DEVOTION – DAY 262

Acts 26:27-28 “Hard Hearts”

 

Acts 26:27-28 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time, you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

 

The new Roman governor, Festus, had to judge the case against Paul. Before he decided on the case, Festus consulted King Agrippa. King Agrippa and his wife, Bernice had just arrived to pay their respects to Festus. So, Paul was brought to King Agrippa and Bernice who were in the audience room surrounded by many officials. Paul defended himself by telling King Agrippa and the audience how he came to preach the gospel to Jews and Gentiles because of his personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In his defense, Paul also gave the gospel message to everyone in that audience room.

 

At the end of his defense, Paul addressed King Agrippa and asked him whether he believed in the prophecies made by Israel’s prophets. In Paul’s defense in Acts 26:22-23, he told his audience that Jesus had to suffer, die and rose from the dead thereby fulfilling all the prophesies made by the prophets. Paul’s question to King Agrippa put him in a difficult position. If King Agrippa agreed that he believed in the prophets, he would be forced to admit that what Paul said about Jesus Christ would have been the truth – and that he had to declare that Paul was innocent and to be freed from his arrest. If he said he did not believe in the prophets, the devout Jews would revolt against him because Jews believed that whatever the prophets said were from God.

 

King Agrippa evaded the question by stating that he would not be persuaded by Paul’s testimony about Jesus so easily. He was comfortable in his position as King over the Jews. He did not want to support Paul or his testimony and defense because it might upset those who demanded his arrest in the first place. His choice to reject Paul’s sharing of the gospel meant that he rejected Jesus as his Lord and Savior. King Agrippa stood condemned for his sins. Paul may be in chains under trial but he is free and with Jesus in eternity. There are people like King Agrippa today who also choose to reject Jesus when they hear the gospel. They too will face the same consequences for their sins. They rather enjoy what the world has to offer to them rather than believe in the truth of the gospel message.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please forgive those who are hardhearted. We pray for the softening of these hardened hearts and may you continue to draw such people to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray this in His mighty name. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. Why do you think people continue to reject the gospel message and prefer living as they like? Discuss.
  2. Paul seized every opportunity to share the gospel. What about you? How do you seize the opportunity that God gives you to share the gospel?
  3. What obstacles do you face when you share the gospel?
  4. King Agrippa thought he was free and Paul was in chains. But he is the one chained to sin and facing God’s wrath for his sins. How can you help someone this week to set them free from their bondage to sin?