Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for January 5

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for January 5

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By Dr. Jim Barnette
Professor, Samford University
Senior Pastor, Brookwood Baptist Church

What Proof Does My Testimony Offer?
Acts 26:2–5, 12–18, 24–26

Point to your life before Christ. (2–5)

In the introduction of Paul’s speech the apostle expresses his good fortune that he makes his defense before Agrippa, not because of his royal rank but because Agrippa is an expert “with all the customs and controversies of the Jews.” 

Paul does not compliment Agrippa for flattery but for rhetorical effect. Paul addresses Agrippa personally, as though in a conversation between just the two of them. As in his earlier speech in the temple square, Paul began his testimony by referring to his upbringing in strict Judaism. He had been a Pharisee and had lived according to the strictest observances of the Jewish religion. Paul goes on to link his Pharisaic background to his faith in the resurrection. 

Paul had been born a Jew, reared as a Jew and trained as a Pharisee. It was precisely his faith in the resurrection of Jesus that most pointed to his fidelity to Judaism because through the resurrection, Israel’s hope in God’s promises had been fulfilled. The Jews believed fervently in this hope. Paul notes that this hope was shared by all “12 tribes” of Israel. 

Why then, asks Paul, can the Jews not consider his conviction that their hope has been realized in Jesus Christ? At first addressing the king, he now turns to the whole crowd in the audience chamber and raises the question why any of them would find it unbelievable that God could or should raise the dead. 

Point to your changed life in Christ. (12–18)

Paul recounts his Damascus Road experience. It is basically the same as the two previous accounts in chapters 9 and 22, though there are some significant differences. Only in this account does Paul mention that his traveling companions also fell to the ground at the appearance of the brilliant light. This detail emphasizes the objective reality of the event. 

Also, only in this account are the further words of Jesus added: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” The picture is that of an ox kicking out against the stick that guides it and only causing itself more trouble by doing so. The goads are the pressure now compelling Paul to turn around in his tracks and travel in the opposite direction from where he was heading.

Paul’s task is described with two words. He is first to be a “steward.” The word highlights his relationship to his Lord. He is the one commissioned to serve his Master and be faithful to Him in all things. 

The second word is “witness.” As a witness Paul is to bear testimony to what he has seen and experienced. Paul had seen and experienced the Lord, and he had heard his Lord’s commission. 

Paul is being sent “to open the eyes” of the Gentiles. The phrase here recalls Isaiah 42:7 where opening the eyes of the blind is part of the commission of the servant of the Lord. The call of Paul here is shaped by the Isaiah passage as Paul is called to be a servant who will bring God’s justice to the nations and who will bring light to the Gentiles.  

Others may question your story, but they can’t easily dismiss the reality of a transformed life. (24–26)

The Gentile governor takes Paul’s talk of the resurrection and his interpretations of the Jewish Scriptures to be insane, the product of too much study. 

As Peter had responded to the charge of drunkenness at Pentecost by giving a direct response in terms of Scripture (see Acts 2:13, 15), so Paul responds to the charge of madness with an appeal to both Bible and history. And none of this was “done in a corner.” It happened in the world of Caesar, Pilate and Herod. The mighty acts of God are in the real world of history.