes this point by saying,
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
Are you prepared to give clear reasons for your faith in Christ? We should all be able to offer step-by-step guidance in understanding the gospel. Peter’s words also point us to a third commitment that Paul demonstrates.
Hope
In the darkness of every night, we know that dawn will come. But what would it be like to live without that assurance? Science fiction authors imagine post-apocalyptic worlds where people abandon all moral principles as they frantically try to grasp power. But it does not take a cataclysm to drive people to that dark place. It’s the natural impulse of a fallen heart.
The Jewish leaders in Paul’s day demonstrate this mindset. We see it in their insistence that he be put to death. They are not concerned about his integrity or reason. In their fight for power and control, they cannot allow dissent. They just want to silence him.
In stark contrast, Paul’s story, demeanor, and message reflect a commitment to biblical hope. We see it first in how he addresses Agrippa. Acts 26:1-3 tells us,
So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: "I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
After two years in prison, Paul could have become cynical. It was rumored at the time that Agrippa carried on an incestuous relationship with his sister, Bernice. Paul could have blasted him and dismissed this hearing as a waste of time, refusing to participate. Instead, he seems hopeful that Agrippa will listen and genuinely consider what he has to say.
As he begins to tell his story, he highlights the central message of the Old Testament. In verses 4-8, he says,
My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
The Old Testament is all about hope. After humanity fell into sin and death with the disobedience of Adam and Eve, God made a promise. The woman’s offspring would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). In other words, evil would be defeated, and the undisputed reign of God would be reestablished. He then revealed that it would come about as he blessed Abraham and made his descendants into a great nation (Gen 12:1-3). He would bring a prophet like Moses (Deut 18:18), a king to reign on David’s throne forever (2 Sam 7:12-16), and a suffering servant to bear our iniquities (Isa 53:1-12). The prophets say that he will ultimately establish a new heaven and earth where true worship is restored (Isa 66:22-23), the wicked are judged, and believers awake from death to everlasting life (Dan 12:2).
Though it is not explicitly stated, this whole narrative of hope points toward the resurrection of the dead. No one should miss that, yet people do. Some mistakenly think that the Old Testament is all about rituals, while others, like the Pharisees, that it’s all about rules. But there is hope for people like that, because that is Paul’s story. He tells it in verses 9-18, and it’s the third time that we hear it in Acts. He says,
I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 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. 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.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 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, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles--to whom I am sending you 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.'
Jesus opened Paul’s eyes and commissioned him to do the same for others. By God’s grace, people can turn from darkness to light. They can be set free from Satan’s power to serve God. They can be forgiven and sanctified by placing their faith in Jesus Christ, the one who fulfills the promise of God.
Is that your hope? Are you trusting in Christ? Are you confident that his light can overcome all darkness? If so, does that belief shape how you interact with people? Are you focused on proclaiming this message, or just on pushing rules or rituals? We don’t have a true witness unless we are committed to hope, and that leads to one more commitment.
Persuasion
Jesus uses two pictures of evangelism that seem to stand in some degree of tension. On one hand, he speaks of sowing seed. It lands on different types of soil, and you may not know which is which until you see the result (Mt 13:1-23). So, it seems that the sower must simply trust the Lord for the results.
On the other hand, Jesus also told a group of fishermen that he would make them fishers of men (Mk 1:16-20). When they went fishing, they did not wait for fish to jump into the boat. They didn’t even bait a hook to see if they could get a bite. They actively cast huge nets in the water and forcefully pulled fish in.
As Christians, we seem to lean one way or the other in our approach to evangelism. Some sow the seed of the gospel and simply wait to see how the Lord works. Others attempt to aggressively pull people in with emotional appeals. Paul, however, seems to be committed to a balanced approach to persuasion.
As he concludes his defense before Agrippa, he explains that being faithful to Christ’s commission requires that he call people to respond to the gospel. In Acts 26:19-21, he says,
Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 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. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
Paul could not present belief in Jesus as another option in the spectrum of religious beliefs. Doing so would distort the gospel. Those who are not following Jesus are going away from God’s plan. They are heading in the wrong direction. They need to turn around, to repent, to so thoroughly change their thinking that it transforms how they live.
This call to repentance is what infuriated the Jews. Their rabbis would debate all sorts of interpretations and traditions. But they resented the straightforward confrontation that they heard from Jesus and his followers, even though it is consistent with the Old Testament. In Acts 26:22-23, Paul says,
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: 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."
This message of hope is for everyone: small or great, Jew or Gentile. But verse 24 tells us,
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."
What prompts Felix to speak up at this point? Is it the claim that Jesus rose from the dead? We saw in Acts 25:19, that he already understood that this was Paul’s belief. Perhaps the thing that seems crazy to him is Paul’s authoritative assertion that everyone needs to respond to this message. But this conviction is central to Christianity. Jesus expressed it in response to a question from one of his disciples. John 14:6 tells us,
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
The exclusivity of salvation in Christ leads Paul to appeal more strongly to Agrippa. Acts 26:25-29 tells us,
But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 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. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" 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."
Paul’s plea does not seem overly emotional or pushy. He does not threaten his audience. He uses reason to persuade them of the truth of the gospel and earnestly expresses his desire for them to be saved. People may consider that crazy, but we see here that some will still respect the sincerity of it. Verses 30-32 say,
Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Are you seeking to persuade people to believe the gospel? Are you finding the right balance between being passive and being pushy? It’s not easy! We need wisdom for every conversation. But people need to see that Jesus is the only way, and that they need to repent and believe. We must be committed to persuasion.
__________
All of us who believe in Jesus should aim toward having an eternal impact. To have an enduring witness like Paul, we must be committed to innocence, staying on course in doing good and being above reproach for Christ’s sake. We must be committed to reason, guiding people step-by-step in understanding the gospel. We must be committed to hope, speaking the truth in a way that communicates and reflects God’s saving power and plan. Finally, we must be committed to simple earnest persuasion that calls people to repentance.
So, I must ask whether you have come to repentance. You may know a lot about Jesus, but do you see him as the way, the truth, and the life? Have you turned from going your own way to follow him? If not, I encourage you to take that step. If you want to learn more about how Jesus changes us and what it means to live for eternity, I encourage you to read 2 Corinthians 4.
If you’re a believer, are you living for eternity? Are you doing things that matter? If not, I encourage you to start today. Perhaps you are already doing so. Do you need to focus on growing in one of these commitments? May God help us have an enduring witness for Christ!
Reflect
Which of these commitments comes most naturally to you? Why?
Which of these commitments is the most difficult for you? Why?
What steps could you take to be more faithful in that weakest commitment?