Hechos 26

1 Entonces Agripa le dijo a Pablo: «Tienes permiso para hablar en tu defensa».
Así que Pablo, haciendo una seña con la mano, comenzó su defensa:

2 «Me considero afortunado, rey Agripa, de que sea usted quien oye hoy mi defensa en contra de todas estas acusaciones que han hecho los líderes judíos,

3 porque sé que usted es un experto en costumbres y controversias judías. Ahora, por favor, escúcheme con paciencia.

4 »Como bien saben los líderes judíos, desde mi temprana infancia recibí una completa capacitación judía entre mi propia gente y también en Jerusalén.

5 Ellos saben, si quisieran admitirlo, que he sido miembro de los fariseos, la secta más estricta de nuestra religión.

6 Ahora se me juzga por la esperanza en el cumplimiento de la promesa que Dios les hizo a nuestros antepasados.

7 De hecho, esta es la razón por la cual las doce tribus de Israel adoran a Dios con celo día y noche, y participan de la misma esperanza que yo tengo. Aun así, Su Majestad, ¡ellos me acusan por tener esta esperanza!

8 ¿Por qué les parece increíble a todos ustedes que Dios pueda resucitar a los muertos?

9 »Yo solía creer que mi obligación era hacer todo lo posible para oponerme al nombre de Jesús de Nazaret.

10 Por cierto, eso fue justo lo que hice en Jerusalén. Con la autorización de los sacerdotes principales, hice que muchos creyentes
de allí fueran enviados a la cárcel. Di mi voto en contra de ellos cuando los condenaban a muerte.

11 Muchas veces hice que los castigaran en las sinagogas para que maldijeran
a Jesús. Estaba tan violentamente en contra de ellos que los perseguí hasta en ciudades extranjeras.

12 »Cierto día, yo me dirigía a Damasco para cumplir esa misión respaldado por la autoridad y el encargo de los sacerdotes principales.

13 Cerca del mediodía, Su Majestad, mientras iba de camino, una luz del cielo, más intensa que el sol, brilló sobre mí y mis compañeros.

14 Todos caímos al suelo y escuché una voz que me decía en arameo
:

15 »“¿Quién eres, señor?”, pregunté. Y el Señor contestó:

16 Ahora, ¡levántate! Pues me aparecí ante ti para designarte como mi siervo y testigo. Deberás contarle al mundo lo que has visto y lo que te mostraré en el futuro.

17 Y yo te rescataré de tu propia gente y de los gentiles.
Sí, te envío a los gentiles

18 para que les abras los ojos, a fin de que pasen de la oscuridad a la luz, y del poder de Satanás a Dios. Entonces recibirán el perdón de sus pecados y se les dará un lugar entre el pueblo de Dios, el cual es apartado por la fe en mí”.

19 »Por lo tanto, rey Agripa, obedecí esa visión del cielo.

20 Primero les prediqué a los de Damasco, luego en Jerusalén y por toda Judea, y también a los gentiles: que todos tienen que arrepentirse de sus pecados y volver a Dios, y demostrar que han cambiado, por medio de las cosas buenas que hacen.

21 Unos judíos me arrestaron en el templo por predicar esto y trataron de matarme;

22 pero Dios me ha protegido hasta este mismo momento para que yo pueda dar testimonio a todos, desde el menos importante hasta el más importante. Yo no enseño nada fuera de lo que los profetas y Moisés dijeron que sucedería:

23 que el Mesías sufriría y que sería el primero en resucitar de los muertos, y de esta forma anunciaría la luz de Dios tanto a judíos como a gentiles por igual».

24 De repente Festo gritó:
—Pablo, estás loco. ¡Tanto estudio te ha llevado a la locura!

25 Pero Pablo respondió:
—No estoy loco, excelentísimo Festo. Lo que digo es la pura verdad,

26 y el rey Agripa sabe de estas cosas. Yo hablo con atrevimiento porque estoy seguro de que todos estos acontecimientos le son familiares, ¡pues no se hicieron en un rincón!

27 Rey Agripa, ¿usted les cree a los profetas? Yo sé que sí.

28 Agripa lo interrumpió:
—¿Acaso piensas que puedes persuadirme para que me convierta en cristiano en tan poco tiempo?

29 Pablo contestó:
—Sea en poco tiempo o en mucho, le pido a Dios en oración que tanto usted como todos los presentes en este lugar lleguen a ser como yo, excepto por estas cadenas.

30 Entonces el rey, el gobernador, Berenice y todos los demás se pusieron de pie y se retiraron.

31 Mientras salían, hablaron del tema y acordaron: «Este hombre no ha hecho nada que merezca la muerte o la cárcel».

32 Y Agripa le dijo a Festo: «Podría ser puesto en libertad si no hubiera apelado al César».

Hechos 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Paul's defence before Agrippa. (1-11) His conversion and preaching to the Gentiles. (12-23) Festus and Agrippa convinced of Paul's innocence. (24-32)

Verses 1-11 Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he still kept to all the good in which he was first educated and trained up. See here what his religion was. He was a moralist, a man of virtue, and had not learned the arts of the crafty, covetous Pharisees; he was not chargeable with any open vice and profaneness. He was sound in the faith. He always had a holy regard for the ancient promise made of God unto the fathers, and built his hope upon it. The apostle knew very well that all this would not justify him before God, yet he knew it was for his reputation among the Jews, and an argument that he was not such a man as they represented him to be. Though he counted this but loss, that he might win Christ, yet he mentioned it when it might serve to honour Christ. See here what Paul's religion is; he has not such zeal for the ceremonial law as he had in his youth; the sacrifices and offerings appointed by that, are done away by the great Sacrifice which they typified. Of the ceremonial cleansings he makes no conscience, and thinks the Levitical priesthood is done away in the priesthood of Christ; but, as to the main principles of his religion, he is as zealous as ever. Christ and heaven, are the two great doctrines of the gospel; that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. These are the matter of the promise made unto the fathers. The temple service, or continual course of religious duties, day and night, was kept up as the profession of faith in the promise of eternal life, and in expectation of it. The prospect of eternal life should engage us to be diligent and stedfast in all religious exercises. Yet the Sadducees hated Paul for preaching the resurrection; and the other Jews joined them, because he testified that Jesus was risen, and was the promised Redeemer of Israel. Many things are thought to be beyond belief, only because the infinite nature and perfections of Him that has revealed, performed, or promised them, are overlooked. Paul acknowledged, that while he continued a Pharisee, he was a bitter enemy to Christianity. This was his character and manner of life in the beginning of his time; and there was every thing to hinder his being a Christian. Those who have been most strict in their conduct before conversion, will afterwards see abundant reason for humbling themselves, even on account of things which they then thought ought to have been done.

Verses 12-23 Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul's preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also, it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and persecuted.

Verses 24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, and the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation. Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understanding and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was not changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not quite persuaded; they are under strong convictions of their duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God, yet do not pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concern of every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Christ offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is with much difficulty that any person can be persuaded he needs a work of grace on his heart, like that which was needful for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let us beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct; and recollect how far the being almost persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogether such a one as every true believer is.