Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:28, 29)
The opportunity to talk to royalty – especially one with knowledge of the Jewish journey – was a gift to Paul.
Reading him share his story with King Agrippa is an uplifting summary of where Paul was and what the grace of God in Jesus Christ has done in his life. Even though Festus might think that Paul has gone insane, there is something compelling about the nature of the story that will not be denied by even Agrippa.
The compelling nature is that Paul is desirous in his position for all his listeners to accept the truth in his story that He that was promised is realised in Jesus of Nazareth. That desire for others to be like he is other than in chains. It points to that element of living free that those who know the story of God setting free from Egypt to Calvary. Even Agrippa acknowledged that Paul could have been set physically free because he had done nothing wrong.
What’s fascinating in this telling of his story is how intertwined it is with the importance of the story of Jesus. The work of Jesus in fulfilling and then revealing to Paul is something that convicted him and he makes a compelling case to his listeners. It makes me consider how intertwined the salvation story is to my story, or more importantly the part my story plays in the bigger story of God’s breaking through to rescue people from the rule of darkness to His rule of light.
What is your story?
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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