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Almost Persuaded - Acts 26:28
Almost Persuaded - Acts 26:28
Acts 26:28 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."
Preach the gospel to every creature – does that include men like Agrippa? Would we, if we were ‘on trial before Agrippa’, choose to talk about Jesus? Paul did.
Interestingly, whether it is Agrippa or the guard at the jail in Philippi, the message doesn’t change! Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the prophecies and promises made by God to ‘the Fathers’. Jesus was put to death, but God raised Him from the dead (8).
Then, a twist! Paul at first denied this and instead began persecuting all who believed and preached this! On his way to Damascus to arrest and put to death such ‘believers’, he changed! He changed EVERYTHING about his life! He turned from persecutor to one of the staunchest proclaimers of the resurrection of Jesus. Why? Jesus appeared unto him.
Paul then became a witness to the resurrection. Paul was an apostle to the gentiles! Paul’s purpose was to turn men from darkness to light by opening their eyes to the truth about Jesus. Through such, they would receive forgiveness of their sins, become children of God and receive an inheritance. To this apostleship Paul proved himself true! As we are drawing to the end of the book of Acts, recall the preaching that Paul has done! From Damascus to Rome! To small and great! To Jew and gentile! Jesus was to suffer (and die) and be raised. As the angels proclaimed on the Sunday morning years before: He is not here, He is RISEN!
The first reaction to the resurrection story: you are CRAZY! (so said Festus). Then Paul does the unexpected (well, unexpected to those who don’t know Paul very well!), he turns to Agrippa and puts him on the spot! “King Agrippa, do YOU believe the Prophets? I know that you do.”
Such appeal was not lost on Agrippa. He responds to Paul:
· In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” NASV
· “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” NIV
· Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. KJV
· “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” ESV
· In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian! ESV footnote
· With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian. ASV
· “In a short time you think to make me a Christian!” RSV
Whether this is to be understood as a statement or a question, the translators are divided on this, yet the end result is the same: Agrippa is ALMOST persuaded. Almost, but not.
Paul's response: “And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” (vs. 29). Become as I am – a believer, a disciple, a follower of Jesus! Paul’s desire was not just for Agrippa, but for everyone that he would ever talk to. Such desire was even for those to whom he didn’t address face to face: “Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” ( Romans 10:1).
So, having read Paul’s story, do YOU believe? Almost persuaded is to be lost!
Hugh DeLong
