PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA

Acts 26.1-32

In this chapter Paul again reveal his past and reminded how he persecuted Christians and pursuit of them in his zest for GOD. But after appearance of Christ to him (verses 14-18) Paul realized how mistaken and wrong he was, and immediately submitted himself to the Lord with great acknowledgment and fear of Him.

Of course, Paul his entire life deeply regrets and sorrow for everything he had done in the past and he knew that he would pay for all his evil deeds, but also knowing that he has found the true Son of GOD, the Christ - Messiah, he now will serve Christ with the same enthusiasm as he had persecuted His followers and redeem himself in the eyes of GOD.

Paul now understood much more than before and encounter with Christ really opened his eyes to see the GOD from completely different perspective than from sectarian view of Pharisees to whom he belonged all his life.

Paul also admitted in his speech that he was a member of "strictest sect of our religion" (verse 5) and belonging to the sect of Pharisees. One thing is interesting here that Paul does not called his affiliation with Pharisees as a religion or a true faith or by any other name which supposed to show their true meaning, but called Pharisees as a sect, a separated group of people following their own certain doctrines, traditions, rituals, customs, and laws, based on believe in GOD but without following or obeying His Statutes and His Commandments.

This actually done by many religious groups and today, that are indoctrinated in human doctrines, rituals, and traditions, claiming that they believe in GOD but at the same time do not follow and do not share GOD'S Principals and His Ideals. GOD, for such sects means only pretext and as cover for their own religion based on their own agendas and doctrines and greed to accumulate material wealth as much as possible, to get rich and influential over their subjects, to gain power over people to control them and to profit from them in order to rule them.

And so, the sects of Pharisees and Sadducees are exactly such deeply corrupt fanatical sects of people who believe that they worship GOD, but instead obeying only their own human rules and delusional doctrines of their founders. In their souls have nothing in common with GOD and in reality, are not His servants but His opposition instead, just like Pharisees and Sadducees in their time.

~ "Then the Lord said, 'Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me (Isaiah 29.13) (Jeremiah 12.2.6) (Ezekiel 33.31) (Matthew 15.7-9) (Mark 7.6-7-13), consists of tradition learned by rote,..." (Mark 7.7-9) (Titus 1.14) (Colossians 2.20-22).

As deeply Paul was involved in the sect of Pharisees and believed that his fight against Christians is the true cause worthy of doing it, in the same way and as deeply now he start serving the Son of GOD Jesus Christ Who appeared and revealed Himself to him giving him understanding of true order of things and the right path to GOD and to serve Him in truth and love (verses 14-18).

In his defense Paul still continue theme of the resurrection of the dead (verse 8) and asked Jews who persecute him, why they do not believe in resurrection of the dead while it is clearly indicated in the Holy Book that they read and study every Sabbath Day.

Resurrection of the Dead in the Old Testament: (1Kings 17.22) (2Kings 4.32-37) (2Kings 13.21) (Isaiah 26.19) (Ezekiel 37.1-14) (Daniel 12.1-3.13) (Hosea 6.2, 13.14).

Paul himself now admitted that once he was just like them, believing in everything that he was taught and instructed, and because of it was hostile to One Who actually was the true Son of GOD and Savior of the world (verse 9).

Such indoctrinated people in their own doctrines forgot one important that they are not serving the Lord, just like Paul believed that he is doing favor to GOD by persecuting Christians but instead done great harm to them. Such indoctrinated people themselves became the enemies of GOD according to their own doctrines and false believes and themselves became the subjects for the wrath of GOD.

For this reason, Solomon said: "There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death." (Proverbs 14.12, 16.2.25, 21.2).

WHO IS AGRIPPA?

Acts 26.27-29

Paul in his speech had been so bold that he even asked Agrippa if he believe in the Prophets?! Why Prophets? Because Prophets, almost all of them, prophesied about Christ. Very little known in historian's circles about Agrippa, but according to that Paul said, after his question, "I know that you do." (verse 29) even more questions arise about hidden believes of Agrippa.

How Paul was so certain that Agrippa believes in Jewish Prophets is definitely a mystery, but according to some historians they claim that the father of Agrippa the Herod Agrippa the Great was actually Edomite by nationality and at some time was converted to Judaism. So, it seems that Agrippa inherited some believes from his father, and somehow Paul knew it.

Words of Paul, "Especially because you (Agrippa) are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews," (verse 3) it is not just a simple flattery of Paul to Agrippa, but much real and deeper than that and gives another clue and inside view about Agrippa.

Of course, Agrippa would not publicly admit or reveal about some of his personal believes and personal preferences not only as a private man but also because of his high status in Roman empire, but these clues that Paul provided about Agrippa gives some inside about Agrippa's own considerations and believes concerning GOD and Christ.

 

Yes, you are right in your points you made. But on the other side, the one who murdered Jewish babies built the greatest Temple to GOD, the Herod the Great, Edomite, try to guess.

Sometimes enemies of Israel became their allies and sometimes those who settle in Israel became the patriots of the host country.

For example, David's personal guards were the Cherethites and Pelethites (descendants of Philistines), the Gittites also joined David and helped him in his battles. They are from the nations that always have been hostile to Israel but took side of Israel. Many of them have been fugitives, some of them born in Israel, and some others join Israel for some personal reasons.

In today's world the same can be said about "Palestinians" who terrorized Israel since Israel became the State, but certain tribes of Arabs who lived in Israel even before Israel became the State are very friendly to Jews and even serving in Israel's army, proved to be reliable and loyal to State.

My point is that not all races who hate Israel and Jews are 100% hostile to Jews, some individuals understand situation and history of the conflicts between Jews and Arabs and did not fall to propaganda of radical Islamist, terrorists, and thugs who teach to hate Jews and Israel.

Actually, I remember one woman, but I do not remember from which Arabic country she came from, she was in the news giving interview to a news host and passionately defended Jews and Israel in their fight against hostile Arab countries.

She has common sense, very well understood the conflicts, and criticized Arab countries for their hostilities against Jews and their Jewish State. I was amazed when I heard her speaking telling the truth that even American media was trying to suppress. GOD bless her and I will never forget her.