January 3 & 4, 2026
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Kings, Acts, & Hebrews? Here’s today’s reading:
Acts 26 (NIV)
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.……Continue Reading
Next: 2 Kings 11
—
Back: 2 Kings 10
Paul testifies before Agrippa and Festus.
He would have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar, unfortunate from a human standpoint, but all according to Gods plan.
Acts 26
Psalm 61; 2 Kings 10; Jeremiah 38; Acts 26
Acts 26 Paul was very courageous and spoke well . I think the Lord would have been pleased with him. how well he was doing, and how he had changed from that meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul was fearless he cared about bringing people to Christ more than he cared about his own life.
Acts 26
You have got to love Paul using his literal “a-ha moment” to try to bring the same to Agrippa and Festus and really all the people listening. He was connecting the dots for all these people that had already seen and heard of Jesus and the work He had done. Like Paul said, it was not done in a corner it was done for all to see, hear, and believe. Paul used every opportunity to turn people to Christ and is such a great example of boldness and God providing the words in the most stressful of situations. Humbling really to think how many times we hold back when we should speak freely and we don’t do it for fear of death and imprisonment but rather just a little rejection or embarrasment.
Acts 26
What a powerful testimony Paul had as one of Jesus’ primary opponents to one of Jesus’ greatest advocates. Jesus knew that in calling him. But here as he does so often, he presents his testimony in a way that is most compelling to his audience. He makes reference to Jewish things that Agrippa will understand and yet emphasizes the role the Gentiles have in God’s plan. Both of them recognize that Paul is not just telling them a story but is trying to convince them of something. It is what all of our sharing of the gospel should be, compelling people to believe. And our message will sound foolish to some, and others just won’t be ready to believe. And yet we continue to share, explain, defend and live out the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Paul begins his defense with the understanding that the king knows the Jewish ways and a plea for the king to listen carefully. He confesses his crimes against the followers of Jesus to the point of obsession. Then he explains how his life was significantly transformed when he was appointed by Jesus to open the eyes of the Jews and Gentiles, turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and salvation by faith. Paul was obedient to the message he received, and he was persecuted for it the same way he persecuted others before he became a believer. And his contribution to the Word gives us an account of how Christians today are to speak, act, testify, witness and stand firm in their faith. Paul is one of the best examples of this, so it is wise to pay attention to his words.
Acts 26