Scripture Speaks

More About Paul

    "that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
     Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself!  Much learning is driving you mad!"
     But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
    "For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
    "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know that you do believe."
     Then King Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."
                        Acts 26:23-28

     I read this when I posted, "Paul Testifies About Resurrection," and I wanted to add this but didn't - again I opened to this passage.  So let's see what I missed.
     Festus thinks Paul is going mad because of too much learning.  I feel that way myself at times.  There is so, so much to learn about the Bible.  I feel God's knowledge, along with my ignorance, ever time I open the Bible.  I am ok with that, because I enjoy learning.
     King Agrippa, king of Judea at this time, tells Paul that he "almost" persuaded him to become a Christian.  They decided to let Paul
go -

     Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
                          Acts 26:32

     This is interesting because Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor by keeping Paul bound, after Festus took over for Felix.  Roman law states that a man could not be killed until he met his accusers, and in Paul's case, his accusers were the Jews.   Festus tell Agrippa, about the Jews -

    "When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him if such things I supposed,
    "but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive."
                        Acts 25:18,19

      I am gonna sort this out.  Saul, before he became Paul, persecuted Christians.  So Saul, after hearing Jesus, switched sides and became persecuted himself - now I am confused.  These same Jews could not believe that God raised the dead.  Remember that Paul, I am gonna use Paul, was a Pharisee.  The Pharisees were instrumental in Christ's death.  They couldn't leave Jesus, or anyone who believed in Him, alone; Why?
      The above passage does mention that they had questions about there own religion.  I don't know why the Jews couldn't accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior - the Messiah.  I just put a verse on my bathroom mirror from 1 Corinthians 1:18 -

      For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

      Tell God that you love Him.

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Please read your Bible.