Lesson for November 4, 2012: Paul Testifies Before King Agrippa (Acts 25, 26)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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By Sam E. Stone
The remaining four lessons in this unit help answer the question, “Where does faith take us?” We will look at examples of the apostle Paul’s faith and ministry recorded in the book of Acts. Paul was preaching fearlessly in Jerusalem when a riotous crowd threatened his life (Acts 22:22-24). The Roman soldiers took him into custody in an attempt to restore order. When the commander ordered that he be flogged, Paul asked, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” (22:25).
That quickly convinced the commander he needed to learn more about this man and why the people were stirred up. In the course of a hearing with the Roman ruler, Festus, Paul finally declared, “I appeal to Caesar!” (25:11). Those words changed everything. No longer would he have to defend himself before the prejudiced Jewish leaders; now his case would be decided by Caesar himself, the highest authority in the Roman Empire.

Paul’s Obedient Life
Acts 26:19-23
Festus, the Roman governor of Judea, then had the responsibility to send Paul to Caesar—but he needed to report some specific charge against him. In an effort to come up with something, he invited King Agrippa (the great grandson of King Herod who tried to kill Jesus) in to assist in the interrogation. Agrippa knew the Jews. He served as an advisor to the Romans, as a knowledgeable student of the Jewish Scriptures (Acts 26:3). He told Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself” (26:1).
With appropriate respect and diplomacy, Paul began to recount what led him to become a preacher of Jesus. J. W. McGarvey outlined his message like this: his introduction (vv. 1-3); his position toward Jewish parties (vv. 4-8); his former position toward Jesus (vv. 9-11); his interview with Jesus (vv. 12-18). This is where our printed text begins.
Since his conversion in Damascus (Acts 9:10-19), Paul had faithfully declared Jesus as Lord wherever he went. The Jewish leaders had become even more upset when he included the Gentiles in his message of salvation. Paul assured Agrippa, however, that he had been true to the Old Testament message in all he said. He reminded him that “the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul’s Bold Message
Acts 26:24-27
At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. How could he say that someone the Romans executed has risen from the dead? Respectfully Paul responded that he was not insane, but that his words were true and reasonable. Then he quickly continued his appeal to King Agrippa. He was determined to win him, if possible.
Each part of Paul’s message had been designed to bridge the chasm between them. “I am convinced that none of this has escaped (the king’s) notice,” Paul told Festus. Turning again to the king, he said, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” The ruler knew the facts about Christianity, but he had not acted on them.

A King’s Perplexed Response
Acts 26:28-32
Agrippa’s response to Paul has generated many questions. How did he say it? Exactly what did he mean by it? Most scholars agree that the old King James Translation (“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”) is inadequate. The NIV is better. “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” One scholar paraphrased it, “Do you think you can win me with just one sermon?” Clearly Agrippa was moved—but not moved enough to act on what he believed. He would not be persuaded by one speech, no matter how well presented it was.
The apostle’s response made clear that he wanted to reach everyone with the gospel. “I pray to God that . . . all who are listening to me today may become what I am.” We can imagine him raising his shackled arm and adding with a smile, “except for these chains.”
With that, Festus, Agrippa, and his wife all rose and left the room. Once out of earshot, they agreed, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment” (compare Acts 23:29). Still, the innocent prisoner had to be sent on to Caesar in Rome.

Acts 8:26-39 King James Version (KJV)

Acts 8:26-39

King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
²⁷ And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
²⁸ Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
²⁹ Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
³⁰ And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
³¹ And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
³² The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
³³ In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
³⁴ And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing

Lesson for October 28, 2012: Philip Baptizes a Man from Ethiopia (Acts 8:26-39)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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By Sam E. Stone
Someone has said the book known as “The Acts of the Apostles” could more accurately be titled, “Some of the Acts of Some of the Apostles.” Philip was not an apostle, yet he was a key figure in the early days of the church. He first appears in Acts as one of the “seven men” called to “wait on tables” in the Jerusalem church (Acts 6:1-6). When next seen, he is preaching powerfully in Samaria (8:4-8). Later Philip is called an evangelist (21:8), an apt description.

The Scene
Acts 8:26-29
God gave direct and personal guidance to Philip. This depiction, “an angel of the Lord,” occurs four other times in Acts (5:19; 7:30-38; 12:7-10; 12:23). Philip had last been seen performing miraculous signs as he proclaimed Christ in Samaria. From this successful work, the Lord called him to reach just one individual some 50 miles away. “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Desert means the region was uninhabited, not a waterless stretch of sand dunes.
On his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official. This man had come all the way from Ethiopia, south of Egypt. He had traveled many days to attend a feast in Jerusalem. He was likely a God-fearing Gentile, though he could have been a Jew or a proselyte. While unable to enter the temple, such a person could worship in the Court of the Gentiles (Deuteronomy 23:1). The official was reading from the book of Isaiah. His devotion to God is shown as he studied a scroll containing the book of Isaiah in the Greek language. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” God’s message came this time through the Spirit, rather than an angel (Acts 8:26).

The Message
Acts 8:30-35
Philip ran up to the chariot. Prompt obedience to God is always good! He heard the man reading from Isaiah the prophet. Philip recognized the words of Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” he inquired. He began the conversation tactfully, showing interest in the official, and determining where he was spiritually. Always a wise way to begin an evangelistic conversation!
“How can I . . . unless someone explains it to me?” The nobleman had a humble, teachable spirit. Inviting Philip to ride with him, he opened his heart to the truth of the gospel. The section quoted is from Isaiah 53, one of the clearest predictions of the Messiah in the Old Testament. It is sometimes called the “Suffering Servant” passage. Comparing the submissive spirit of Jesus to that of a lamb prepared to be slaughtered, Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would not seek to defend himself. The prophecy’s clear fulfillment is seen in Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary.
The Ethiopian asked, “Who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” His question is one that had puzzled Jewish scholars for years. The meaning did not become clear until the prediction was fulfilled in Christ. Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. What a text! What wonderful news! No doubt he pointed the nobleman to Isaiah’s description of the Messiah, then showed how perfectly the prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. He obviously outlined the plan of salvation, telling him the terms of forgiveness outlined in Scripture (Acts 2:38), since the man requested baptism.

The Decision
Acts 8:36-38
“Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” The eunuch obviously had learned that baptism was both his duty and his privilege. His question has been raised by untold thousands of repentant believers through the centuries. The obvious answer is, “You should do it!”
Some manuscripts include the eunuch’s confession of faith. Since these are later ones, however, most modern translations omit the verse. Most Bible scholars feel certain this verse was not in the original text. It likely was added later to describe the normal procedure when a new believer confessed Christ as lord prior to baptism.
The eunuch ordered the chariot to stop and he and Philip went down into the water together. There Philip baptized him. Clearly New Testament baptism is by immersion in water (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12). When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
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*Lesson based on International Sunday School Lesson, © 2009, by the Lesson Committee. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.

Lesson for October 21, 2012: Simon Wants to Buy Power (Acts 8:2-24)

Acts 8:2-24

King James Version (KJV)

² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
³ As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
⁴ Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
⁵ Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
⁸ And there was great joy in that city.
⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
²⁰ But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
²¹ Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
²² Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
²³ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
²⁴ Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Lesson for October 7, 2012: Stephen Defends His Faith

Acts 6:8-15

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
⁹ Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
¹¹ Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
¹³ And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
¹⁴ For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
¹⁵ And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Stephen Defends His Faith (Acts 6:1–7:53)

Stephen Defends His Faith (Acts 6:1–7:53)