The beloved physician Luke wrote how Festus told King Agrippa concerning Paul, “I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself has appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before you, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Agrippa said to Paul, “you are permitted to speak for yourself” where we read:
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
The verse begins, “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Luke began with the words, “Then Agrippa” which means “at that time king Agrippa whose name means hero-like” “said unto Paul” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to Paul whose name means small or little”, “you are permitted” which means “you, Paul, are allowed” “to speak for yourself” or “to affirm, make discourse and speech on behalf of your own self”. Luke shared how “king Agrippa” told “Paul” that he was allowed to make declarations for his own self.
The verse continues, “Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:” Luke added the words, “then Paul” which means “at that time Paul whose name means small or little” “stretched forth the hand” or “extended his physical hand”, “and answered for himself” which means “and made a defense and gave a full account on behalf of his own self”. Luke shared how “Paul” responded to “king Agrippa's” invitation to speak by “extending his hand” as he began to make a defense for his own self.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “king Agrippa” wasted no time in allowing “Paul” to defend himself. This was “Paul's” opportunity not only to defend himself against the Jewish people who brought charges against him, but was also a venue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with an attentive crowd of leaders. God allowed “Paul” to be put within these circumstances because He wanted everyone, including leaders and chiefs, to hear His “good news” of salvation through His Son Jesus. Jesus came to the world to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and every person who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who carefully study this story of “Paul” realize his captive state allows everyone who reads these words an opportunity to know Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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