Dangerous Testimony: Before Authorities

Acts 26:19–29 ¹⁹“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰Rather, I first told those in Damascus and Jerusalem about it, and then throughout the entire country of Judea and also the Gentiles. I told them that they should repent and turn to God, while also doing works that are consistent with repentance. ²¹These are the reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

²²“But I have had help from God right up to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great. I am saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would happen, ²³that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴While Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵But Paul replied, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am clearly speaking words that are true and sensible. ²⁶Certainly the king to whom I am freely speaking knows about these things. Indeed, I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, because this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

²⁸Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you going to persuade me to become a Christian?”

²⁹Paul replied, “I pray God, that whether in a short time or a long time, not only you, but also all those who are listening to me today would become what I am, except for these chains.”

Jesus said to his disciples, “Peace be with you! Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.” (John 20:21) Amen.

Paul has finished his third missionary tour – a four-year trip into Asia Minor and Greece – and ended his journey in Jerusalem. Some Jewish religious leaders who vehemently opposed his message about Jesus Christ stirred up a mob that almost tore Paul to pieces. Roman soldiers had to intervene. The commander put Paul under arrest until a trail could be held. Before the trial, the commander heard about an assassination plot on Paul’s life. The commander used 270 armed soldiers under the cover of darkness to protect Paul as he was moved to the port city of Caesarea to meet Governor Felix.

Felix couldn’t decide what to do with Paul and was upset that Paul didn’t give him a bribe. So Felix left Paul in prison for two years as a favor to the Jews. Felix was recalled to Rome on charges of being a corrupt governor. Festus was then installed as the Roman governor over the Judean province.

Three days after arriving in Jerusalem from Caesarea, the Jewish religious leaders presented charges against Paul to Festus. They requested that Festus transfer Paul to Jerusalem for trial, as a favor to them. They planned to ambush Paul along the way and assassinate him.

Festus went back to Caesarea and asked Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial. Paul resisted the governor and appealed to a higher governing authority by saying, “I appeal to Caesar!”

After conferring with his legal counsel, Festus declared, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

A few days later, King Herod Agrippa arrives in Caesarea to pay his respects to the new Roman governor. Agrippa is the son of Herod Agrippa I who put James to death, the great nephew of Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptizer, and the great grandson of the Bethlehem baby-killer Herod the Great. That’s a great family tree!

Although Agrippa does not rule Judea, he has control over the temple and the right to name the high priest. His title of “King” is under the authority of the Roman government. He understands the Jewish people in a way that the Gentile Roman governor does not.

Festus is at a loss to investigate and settle Paul’s case. Under Roman law, there was no case against Paul. But as the new governor, Festus wants to get along with the Jewish leaders. This is a religious matter and the Romans don’t care about religious matters. The only thing that matters to them is keeping the peace. Festus hopes Herod can help him determine what specific charges should be pinned on Paul.

The next day Paul is brought before King Agrippa and Governor Festus and other dignitaries. This isn’t a trial. No witnesses or accusers are present. No verdict will be handed down. Paul could have refused to participate since he was not under Herod’s jurisdiction. But Paul consents to speak – not only to testify to his innocence, but mainly to testify to Christ’s gospel before the authorities.

As he had before the Sanhedrin and before Governor Felix, Paul begins with the hope of the resurrection. The Sanhedrin wanted to deny Jesus’ resurrection, but Paul says that the history of the Jewish people was based on the hope of God raising the dead. Then he recounts his conversion story on the road to Damascus when he received a vision of the risen Christ who turned a persecutor into a proclaimer.

Paul stresses that the Christian gospel is not a departure from the true, ancient faith given to the Old Testament Jews. It is a continuation and fulfillment of everything from Moses to Malachi. “I am saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would happen” (Acts 6:22). Paul then forcefully proclaims that these wonderful promises were all fulfilled in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “… that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23). He makes the point that Christ is only the first who will be raised from the dead. He shines the light of salvation to those who are trapped in the darkness of Satan’s power until the good news of Jesus sets them free to serve God.

Festus calls Paul insane, “Paul, you are out of your mind!” Paul replies, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am clearly speaking words that are true and sensible.” Then he challenges the king. “Certainly the king to whom I am freely speaking knows about these things. Indeed, I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, because this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

Agrippa doesn’t know what to say. If he believes the prophets, he can hardly deny they speak of the resurrection. If he doesn’t believe the prophets, he could hardly continue as “the king of the Jews.” So he answers, “In such a short time are you going to persuade me to become a Christian?”

Paul’s answer is perfect. “I pray God, that whether in a short time or a long time, not only you, but also all those who are listening to me today would become what I am, except for these chains.” Paul’s prayer is that no matter how long it might take, God will turn the hearts of all who heard him speak that day. He wants them to all be like he is – except for the whole being in prison thing – forgiven sinners and redeemed saints of God.

Paul boldly preaches before the authorities a message of law and gospel, repentance and faith. He proclaims Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Paul’s defense of his ministry is to share the gospel.

Jesus once warned his disciples of all ages: “Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” But he also promised, “Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you” (Matthew 10:17-20).

This happened to Paul. We are livening in a culture and climate where it is becoming increasingly likely that it will happen to you. You may be called to give your testimony – a dangerous testimony – before authorities. Those authorities may be the government, your university, your employer or the public.

For resisting totalitarian edicts, Pastor Coates of Gracelife church in Alberta, Canada was arrested, tried in secret and thrown in prison for over a month. Now that he’s been released, the authorities have erected large scale fencing around the church property to keep members from worshiping in their church.

A federal court recently ruled that Wayne State University discriminated against the Christian group InterVarsity Christian Fellowship when they canceled their student organization benefits because it had the audacity to require its leaders to be Christians.

More and more workplaces are requiring their employees to go through critical race theory training or be fired. Parents are having their parental rights removed if they do not endorse their children receiving gender reassignment surgery and hormones.

When we face pressure from the authorities, what will you do? Your natural inclination will be to shrink from your Christian responsibility, cower in fear, backpedal, stutter and stammer and apologize, to go along with the culture, to keep your mouth shut, cower in the corner and tolerate everything that’s going on around you.

But Jesus doesn’t ever tell us to accept and tolerate the actions of the devil and his minions. He says we are to storm the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18). We are to go on the offensive. We know full-well what can happen to us when we give our testimony. It may very well be a dangerous testimony.

We can have our business boycotted. We can be canceled. Arrested and put on trial. Expelled from college. Fired from the workplace. Even be put to death.

God calls for us to be bold witnesses before the authorities. Jesus gives you the confidence that the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to say. You will give your testimony before authorities like the government, college professors and employers. Be respectful. Speak clearly, confidently and with conviction.

Call those in the audience to repentance. They’re not persecuting you. They are persecuting the one who sent you. Proclaim your Savior’s crucifixion. Witness to Christ’s resurrection. Shine the light of Christ into their sin-darkened world. This is your opportunity.

As C.S. Lewis once said, “In such a fearful world, we need a fearless church.”

Tell them about a God who loved them enough to enter this world of sin and death, be rejected, persecuted and crucified by those he came to save. He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth before the religious and governing authorities. God’s love could not and did not stay dead. Jesus rose from the grave. Like Paul told Agrippa, none of this happened in a corner. This was testified throughout the inspired and inerrant Scriptures. Jesus is a historical person who was brutally and factually crucified. Numerous witnesses testified that Jesus walked out of the tomb alive on the third day. This is the Christ that the apostles put their lives on the line for. That Christians were thrown into prison and killed for by Saul the Pharisee. This is the Christ that Paul was in chains for.

This is the Christ for whom you are willing to be canceled, boycotted, arrested, put on trial, imprisoned and even martyred. All because you know that Jesus is the crucified and living Savior. He is the Light of the world. You will carry your cross for him since he carried his cross for you. He died so you might live. You are willing to die so you might live forever with you. He gained you heaven so you are willing to give up everything on earth.

Never be ashamed of the gospel message you share. Provide your story. Preach repentance. Proclaim Christ’s crucifixion. Pronounce Christ’s resurrection. You have no power to persuade people. There is power in the gospel that you share, though. You are always praying that God will turn the hearts of all who hear you speak clearly, confidently and with conviction. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words to say when you give your dangerous testimony before the authorities. Amen.

These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31) Amen.