Agrippa almost accepted

Dear friend

There are a number of incidents in the scriptures that I would love to have witnessed. One of these was the Apostle Paul appearing before Festus, Berenise and King Agrippa. The story reads like a Shakespearean excerpt, but of course it is from the New Testament, Acts 26:24-28.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Paul has been held in prison under threat of execution, but he speaks not to stay that fate but still to be the willing witness for Jesus Christ. In doing so he is accused of being mad. This is not unlike Christ-believers today who face the ridicule of the worldly-informed intelligentsia for holding to superstitious concepts like resurrection. Just as we should in such settings, Paul did not either "fight or flight" from the situation, rather, he calmly and assuredly restated the truth.

Paul's perception leads him to focus on the person in the room who is beginning to respond to the message, Agrippa. He builds on the King's knowledge of things that were "not done in a corner" (what a wonderful turn of phrase). He asks the King to confirm his acceptance of the prophetic pronouncements; already discerning the answer. Then come the words every missionary must have heard a version of "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian".

Sadly, as with Paul and Agrippa, not every person to whom we witness will respond to the Spirit of truth. We may be mocked, maligned or marginalised but we must not be mute if we feel someone might respond to the message. I hope we can draw inspiration from the example set by Paul. He did not fear to open his mouth. I pray that through faith in the Lord's promises we will be ever ready to relate our testimony of what we hold as true.

Samuel.