Paul, a Servant of Christ’s Ministry and the Fulfillment of God’s Plan
Acts 26:19–23 (NASB95)
19“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. 21“For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. 22“So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
As Paul continues his defense before King Agrippa, there are three points I want to focus on:
1. Remember our sermon from yesterday. In verse 22, Paul himself acknowledges and emphasizes that God had orchestrated the events of the trial to accomplish His plan, not Paul’s. What was God’s plan for Paul?
2. Paul states so that he can testify to both the small and the great. Our Lord is using this trial to deliver the good news to the many people gathered to hear Paul’s defense. Paul will do the same once he reaches Rome and shares the truth with the most powerful man alive at that time.
3. In verse 23, Paul acknowledges that he is a continuation of Christ’s ministry – a witness to the truth that started with Jesus through His death and resurrection. The same is true for us today.
Paul’s obedience to God’s call challenges us to stay faithful to the mission of sharing the Gospel, even when faced with opposition, resistance, trials, and tribulations. There is a song I enjoy by MercyMe called “Even If.” These final verses and chapters of Acts remind me of that song. If our Lord orchestrates events and removes trials and resistance from our lives, it is so that we can continue serving Him and testifying to the truth through our words and actions. But EVEN IF He doesn’t, it’s for the same purpose: so we can keep serving and testifying to the truth through those trials just as Paul did. As the modern church, we are called to proclaim the light of Christ to all people, small and great, regardless of our situations, trusting that God’s plan is being fulfilled through our obedience.