Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Acts 26 and Psalm 94

Paul may have been appearing before a king, but he was far from overawed. He served the One True King of the Universe, before Whom Agrippa paled into insignificance despite all his pomposity, as we saw yesterday.

In Paul’s testimony, there were at least two key moments when he invited Agrippa to respond with faith. First, he asked, “⁸ Why do you who are here find it impossible to believe that God raises the dead?” (GNB) And secondly, he asked Agrippa directly, “²⁷ ‘King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’”

Paul was the one on trial, but he put Agrippa in the dock by his challenging and confrontational questions. This is a lesson to us that there comes a time to stop beating around the bush in our witnessing. Any faithful presentation of the gospel comes to the point where it is appropriate to press the challenge home, and Paul was the master of knowing that moment. He confronted the King boldly, directly and politely. Perhaps we are often simply too polite or too timid to push the issue to the point of decision; but everyone who hears the Gospel needs to make a decision and sometimes they need to be challenged to do so.

Now, it’s true that Agrippa refused to believe. He responded: “²⁸ … ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’’ But the seed was planted, and the Holy Spirit would continue to water it in future. Agrippa would never be able to deny that he had been given every opportunity to be saved from his sins and the coming judgment.

Life Application: Is there someone to whom you’ve been patiently witnessing, who needs you to confront them boldly, directly and politely with the call to make a decision? Prayerfully consider this and, if you feel moved by the Holy Spirit, step into the responsibility courageously.