Acts 26 St. Paul's Defence before Agrippa. Observe: I. What is the central truth of the Christian system. It is a very suggestive fact that Festus had got hold of the kernel of the whole subject, as we see in his conversation with Agrippa, when he said, "Against whom when the accusers stood up, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:8 The Resurrection a Fact of History. I The fact that Christ has risen from the dead is the assumption on which St. Paul builds up all his teaching on the subject of the resurrection. It is true that we should consider more carefully than we are in the habit of doing what is involved in thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:18 I. The object of faith is Christ. "Faith that is in Me," which is directed towards Christ as its object. Christianity is not merely a system of truths about God, nor a code of morality deducible from these. In its character of a revelation it is the revelation of God in the person of His... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:19 The Heavenly Vision. I. Note, first, that the heavenly vision shines for us too. II. The vision of Christ, howsoever perceived, comes demanding obedience. III. This obedience is in our own power to give or to withhold. IV. This obedience may, in a moment, revolutionise a life. A. Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:19 Conversion of St. Paul. I. The conversion of St. Paul meant that he became convinced of the mission of Jesus Christ. It convinced him of that only, as he says himself, because it pleased God to reveal His Son in him, because he was brought to know that the Son of God was the Lord of his... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:26 The Publicity of Christianity. I. This statement, made in reference to a particular case, holds good in regard to the whole doctrine and claim of Christianity. The juggler has his secrets; the crafty man has his darkened rooms; the imposter has his hidden wires and invisible screws; wher... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 26:28 Note: I. Some of those hopeful and encouraging indications of character which may be found in a person who, after all, is nothing more than an almost Christian. Thus, (1) There may be a great deal of religious knowledge in such a person. This was evidently the case with Agrippa. He was a... [ Continue Reading ]