The story of Paul’s time in Caesarea seemed to be long, drawn out, and hopeless. Even still, the apostle was not without hope, which he proclaimed the good news of Jesus before the governor and king—just as Jesus prophesied of His followers in Matthew 10:18.
How does Paul establish the credibility of his faith in Jesus here at his tribunal? What does he declare to be his hope, even now as a prisoner under the threat of death by his own people?
Paul spent much of this time laying out his testimony, beginning with his blamelessness through the lens of the Jewish law, as well as his continued worship of the same God as his Jewish ancestors. As he stood before King Agrippa and Queen Bernice, the military commanders, and prominent men of the city, he laid out the hope of God’s people since the beginning and how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection served as the fulfillment of their long-awaited grand hope.
It seemed apparent to the king that, after years of incarceration, this prisoner had finally received an opportunity to defend his freedom before these great men of power. However, rather than deflecting from his intended message for the sake of his freedom, Paul chose to extend a gospel presentation. The king asked if he were really going to present the case of Christ so easily, and Paul’s response was that he desired all those individuals present before him to receive the same gift of salvation that applies to all—no matter their worldly status.
Paul never wavered in his boasting of Christ and His resurrection, nor did he allow the terrible circumstances of his imprisonment to color his belief in the worthiness of his Lord. Consider the faith this man had in believing Jesus’ promises amidst his hardship. How can you shine that same light as you teach of Paul’s courage and perseverance in his eternal hope in Jesus? Teach the boys and girls in your group about the boldness of Paul in response to the faithfulness of Jesus.
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