Shalom, everyone. Turn, please, today to Acts chapter 26 and our passage deals with the Apostle Paul, with Shaul, sharing his testimony with King Agrippa. Very interesting chapter. This is a very important chapter because in this chapter, Shaul Paul is presenting the third time the testimony of how did he come to faith in Yeshua, our Messiah. So, listen to these verses, please. I'm reading in Acts chapter 26 beginning with verse 1. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Thou art permitted to speak for thyself." Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself, "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews, especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews, wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

My manner of life for my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning if they would testify that after the most strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judge for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers, unto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God night and day hope to come, for which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews." "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Yeshua of Nazareth, which thing I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them, and I punished them, often in every synagogue, and compelled them to bless them, and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them which journeyed with me, and when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Shaul, Shaul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the bricks." And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?" And he said, "I am Yeshua whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet, for I have appealed unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appeal unto thee, delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance.

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me, having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophet and Moses did say should come. that the Messiah should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth made thee mad." But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

for the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely, for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, "Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest." Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Almost thou persuaded me to be a Christian." And Paul said, "I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves saying, "This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds." Then said Agrippa unto Festus, "This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Caesar." That is the end of the 26th chapter. The chapter deals with Paul's defending himself before King Agrippa, and the whole chapter 26 is devoted to this one defense of the Apostle Paul. Now you notice that in this chapter, we find out that the Apostle Paul right now, you remember he is in Caesarea, Caesarea. He is there in bonds. They kept him for a while, there for over two years, when the previous governor have kept him there in the castle in Caesarea.

And now a new governor came by the name of Festus. The previous governor was Felix. And then when Festus became a new governor of the Roman province of Judea, then we have the king coming to have a visit with him. And we saw that in the last verses of chapter 25, where King Agrippa came to visit Festus, and Festus the governor shared with Agrippa about this problem that he has, this man by the name of Paul, there was nothing to accuse him, there was no need for him to be in bonds, and for two years he is in jail there in prison in Caesarea, what shall he do with him?

He wanted the counsel of King Agrippa. And now King Agrippa began to give Paul, Shaul, an opportunity to speak for himself. Now remember, brothers and sisters, Shaul Paul is in jail, in prison, without nothing wrong that he had done. He was accused, he was in bonds, but there was no reason in the world for him to be in prison, and yet he finds himself in that city of Caesarea in bonds, but now he is waiting for the opportunity to speak for himself before King Agrippa. And Saul noticed this, there are a few points in this chapter. The first point that we have is in verses 1-3, that King Agrippa now gives Paul the permission to speak for himself.

Now again, this King Agrippa is the last Herods of the Herods dynasty. He is King Agrippa II, he is the one that is now married to his very own sister. Can you imagine? And his own sister Bernice coming with him, she is sitting there, he is sitting there, and Paul now have to speak to him and to present what he has on his heart. Now, he doesn't need to defend himself. You notice that King Agrippa says in verse 1, notice that it says, you are permitted to speak for yourself. Now, what Paul could say? He could say, well, I haven't done this and I haven't done that.

He doesn't occupy with anything else. He used the opportunity to preach the message of the Gospel to the King. And if you remember, it was Yeshua the Messiah who told to Hananiah in chapter 9 and verse 15, go your way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Goyim, the Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel. Now you have the first time and opportunity for Shaul Paul to present the testimony of the Messiahship of Yeshua before the first king, King Herod Agrippa II. So Paul, we read here in verses 1 to 3, first of all, in verse 1b, Paul is very thankful to Agrippa for the opportunity.

He says, Paul stretched forth his hand and he answered for himself. In verse 2 he says, I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things which I am accused of the Jew. First thing he's saying to King Agrippa is, I'm very happy that I have this opportunity, King Agrippa, to speak for myself. You notice in verse 1, he's lifting up his hand, because it says in verse 1b, he stretched forth his hand and he answered for himself. Now when you think about it, he's stretching forth his hand, but apparently, if you will read down in the chapter, verse 29, he says, I have these bonds.

So when he's lifting up his hand, who knows, he must have had both of his hands tied, or at least tied to his feet, and he's lifting up his hands, and he has those bonds, those chains, upon his hands, when he raised his hands, that the people will give him audience to what he has to say. The kind of, in a sense, it's a shame for the apostle Paul, this servant of the Lord, to be in bonds, and everybody's watching him, and looking at him, the king, and his sister, who is his wife, the governor, Festus, the Jewish people who came down from Jerusalem, and other of the Roman soldiers, everybody's standing there, to watch Paul, and this man who is in prison, what will he say for himself?

And so, we find out here, that Paul begin by pointing out also, that Agrippa, notice verse 3, when he speaks to King Agrippa, he says, especially I have an opportunity, I know thee, Agrippa, to be expert in the customs and questions, which are among the Jews, wherefore I beseech thee, to hear me patiently. Apparently, King Agrippa II, knew very much, about the Jewish customs, and the knowledge of the word of God, the Pharisees teachings, and so on, he had a lot of knowledge, about the Jewish people. So, Paul is saying to him, I'm so happy, to be able, to express myself, because you know, all the customs, and of the questions, and so on, that the Jewish people have.

King Agrippa knew, very well, the Jewish customs, and ways. So, Paul, Shaul, was telling him, and expressing before him, how happy he was, that he can present, the truth, of the person, of our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, before him, and defend, the truth, before this man, this king. And so now, notice, brothers and sisters, verses 4 to 11, Paul emphasizes, that his manner of life, as a Pharisee, was known, among his own brethren, the nation of Israel. Everybody knew, who Shaul was, and what he believed. Notice, he's pointing out, first of all, to the past history, before he became, a believer. He says, in verses 4 and 5, "My manner of life, from my youth, which was the first among, mine own nation, at Jerusalem, is known to all the Jews." He says, "Everybody knew me, from my manner of life, from my youth, my own nation, all knew about it." You remember, he was Shaul, from Tarsus, but he grew up, in Jerusalem, under the instruction, of Rabbi Gamliel.

Gamliel taught him. He was a Jewish man, while he grew up, in Tarsus, but he was taught, in the city of Jerusalem, by Gamliel. Everybody knew, Shaul. Oh, Shaul from Tarsus. The Pharisee, everybody knew, who Shaul was. He continued, and he says, in verse 5, which knew me, from the beginning. If they would testify, that after, listen to these brothers, and sisters, that after, the most, strictest, sect, of our religion, I lived, a Pharisee. I am a Pharisee. The Hebrew word, for Pharisee, is Parush. Parush, really means, a scribe, a person, who is interpreting, God. And he lived, a very strict, religious, lifestyle, of the Purushim.

He was, one of a kind, one of those, who have lived, a strict life, as a devoted, Jewish man, to the truths, that he have understood. So he says, everybody knows that. And you notice, brothers and sisters, he never said, that they used to be, his nation, but the people of Israel, are still his nation. Because he says, in verse 4, everybody knew, for my youth, among my own nation, my own people, my own countrymen, at the city of Jerusalem. All the Jewish people, knew that. And again, here in the context, when he used the word, know all the Jews, he doesn't speak about, every Jewish individual, in Israel, but, he's speaking about, the Jewish leaders.

Every time, in this context, you hear the word, the Jews, it is the Jewish leaders, of Israel, who knew, the kind of lifestyle, that Shaul Paul, have lived. And so, he was a Pharisee. Interesting expression, if you just go back, for a moment, to chapter 22, of this, book of Acts, in chapter 22, and verse 3, Paul mentioned, "I am verily a man, which am a Jew, born of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city, this is Jerusalem, at the feet of Gamliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, as ye all this day." I am a Jew.

I grew up in Cilicia, this is the city where I came from, Tarsus or Cilicia, but I grew up in the city of Jerusalem, under the instruction of Gamliel, Rabban Gamliel, taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. I know the law, I was taught by the law, I grew up on the basis of the Torah, on the basis of the law, and I was zealous towards God. Now notice, if you turn with me to chapter 23, just one more page, in verse 6, he there mentioned, when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees, and the other part was Pharisees, he cried in a council, this is the Sanhedrin, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, a Parush, a son of the Pharisee, Ben Parush, of the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am called in this question." You know, there is no doubt whatsoever, that Shaul Paul was Parush, a Pharisee, part of the religious community of our nation, Israel in the city of Jerusalem.

So he is saying to King Agrippa, everybody knew about me, they know my manner of life, they have observed how I lived, I lived under the strictest customs and rules, that we have among our own people, the Jewish people. And he said about himself, if you remember the verses that are found in Philippians chapter 3, I often like to repeat those verses, because there in Philippians 3, verses 4, 5 and 6, Paul speaks of himself to the Philippian Christians, to the Gentile believers. And he said to them, "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any man think that he has something that he can trust in the flesh, I have more." He said, "Look at this." He's saying in verse 5, "I was circumcised on the eighth day.

I am of the stock of Israel. I am of the tribe of Binyamin. I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Touching the law, I am a Pharisee, a parush. Concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly, the church. Touching the righteousness, which is in the law, I was blameless." See, Paul shows us what kind of life he lived before he became a believer in his Messiah, his Mashiach, our blessed Lord Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah. So, this is very important, as he's testifying before King Agrippa. So, he's looking at the past, and he's telling what manner of life he lived before he became a believer. Now, notice that. The next verses, verses 6, 7, and 8, Paul now is being judged for something that Israel, the nation, is waiting for, and they were promised by our forefathers, who were promised to the nation, that the Messiah will come, and that he will be resurrected from among the dead.

And now, they're accusing him because he believed what the Hebrew prophets have said. So, he's pointing this to King Agrippa in verses 6, and 7, and 8. And he says, notice he changed from the past to the present. In the past, I lived as a Pharisee under the strict law that was given to us. In the present, now, he's saying to King Agrippa, I stand, and I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers. He says, look at this King Agrippa, I'm being condemned now, because I believe at the promise that was made to our own fathers. Again, I want you to notice that.

He doesn't say their fathers. He doesn't say the Jewish people's fathers. He said unto our fathers. It was a promise that was given to Paul, to Shaul's father, just as much as those of us who are Jewish, that this is the promises that were given to our forefathers, that the Messiah will come. That's why we believe that Yeshua, Jesus, is our Messiah. Because these promises were given to our forefathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, and all the fathers of the nation, the nation of Israel. And so, in verse 6, it specifically deals with the promises that the Messiah will come. I can give you some verses.

For example, Genesis chapter 3, and verse 15, the Messiah was called the seed of the woman. Zerah Ha'ishah, Zerah. In Genesis chapter 22 and verse 18. He is called the seed of Abraham. In Genesis chapter 49. He is called the one that is going to come out of Judah. He is the seed of Judah. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh will come, and unto him shall be the gathering of the nations. These are promises that have been given in the Hebrew scriptures, in the Tanakh to our forefathers, that the Messiah will come. The seed of the woman. The seed of Abraham.

The one who is going to come from the tribe of Judah. And the family of Jesse. And the family of David. And on and on. These are the promises, beloved brothers and sisters, that have been given to our forefathers. And Shaul Paul stood for that. He didn't deviate. He didn't play religion here. He stood on the basis of the ABC of the word of God of the Tanakh. He doesn't have New Testament in his hand. He cannot open Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He cannot open Acts and Romans and 1st and 2nd Corinthians. But he tells them of what he knew from the Tanakh, from the Hebrew scriptures, concerning the promises that were given to our fathers.

In verse 7. It's not only this. And listen, this is very interesting. He says, "And to which..." This is Israel. These are the forefathers. "Promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God night and day, hope to come, for which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jewish leaders." Now, I want you to know this, beloved brothers and sisters. He says, "And to which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God night and day." Now, he used the word twelve tribes. And about 722 BC, the northern tribes of Israel, ten tribes were taken captive by the Assyria. And many people over the years today, teaching us that there is the lost ten tribes.

But the Bible doesn't teach that. The Apostle Paul says, at that time, this is about 50-something AD, he is speaking about the tribes of Israel, the twelve tribes of Israel worship God night and day. Well, there is no such thing in the theology of the Apostle Paul, that there are ten lost tribes. Whoever is bringing this theology, it's not found in the Bible. Because even though the ten tribes were carried captives by the Assyrian in 722 BC, many of them migrated and mingled with the rest of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, like Hanah from the tribe of Asher found in Luke chapter 2, and many others who mingled with the rest of the nation, the two tribes, and they are part of these twelve tribes.

There are those who believe in the ten lost tribes, and then there's all kinds of doctrines coming, some claim that they are the ten lost tribes in Britain and other places. There's all sorts of teaching came over these claims that the lost tribes, well, they are not lost to God. And the Apostle Paul apparently knew his word pretty well, and the two tribes could not say only two tribes because the other ones are lost. He says unto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God night and day. Why night and day? Because in the Hebrew calendar the day does not begin in the morning. It began in the evening.

It was evening and morning the first day. Night and day. Night and day. Not day and night, but night and day. Night and day. This is biblical accounting of a full day. It began in the evening and the end at the end of the second day. So it's evening and morning and not morning and evening. Now just to elaborate this a little bit about this interesting word, the twelve tribes, I would like you just for a moment to turn with me to the book of Yaakov. James chapter one. James chapter one, you will notice that Yaakov also, James his name, his Hebrew name is Yaakov.

James in chapter one also wrote to the twelve tribes when he was writing his epistle, his letter. James chapter one. James chapter one in verse one. It says here, Yaakov, James, a servant of God and of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. Greetings. Yaakov wrote to the twelve tribes. They were scattered. Yes, but he knew that those twelve tribes are in existence. There was not some tribes are lost and some tribes are not lost. No, as far as the scripture is concerned, the twelve tribes are in existence. God knew them and also the people of Israel knew of them.

Even though, yes, it's true that the ten tribes were taken captive by the Assyrians in 722 BC. But they were not lost to God and they were not lost totally from among the nation of Israel. Let me show you another verse that is interesting. In Matthew chapter 19, if you just turn there for a moment. Yeshua in his life, before his death, pointed to the twelve tribes in Matthew chapter 19 and verse 28. And Yeshua said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in their regeneration. This is in the Messianic kingdom. When the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you shall sit upon the twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Sh'temesra shivtei Yisrael, we say in Hebrew. The twelve tribes of Israel. So there are twelve tribes. And even though, with all the dispersion of the northern tribes, later on the southern tribes, by the Babylonian. Over the generation, God preserved the twelve tribes. And ultimately, in the regeneration in the Messianic kingdom, all those twelve tribes will participate in the Messianic kingdom. That will be a wonderful day to come. What a day that will be when Israel, the nation, will gather. And everyone from the tribes of Israel will be part of the future day. Now, one more verse to read here. The last verse about this, I want to read in Revelation 21.

In the eternal order, beloved brothers and sisters, we can see the twelve tribes of Israel. Also, their names are mentioned even in the future day of the eternal order that we have from chapter 21. And I'm reading in verse 12. And had a wall, this is the heavenly city of Jerusalem, great and high. And had twelve gates. And at the gate, twelve angels. And the name was written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. Did God ever see his nation, his people, even though they are scattered and divided. He sees them as a unity. One company. The twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

So, Paul, speaking to King Agrippa, he says, King Agrippa, I'm telling you, I'm being condemned today because I believe in the promises that God had given to my forefathers, to our nation concerning, number one, the coming of the Messiah. And then the promises that the twelve tribes of Israel. But even more, now he says in verse 8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? King Agrippa, we believe in the resurrection of the Messiah. And in the resurrection of the coming day of all those that have trusted in God and in Yeshua the Messiah. And, you know, the resurrection of the Messiah was taught in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Isaiah 53, where God spoke about the death of the Messiah. And he promised to Yeshua the Messiah, he shall see his seed. He's speaking about the resurrection of the Messiah. You notice Isaiah 53:10. It says, Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He has put him to grief. This is the Messiah in his death. When you shall make his soul an offering for sin. When he finished the work on the cross. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days. And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. In other words, the Messiah Yeshua will be resurrected. And he will prolong his days.

If he died, yes, he did. But his days will be prolonged because God is going to resurrect Yeshua the Messiah from among the dead. And that resurrection had been promised. Isaiah 53:10. Psalm 16:10. The resurrection of the dead in Daniel chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2. And Isaiah 26. There are many, many passages that speaks about the resurrection of the Messiah. But also the resurrection of the believers who believed in Yeshua the Messiah. Well, this is those verses in verses 4 to 5. He looked at the past. Now he's turning to the present. And he says, look what I'm being accused of. Because I believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. And that he had risen from among the dead.

Now, brothers and sisters, I can assure you that you probably feel very much the same. When we today, those of us who are Jewish here, when we speak to our people. They are saying to us the very same thing today. They say, how could you believe that Yeshua is the Messiah? Well, I tell you how. And I open the text from the Bible. And I show you why I believe that Yeshua is the Messiah. Because their forefathers, our own forefathers received this information. It is in the Word of God. The problem is not with the believer. The problem is with those who reject the simple ABC that is given to us in God's Holy Word.

So, now in verse 9, 10, and 11, Paul confesses to his own persecution. You know, I'm sure that throughout the history of the life of Shaul Paul, He always remembered what he had done to his Jewish brethren when he persecuted some of them unto death. Because he thought that he is doing the right thing for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And he brings this here in his testimony. First of all, in verse 9, he was so hostile to the name of Yeshua from Nazareth. He says, "I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Yeshua Minatzeret." You know, I felt that I have to be against the name of Yeshua.

Notice it used the word "the name." You know, this is a despised name today. People despised the name of Jesus, of Yeshua. And it started years ago. When Yeshua was on earth among our own nation of Israel. He was not acknowledged, rejected by our own people. Rejected today by the nations of the world. "Don't tell me about this Jesus. I don't want to hear about this Yeshua. I have nothing to do with his name, with his person." And yet, beloved brothers and sisters, the Bible says, "There is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved." Acts chapter 4 and verse 12. We have many passages in the scripture.

And God says that he will give him a name that is above every name. That the name of Yeshua, Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. That Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah, is Lord to the glory of God the Father. And Paul was not different before he became a believer. He was contrary to the name of Yeshua. And notice, he doesn't only say Yeshua, but Yeshua from Nazareth. Nazareth means Nazareth in Hebrew. Nazareth? It is a city in Galilee. A small town. Insignificant. Unimportant. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? We were told that the question was come. And yes. The good thing that came out of Nazareth is that man, that lover of our soul.

The son of God. The Mashiach of Israel. Israel. Who came. Was born in Bethlehem. But lived his life in the city of Nazareth. In obscurity. In humility. In simplicity. The word "netzer". It's a shoot. That come out of the ground. In his lowliness. He grew up. In submissiveness to his family. To his mother. And to his stepfather. In obedience to God. What a man he was. But here we have Shaul. Contrary to the man from Nazareth. And that's why he was so much offended when Jewish believers had followed this man from Nazareth. So he said. I thought that I would be contrary. In verse 9. To the name of Yeshua from Nazareth.

Notice what he says in verse 10. I voted. I voted. At a time when there was accusing Stephen. Which thing I also did in Yerushalayim. And many of the saints. I shut up in prison. Having received authority of the chief priests. And when they were put to death. I gave. My voice. Or my vote. Against them. In other words. In olden time. They used to give votes. Against those. Against. And for. You know. So when in the Sanhedrin. When there was the voting. Against the Jewish believers. Paul said. I cast a vote. I voted. Against. Those. Jewish people. Who believe in Yeshua. I voted. For persecution.

Of those. People. And notice that. He used this expression here. I did shut up in prison. And then I received authority. From the chief priest. In other words. They gave him letters. And so on. And when they. Were put to death. Now here. We learn something. We don't have in other passages. Apparently. First. Century. Jewish. Believer. And I'm emphasizing. Jewish believers. Because. At that time. Sanhedrin. Didn't deal with. Non-Jewish people. They dealt with. Those. Of their own. Who have gone astray. And therefore. What he's really saying here. Some of them have been. Put to death. And he says. I voted. For that thing. To happen.

He participated. In persecution. Of. Hebrew. Believers. In Yeshua. The Messiah. Again. And again. To underline. That Shaul. Did not. Persecute. Gentile. Christians. But Jewish. Christians. He didn't persecute. None. Jewish believers. But he persecuted. Jewish. Believers. Of his own people. And how do we know it? Look at the next verse. Beloved brothers and sisters. Verse 11. He punished. Jewish believers. That confessed. Yeshua is the Messiah. By compelling them. By going against them. By persecuting them. Notice that verse 11. I punished them often. In every synagogue. Now. Who go to the synagogue? Only Jewish people. Going to the synagogue. We're not talking about. Any church group here. Because apparently.

In first century. Jewish believers. Still went to the synagogue. It was a time of transition. That they need to understand. That now. In the body of Christ. The body of Messiah. Jewish. And non-Jewish people. Are united. In one body. They needed to understand it. But they were. In the process. Of maturity. They still went. To the synagogue. And as they go. To the synagogue. They were sitting. Among their. Jewish brethren. Who did not believe. As yet. And they were. Worshipping God. In that way. But they believed. That Yeshua. Was the Messiah. So. Shaul. He said. In verse 11. I punished them. Often. In every synagogue. So notice.

Every synagogue. It was not only one synagogue. It was going from. synagogue. To synagogue. In Hebrew. We call it. A place. Of the gathering. Of our Jewish people. Bait Knesset. From. Bait Knesset. To Bait Knesset. From synagogue. To synagogue. And what did he do? Number one. He compelled them. To blaspheme. In other words. What he wanted them to do. He forced them. To blaspheme. Against the name. Of Yeshua. Now apparently. They didn't. Because when they didn't. They end up being. In prison. And some lost their life. But he forced them. He sought. To compel them. To blaspheme. The name of Yeshua. The Messiah. And then notice that.

He was exceedingly. Against them. That was his. Life. Mission. To go against. These Hebrew believers. And then notice. It said at the end. I was. Persecuting them. Even unto the. Strange cities. Now again. I want you to notice. It's not one. City. But many cities. You know. We always read. Damascus. So you've gone to Damascus. One city. Of Damascus. But that is not. So. Long before. He have arrived. To Damascus. To persecute. Those. Jewish. Brethren of his. Who believe in Yeshua. He have gone to. Many other cities. And to many other. Senagogues. Seeking. To persecute. Those. Early. First century. Jewish. Believers. In Yeshua. The Messiah.

So. It is interesting. To see. How much information. We get here. From. As he testified. Here before. King. So we move on now. In the next portion. Of this chapter. From verse 12. To verse 18. Paul now. Once again. Has an opportunity. To rehearse. His. Damascus. Experience. He is now. Telling the story. You know. This is very important. For us. To do in our life. When somebody asks us. About. What we believe. And why we believe. In whom. We believe. We don't need to know. To be scholars. We only need to be. Faithful. To what we do know. I know that. Once I was blind. And now.

I see. I know that. Once I was lost. And now. I am found. And we tell. How we became believers. In Yeshua. The Messiah. And every time. We rehearse. The story. It become again. Precious. To our hearts. And I'm sure. You can remember. And I remember. The days. When I have been. Exposed. To the message. Of the gospel. And I tell you. I'm Jewish. In the beginning. I said. I don't want to hear. About that. I'm Jewish. I'm not going. To do such a thing. Why my grandfather. Is not a believer. In Yeshua. If Yeshua. Is the Messiah. Why my family. Are not believers. And I was.

Really resisting. The message. It had been proclaimed. To me. Because I said. I'm Jewish. I don't believe. In this stuff. You believe. In the true. And living God. In the God. Of Abraham. Yitzhak. And Yaakov. The God. Of Israel. Well. The truth. Of the matter. Is. That Yeshua. Is the one. Whom the God. Of Abraham. Yitzhak. And Yaakov. Have promised. That he will come. That he will pay. For the penalty. Of our sins. And sins. And that he will save. Not only Israel. But the nations. Of the world. In the Hebrew. Nevi'im. And Ketuvim. It is right there. In the scripture. So. Paul is saying.

In verse 12. Whereupon. As I went to Damascus. Look what happened to me. King Agrippa. I went with authority. And a commission. From the chief priest. Apparently he became. Responsible. Over the persecution. Of his Jewish brethren. Who believe in Yeshua. That was his mission. His mission. I got letters. I've been commissioned. I had authority. To do. What I am doing. But then. Look what happened to me. King Agrippa. At midday. O king. I saw. In the way. A light from heaven. Above the brightness. Of the sun. Shining round about me. And them. Which journeyed with me. And when we were all. Falling to the earth. I heard a voice.

Speaking out to me. In the. Hebrew tongue. Language. Shaul. Shaul. Lama. Tirdefeni. In English. Shaul. Shaul. Why. Persecutest thou me. It is hard for thee. To kick against the pricks. And I said. Who art thou Lord. And he said. I am Yeshua. Whom you persecute. Ani Yeshua. Asher. Atar. Rodef. Oto. It is in Hebrew. But he says. Rise. Stand upon thy feet. For I have appeared unto thee. For this purpose. To make thee a servant. And a witness. Both of these things. Which thou has seen. And of those things. In the which I will appear. Unto thee. Delivering thee from the people. And from the Gentiles.

And to whom. Now I send thee. To open their eyes. And to turn them from darkness. And from darkness. To light. And from power. Of Satan. And to God. That they may. Receive forgiveness. Of sins. And inheritance. Among them. Which are sanctified. By faith. That is. In me. So what. Shaul Paul. Did here. He simply. Rehearsed again. Of his experience. On the way. To Damascus. That is found. In Acts. Chapter. 9. What I like. About this. Is there is. Always. A progression. When. Shaul Paul. Had actually. Experienced this. In chapter 9. In verse 3. He only. Saw a light. According. To the experience. That we read. In Acts.

Chapter. 9. But then. When he shared this. In chapter 22. He didn't say. I've seen a light. I've seen a great. Light. Acts. Chapter 22. In verse 6. But now. This is the third time. And he is now. Does not only say. A light. He doesn't only say. A great. Light. But he says. I saw in a way. A light. From heaven. Above. The brightness. Of the sun. Of the sun. So. It seemed to be. Beloved. Brothers. And sisters. That there is. A progression. In the. Appreciation. By. Shaul Paul. Of the. Person. And the work. Of Yeshua. The Messiah. That light. That is. Brighter. Than the sun. It could only be.

The Shekinah. The Shekinah. Glory. Of God. The manifest. Shekinah. Glory. That God. Revealed. To Shaul Paul. On the way. To Damascus. A light. Acts 9. 3. A great light. Acts 22. 6. A light. Above. The brightness. Of the sun. Acts 26. In verse. 13. You can see. A growth. And appreciation. And it should be. With us. As well. I hope. That the Lord. Will help us. To appreciate. Yeshua. And the work. That he has done. For us. And his glory. The son of God. God. The son. Who became a man. And has suffered. For our sins. And now. He is. Resurrected. And seated. At the. Right hand. Of the majesty. On high.

Interceding. On our behalf. It is a wonderful. Thought. To meditate upon. To appreciate. The Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. In the testimony. And what Yeshua. Told him. He says. Shaul. Shaul. Why. Why do you. Persecute me. When Paul. Shaul. Was persecuting. His Jewish brethren. He was actually. Persecuting. The head. Of the body. Who is in heaven. Every time. There is a persecution. Of the believers. Here on earth. A persecution. Of the Messiah. As well. As the head. Of the body. He is the head. The believers. Are the body. The church. The assembly. Is the body. And we are linked. With him. So when there is. A persecution.

Of believers. Is actually. A persecution. Of Yeshua. The Messiah. So. You notice. He said to him. It is hard. For thee. To kick against. The goads. That goad. Or that pricks. Is really. The sting. That a farmer. Would give. To an ox. When he. Farmed the land. Or when we sit. On a horse. And we ride. We kick him. In the side. And what we do. Is we're poking him. So he will be. Actually. Active. And do faster. The work. That he has to do. Well. Paul was kicking. Resisting. What. Yeshua. Was doing. In his life. Resisting. The message. Of the gospel. He said. It is hard.

For thee. To kick against. The goads. Is a resisting. Against. The poking. Of the Lord. As he was speaking. To him. Concerning. His Messiahship. And brothers. And sisters. Who of us. Can say. I have never resisted. I have accepted. The Lord. Immediately. No. We resisted. The message. And I'm sure. Today. As we preach. The message. Of the gospel. There are those. Who resist. The message. Who go against. It. Saying. No. It's not for me. Yeshua. Is not for me. He didn't die. For my sins. And really. It is exactly. Like. Paul. Is kicking. Against. The pricks. Against. The God. The message. Of the gospel. And so.

At the end. He asked him. Lord. Who are you? And Yeshua said to him. I am Yeshua. Whom you. Are. Persecuting. Then he told him. Arise. Verse 16. He was sending him. To be. A messenger. Of Yeshua. The Messiah. A minister. In order. To be a witness. Unto him. And to many. Of the Gentiles. World. Concerning. The person. Of the Messiah. Notice. In verse 17. And 18. He says. I will deliver you. From people. And from the Gentiles. You know. How many times. Yeshua. Delivered. Shaul. From. All sort of. Experiences. In his life. One time. He was taken. As dead. Another time. They stoned him. Another time. They put him.

In jail. Every time. That in his life. He have experienced. Persecution. And. Here. The Lord promised him. I will deliver you. From the people. This is the Jewish people. And from the Gentiles. This is the Goyim. The nations. And to whom. Now. I'm going. To send you. Paul. I'm going to send you. To be. A servant. And minister. To the Gentiles. To witness to them. The message. Of the gospel. What Paul was going to do. In his ministry. Listen. Brothers and sisters. In verse 18. It says here. Very clearly. That he will be the one. That will be used by the Lord. To open their eyes.

And to turn them. From darkness. To light. And from the power of Satan. Unto God. Notice that. The contrast. To turn. To open their eyes. The eyes were shut. To turn them. From darkness. To light. They live. A dark life. Like many today. Who are unbelievers. Still live in darkness. Because men love darkness. Rather than light. And then. To turn them. From the power of Satan. To the power of God. You know. Satan. Has an amazing power. Over many. Who reject God. They are oppressed. By Satan. By the devil. They are oppressed. By rejection. Of God. Of the true. And living God. They are oppressed.

They are under. The power of Satan. Instead of being. Under the power. Of God. And that's the ministry. Of the apostle. Of Shaul. Paul. Is to open their eyes. Is to turn them. From darkness. To light. Is to bring them. From the power of Satan. To the power of God. Why? Listen to this. At the end of verse 18. That they. May receive. Forgiveness. Of sins. And inheritance. Among them. Which are sanctified. By faith. That is. In me. Yeshua said. To Shaul. Two things here. In the last part. Of verse 18. They receive. Forgiveness. Of sins. How can anyone. Get forgiveness. Of sins. There is no way.

To receive. Forgiveness. Of sins. Unless it is. Through the one. Who is able. To forgive. Sins. Only God. In a person. Of the Messiah. Who died for us. On the tree. Is able. To forgive. Our sins. And then notice that. And also. To give them. Inheritance. Do you know. Brothers and sisters. That even though. Here in this world. You might lose a lot. Lose friends. Lose family. Lose a lot. A lot of things. Here in this world. Because of your faith. In a Messiah. But you and I. And every believer. We are ready. For the day. When God is going. To give us. That which belong.

To us. In the inheritance. The spiritual. And heavenly. Inheritance. That the believer. In Yeshua. Will receive. Notice. Among them. Which are set apart. Sanctified. By faith. That is in me. In me. So. Just like. In Paul's time. And Shaul's time. 2000 years ago. So it is. Today. A person. Who trusts. In Yeshua. The Messiah. What a challenge. It is. He number one. Receives. Forgiveness. Number two. He received. Inheritance. He set apart. Sanctified. For God. With all. Those. That trusted. And believed. In Yeshua. The Messiah. So. Look at this. He. Rehearsed. Before King Agrippa. The Damascus. Experience. In a simple way. He preached. The message. Of the gospel.

To King Agrippa. And to Festus. And to those. Who of course. Who heard him. Now. Let's move on. In verses 19. To 23. Paul. Pointing. To the fact. That he was. Obedient. To the call. That God. Had given. To him. He was not. Disobedient. But he was. Faithful. And obedient. To the call. Of the Lord. Verse 19. Whereupon. O King Agrippa. I was not disobedient. Unto the heavenly vision. I did not rebel. When I got this vision. I obeyed it. But I showed. First. Unto them. In Damascus. This is the Jewish people. In Damascus. He shared with them. The message. And then. At Jerusalem. We get some information.

About the fact. That he was actually. Sharing in Jerusalem. After he became. A believer. And throughout. The coast. Of Judea. Here is Judea. Again. To the Jewish community. In the area. Called the Judea. And. Unto them. That are Gentiles. That they should. Repent. And turn to God. And do work. That meet. For repentance. I want you to notice. The order. The first thing. In the preaching. Of the message. Of the gospel. Is. Repent. The Hebrew word is. Shuvu. Turn around. Repent. Of your sins. Secondly. Turn to God. And thirdly. Do the works. That. Meet. For repentance. Now. Sometime. When we hear. Some say. How to be right.

With God. First of all. Do good works. And then. You're going to be forgiven. But you notice. The order here. It's not. Do good works. First. It's first. Repent. Confess your sins. That's the first thing. When you confess your sins. And you're turning to God. Then. You are able. To do works. That are suitable. For a repented. Individual. See the order. This is important. We don't get. Saved. Because of good works. But we get. Saved. When we repent. And confess. Our sin. And sins. Once. We became a believer. Then we. Can do works. That are suitable. For a person. Who is. A repented. Person. So.

Here is Paul. Giving us a clear way. Of how to become. A child. Of God. In other words. Again. The Jews. Is a Jewish leader. Because Paul was Jewish. So. The Jewish leaders. Caught him. And wanted him. Now to be killed. Because he preached. About Yeshua. The Messiah. It was contrary. To the leaders. Of Israel. At that time. Who did not believe. That Yeshua. Jesus was the Messiah. In verse 22. He says. That he received. The help. From God. Having. Therefore. Obtained help. Of God. I continue. Unto this day. Witnessing. Both. To small and great. Saying. None. Other things. Than those things. Which the prophets. And Moses.

Did say. Should. Come. You know what. In every area. Of his service. If the Lord. Did not help him. He could have not. Be sustained. It is God. Who helped. You know. We too. In our ministry. If we don't get. The help of God. How can we continue. It is God. Who have to help us. Because he already. Said to him. In verse 17. Verse 17. He said. What Yeshua. Told him. I will deliver you. From the people. And from the Gentiles. Unto whom. I now. Send you. Shaul. I am going. To protect you. To take care of you. And that is what Paul. Confessing here. In these verses.

He said. That he was. Protected by. The Lord himself. Notice now. He says. In verse 22b. I didn't say. Anything. Other than that. Which the prophets. And Moses. Find you. Brothers and sisters. He don't have New Testament. He only have the Tanakh. So he only could read. What we read in Bereshit. In Genesis. In the law. Of Moses. Or in the prophet. He could only read. In the text. Of the Tanakh. Of the Old Testament. He has nothing else. To preach. But that which was. Given already. Through the prophets. Of Israel. To our. Four fathers. That's how. Amazing. His testimony. Towards King Agrippa. Was. Now.

In the final portion. Of the verse. 23. Paul preached. The resurrection. Of the Messiah. And as he mentioned. That the Messiah. Christ. Christos. Should suffer. And that he. Should. Be. Raised. First. From the dead. And it should. Show. Light. Unto the people. And unto. The Gentiles. Again. He's. Emphasizing. The resurrection. Of the Messiah. You notice. That he says. In verse 23. And that. He. Should be. The first. That should rise. From the dead. No one ever. Rose. From the dead. To live. Eternally. Like. The Lord. Yeshua. The Messiah. Anyone. That rose. Before. Died. Again. Eliezer. Lazarus. He died. Again. And you look. At the whole. History. Of Old Testament.

And New Testament. Those. That were. Raised. From among. The dead. They. Died. Again. But the first. One. That rose. And remain. As men. Is Yeshua. The Messiah. That's why. Today. We have a man. In heaven. Spirit. Soul. And body. A living. Man. In the presence. Of God. In heaven. He. Is the first. One. Of the first. Resurrection. The first. That should. Rise. From. The dead. And then. That he would. Show. Light. Unto. The people. And also. Unto. The Gentiles. Now. Listen. To the conclusion. Of the testifying. Of Paul. Before Agrippa. Now. He's. Immediately. Directing. Himself. To Festus. And King Agrippa. And look. At the conclusion.

Here. In these verses. This is verses. 24. To the end. Of the chapter. Paul. Now. Challenges. The governor. Festus. And. He. Respond. To Festus. And Agrippa. Look. At the challenge. It says. Now. In verse. 24. That. As. He. Spoke. For himself. Festus. This is the governor. Said. With a loud voice. Paul. Thou art. Beside. Thyself. Much. Learning. Does make. The mad. Paul. You are crazy. What. You're talking about. The resurrection. Paul. You're mad. You are. Beside. Yourself. You are crazy. You know. He. Was. Following. In the footstep. Of. His Messiah. Because. When. Our Lord. Was here. They. Also. Said. About. The Lord. In. John. 10. And. Verse. 20. He.

Is. Claiming. To be. The Messiah. He. Is. Beside. Himself. You are. You are. Beside. You are. Crazy. What. Are you. Talking. About. I just. Quote. John. 10. And. Verse. 20. Where. The leaders. Of. The Messiah. Many. Many. Of. Them. Said. He. Hath. A. Demon. He. Is. Mad. Why. Do. You. Hear. Him. They. Said. About. Yeshua. When. He. Was. In. The temple. In. The feast. Of. Hanukkah. He. Is. Mad. He. Is. Not. Normal. What. Does. He. Say. Claiming. To. Him. Paul. You. Are. Mad. You. Are. Beside. Yourself. Much. Learning. Does. Make. The. Mad. You. Have. Learned. Too. Much. You. Know. This. Is. The. Very. Same. Thing. That. They.

Said. About. You. And. I. When. I. Began. To. Read. My. Bible. People. Said. You. Are. Crazy. Why. Do. You. Read. Newspaper. You. They. Read. All. Sort. Of. Things. But. Don't. Read. This. Book. You. Crazy. And. Then. You. Come. And. Telling. Us. About. This. Yeshua. From. Nazareth. Who. Died. For. Me. On. The. Tree. And. That. I. Need. To. Confess. My. Sin. You. Are. Crazy. Don't. Give. Me. This. Nonsense. People. Say. To. Us. Well. They. Said. It. About. Yeshua. John. 10. 20. They. Saying. It. About. Shaul. Paul. Act. Chapter. 26. And. Here. In. Verse. 24. Also. In. Corinthian. Paul. Speaking. About. Himself. I. Am. Beside. Myself. I. Rather. Be. Beside. Myself.

In. Knowing. The. Truth. Of. God. Than. Being. Normal. As. One. Call it. And. Reject. The. Someone. Concerning. The. Ministry. And. I. Remember. I. Saw. Somebody. Carrying. A. Sign. In. The. Public. Place. And. In. The. Sign. In. The. Front. Of. The. Sign. He. Said. I. Am. A. Fool. For. Jesus. But. Then. As. They. Turn. Around. And. They. Look. At. The. Back. Of. The. Sign. The. Sign. Said. Whose. Fool. Are. You. For. If. You. Are. Not. Fool. For. Yeshua. You. Are. Going. To. Be. A. Fool. For. Somebody. Else. And. It. Is. Better. To. Be. Beside. Myself. Or. Beside. Yourself. Paul. Following. The. Word. Of. God. And. Following.

Yeshua. The. Messiah. But. Now. Notice. The. Response. Of. Paul. In. Verse. 25. And. Listen. Beloved. Brothers. And. Sisters. To. Speak. The. Word. Of. God. It's. The. Word. Of. Truth. It's. The. Word. Of. Soberness. That's. What. It is. Because. Paul. Said. Elsewhere. In. Roman. Let. God. Be. True. And. Every. Man. A. Liar. God's. Word. Is. Truth. It. Does. Not. Change. We. Need. To. Conform. To. His. Word. And. Submit. To. His. Authority. Notice. He. Respect. His. Position. As. A. Governor. And. So. Most. Noble. First. I'm. Not. Mad. I. Speak. To. You. The. Words. Of. Truth. And. Of. Soberness. And. Then. He. Turned. To. King. Agrippa. Who. Sat. There.

And. He. Said. The. King. Knoweth. Of. These. Things. For. This. Thing. Was. Not. Done. In. A. Corner. King. Agrippa. Do. You. Believe. The. Prophets. I. Know. That. You. Believe. Shaul. Paul. Said. As. He. Was. Speaking. To. Festus. He. Was. Turning. Now. To. Agrippa. The. King. He. Says. Listen. All. These. Things. That. Happened. About. The. Messiah. Coming. To. This. World. And. His. Death. On. The. Tree. And. His. Resurrection. And. All. The. Truth. That. King. Agrippa. Knew. Among. Our. Jewish. People. He. Knew. All. These. Things. He. Says. This. Thing. Had. Been. Not. Done. In. A. Secret. Places. It. Was. Done. Publicly. It. Was. Not. Done. In. A.

Corner. Then. He. Asked. Religious. The. Faith. Of. Our. Forefather. He. Knew. That. He. Was. The. King. He. Knew. That. But. He. Rejected. Those. Things. Of. The. Very. Lifestyle. That. He. Lived. It. Proved. That. He. Rejected. Those. Things. So. Here. Is. That. Famous. Verse. Where. King. Agrippa. Said. Unto. Paul. In. Verse. 28. Almost. Thou. Had. Persuaded. Me. To. Become. A. Christian. Now. We. Use. This. In. A. Gospel. Message. Are. You. In. Or. Are. You. Out. Are. You. Saved. Or. Are. You. Lost. Are. You. A. Believer. Or. You. An. Unbeliever. Are. You. Going. To. Heaven. Or. You. Going. To. Hell. Almost. Is. Not. Enough. Almost. Is. Short. Of.

What. You. Need. To. Be. You. Are. Either. In. Or. Out. You. Are. Either. Wise. Or. You. Foolish. You. Cannot. Be. Almost. You. Gotta. Be. In. You. Gotta. Be. Saved. You. Gotta. Believe. That. Yeshua. Is. The. Messiah. There. Is. No. Such. A. Thing. As. Almost. But. I. Wanted. To. Persuasion. You. Would. Make. Me. A. Christian. Do. You. Really. Think. Paul. That. All. The. Words. That. You. Spoke. To. Me. Right. Now. Will. Persuade. Me. To. Become. A. Christian. You. Know. There. Are. Three. Times. The. Word. Christian. Mentioned. In. The. New. Testament. It's. The. Hebrew. Word. Messiah. Follower. The. Word. For. Christian. Come. From. The. Greek. Christos. And.

It. Simply. Mean. Faith. In. Mashiach. In. Christ. Come. From. The. Hebrew. Word. Mashiach. In. English. We. Say. Messiah. In. Hebrew. We. Say. Mashiach. So. He. Really. Saying. To. Paul. Do. You. Think. Paul. That. With. This. Little. Persuasion. That. You. Are. Doing. Here. Speaking. Those. Words. To. Me. I. Will. Become. A. Messiah. Follower. He. Was. Actually. Putting. A. Seal. Of. Doom. Upon. Himself. By. Rejection. Of. The. Message. Of. The. Apostle. Paul. Concerning. The. Gospel. What. Really. King. Agrippa. Did. He. Really. Condemned. Himself. To. Go. To. Eternal. Separation. From. God. Was. Yeshua. Who. Said. In. John. Chapter. 3. In. Verse. 18. He. That. Believeth. On. Him. Is. Not. Condemned.

But. He. That. Believeth. Not. Is. Condemned. Already. Because. He. Has. Not. Believed. In. The. Name. Of. The. Only. Begotten. Son. Of. God. And. This. Is. The. Condemnation. That. Light. Came. Into. World. And. Men. Loved. Darkness. Rather. Than. Light. Because. Their. Deeds. Were. Evil. For. Everyone. That. Doeth. Evil. Hateth. The. Light. Neither. Cometh. To. The. Light. Lest. His. Deed. Should. Be. Reproved. Look. At. Verse. 36. Of. The. Same. Passage. I. Read. John. Chapter. 3. Verse. 18. 19. And. 20. Look. what it says in verse 36 of John 3. He that believeth on the Son. Has everlasting life. He that believeth not the Son. Shall not see life. But the wrath of God. Abideth.

On him. What King Agrippa did here. He really said to Paul. Do you think. That with little persuasions of words. You would make me a Mashiach follower. He mocked at the testimony of Shaul Paul. Concerning the work of Yeshua the Messiah. The person in the work of Yeshua the Messiah. And by this beloved brothers and sisters. He really sealed his destiny. He rejected the offer of the gospel. And he will ultimately will spend eternity. Away from the presence of the Lord. I said to you that there are three times the word. Christian. Or Christianos in Greek. Meshichi. In Hebrew mentioned in the New Testament. The first time it's mentioned is.

In Acts chapter 11. In verse 26. There the first believers were called Meshichiim. Christian. Messiah followers. And it's mentioned in also. Peter mentioned that. In 1 Peter 4. In verse 16. About the suffering Jewish believers. Messianic Jews. Who suffered as Meshichim. As Messiah followers. And this is the third time that the word. Christian. Or Meshichi. Is mentioned. In the Brit HaChadashah. In the New Testament. Now let me close that here. With the last verses. 29 to 32. When he said to him. You almost persuaded me to become a Christian. Paul said unto him. I wish. To God. That not only you. King Agrippa. But all that hear me. Would be. As I am.

I wish. That all of you. King Agrippa. And all that hear me. Will be just like me. A forgiving sinner. One that is now. Right with God. Because of Yeshua the Messiah. A believer in Yeshua the Messiah. That's what Paul is saying. I wish that you. King Agrippa. And that all those who hear me. Will be just like me. A forgiving sinner. That had been forgiven. And now. No more condemned. But a child of God. And he says. The only one thing. That I don't wish on you. King Agrippa. And those that hear me. Not to have those bonds. Not to be in prison. Here.

With those bonds. On my hands. And my feet. But to be a free man. Who is a believer. In Yeshua the Messiah. So when he closed. When he finished to speak. It says in verse 30. That the king got up. He must have been mad. Not happy at all. The governor. This is Festus. He got up also. Bernice. This is his wife. Who is his sister. It says. When they were gone aside. They went to the side. And they began to talk with each other. About Shaul Paul's testimony. And they said. This man really. Maybe he's mad. But this man. He's not worthy of death. And not worthy of being in bonds.

He says. Really. There's nothing for us to accuse him. He may be mad. He may be crazy. Believing Yeshua from Nazareth. And the resurrection. But he hasn't done anything wrong. And you know what they decided. And that's the conclusion of our chapter. Verse 32. Then Agrippa said to Festus the governor. This man might have been set at liberty. He could have been free right now. But. If he had not. Appealed unto Caesar. You remember earlier. He said that. I want to go to Caesar. I do not want to be judged by anybody else. I'm going to go to Caesar. But it is interesting. Because that was actually a fulfillment.

Of what Yeshua told him. In Acts chapter 23. That he will be a testimony to him. Not only here in Jerusalem. But even in Rome. In the book of Acts. In chapter 23. Yeshua himself told him that. He stood by him. And he said. Be of good cheer Paul. For you. As you have testified on me. Here in Jerusalem. You also must bear witness. Also of me. At Rome. And so. Shaul Paul will end up. Going towards the city of Rome. Testifying. In the city of Rome. Concerning. The person. And the work of Yeshua. The Messiah. Brothers and sisters. I'm telling you. How precious it has been.

Just to see. Shaul Paul's testifying. Concerning. The Messiah Yeshua. And what. He have done for him. Before. A king. A governor. A soldiers. Jewish community. He testified. Concerning. The person. And the work. Of our Lord. Yeshua. HaMashiach. May the Lord bless these thoughts. To all of us. And encourage us. Also. When we have an opportunity. To testify. To the name. Of Yeshua. The Messiah.