Paul appears before King Agrippa to answer for himself.  Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian.

What Does It Say?

1. Paul gladly appeared before King Agrippa because he knew him to be __________ in all customs and questions which are among the Jews.
2. As a persecutor of Christians, Paul testified, “when they were put to _________, I gave my __________ against them.”
3. When the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, He told him that His purpose was to make Paul a __________ and a ____________ of the things that God would reveal to him.
4. When Festus accused Paul of being mad (crazy), Paul affirmed that he spoke the words of ________ and ____________.
5. Concerning Agrippa, Paul wished that he could be both _________ and _____________ such as he was, except his bonds.

What Does It Mean?

1. Read verses 6-7.  Paul says that he is being judged for the “hope of the promise” and that this same hope is the one the Jews have hoped for.  What is he talking about?
2. According to Paul, the prophets and Moses prophesied that Christ “should be the first that should rise from the dead” (v.22-23).  How could Christ be the first?  There are Old Testament examples of people being raised from the dead.  Jesus Himself raised Lazarus and others from the dead.  Yet, Christ is called “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
   See All...) and “the first begotten of the dead” (Revelation 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
   See All...).  How is He the first to be resurrected from the dead?
3. Festus told Paul, “thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad” (v.24).  Why did he say such a thing?  What kinds of things make the world look at Christians as if they were crazy?

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. Paul, then called Saul, was persecuting Christians before he was saved.  Yet, when Jesus appeared to Saul, he said, “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (v.14).  This refers to sharp, pointed objects that would hurt his feet as he kicked.  How could opposing Jesus and persecuting His servants be compared to doing something that would hurt the one doing it? In what ways do we hurt ourselves when we oppose what God has for us?
2. Paul preached to the Gentiles “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (v.20).  To repent means to have a change of mind and heart; to turn from the wrong way to the right way.  What then are works meet (that is, proper for or fitting) repentance?  How can you apply this to your own life?