“‘In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently…. For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do'” (Acts 26:2-3, 26-27).
In terms of Luke’s compositional strategy (the reason he wrote the book of Acts), the importance of Paul’s speech to Agrippa can hardly be overstated. Luke wants to show that Paul’s gospel is truly “kosher,” i.e., consistent with the faith of the Jerusalem apostles, and more importantly, entirely according to the Jewish Scriptures. Agrippa is Luke’s “expert in all customs and questions among the Jews,” who has come to weigh in on this matter because Festus, a Roman official, was ill-equipped to reach a decision on his own.
Are you longing to be better at sharing the gospel? Search the Jewish Scriptures. Are you struggling to understand Paul’s letters, or even Jesus’ words in the Gospels for that matter? Yes, you got it: search the Jewish Scriptures!
Not only does Agrippa find Paul to be innocent of all charges, but begins to teeter on the edge of becoming a follower of Jesus himself. “Agrippa replied to Paul, ‘In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian'” (Acts 26:28). The subtext of this passage is something all believers in Yeshua must grasp: the New Testament faith makes very little sense apart from the Old Testament witness. Are you seeking for solid reasons to believe in Yeshua? Search the Jewish Scriptures. Are you longing to be better at sharing the gospel? Search the Jewish Scriptures. Are you struggling to understand Paul’s letters, or even Jesus’ words in the Gospels for that matter? Yes, you got it: search the Jewish Scriptures!
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
