Acts 23-26

Paul, and the Gospel message itself, is on trial. Many accusations had been brought against “the Way” in the few decades that it had been around. The Jews accused it of undermining Judaism and blaspheming against Moses, the Law, the Prophets, and, ultimately, against God. The Greek and Roman citizens had accused it of undermining the authority of Rome and Caesar. They said that the Christians were advocating political upheaval and revolt so that their Jesus could become the king.

As Luke penned these words he was presenting an apologetic – a defense – against these unfounded and dangerous accusations. As Paul stands before the Sanhedrin, we see that the Jews had no case against the Way and were so divided amongst themselves that they were no longer capable of leading God’s people. As Paul stands before Felix and Festus, we see that the Christians were not only not against Rome, but that Rome, time and again, had actually come to Christians’ aid and protection. Finally, as Paul stands before Agrippa, the Jewish king, we see that the person of Jesus, resurrected and victorious, is the actual King of the Jews and of the Kingdom that God had promised to Abraham.

Paul, the humbled and broken prisoner, was demonstrating that Jesus’ Kingdom was not entangled in the affairs of this world but was calling all people, of every race and nation, to come into their eternal home.