Let's turn to Acts 25. We're going to consider especially this morning the testimony of the Apostle Paul before Fustus and Agrippa in Acts 26. We're going to begin reading at verse 23 of Acts chapter 25. You remember that the Apostle Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and then had to have his life spared by being taken out of Jerusalem and brought to Caesarea. And now verse 23, and on the morrow when Agrippa was come, And Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city at Fustus' command, Paul was brought forth and Fustus said, King Agrippa and all men which are here present with us, Ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, And that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my Lord. Wherefore, I have brought him forth before you and Especially before thee, O King Agrippa, that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews. especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently, my manner of life. from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straightest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers. Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible to you that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did in Jerusalem. And many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I gave voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme. being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities." Whereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet, for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, of those things in which I will appear unto thee, delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but showed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself. Much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 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. King Agrippa, Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, this man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Caesar. Thus far we read the word of God. May God bless the reading of his word. Do you have an answer, beloved? Why are you a Christian? Why do you live the manner of life that you live? And why be an elder or a deacon in the church of Jesus Christ? Why do you want to live with his name over you as a Christian, why do you want to represent him as an office bearer in the church? The answer must be this. Because I believe in Jesus. Because I believe everything that scripture teaches and that the Christian Church confesses about Jesus is true. It's true. And I believe it with all my heart. Beloved, this is what we must remember is most important about our faith and our identity. Jesus and the truth about Jesus. You and I must not be here this morning because we have family and friends here. We must not be here this morning because we love some organized religion, we love the singing perhaps, or we love the social gatherings of the church. This is a good habit or a good tradition. And being an elder or deacon must not be about, well, it's an honor. It's a status thing. And I've been installed, so I might as well behave according to what is expected of me in the form as an elder or a deacon. The Christian religion is not a social club. It is not about what we like, what we want, or what kinds of things we get to experience and enjoy. The basis of our faith and everything that identifies us as Christians must be this, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. our Savior and Lord, and I believe everything the Bible says about Him. If He wasn't the Christ, if He wasn't the Son of God, well then we shouldn't be here. But we are here, and I hope it's because you say, I believe in Jesus Christ. This is what we have here in Acts 26. Paul is a prisoner. He is in bonds. He has been accused of sedition, of rebellion, of disrupting the peace of the Jews in Judea and Jerusalem, but that is not the real reason that he was accused or arrested. No, his real crime, according to the Jews who hated him, is that he speaks in the name of Jesus, and he speaks as if Jesus is alive and is reigning, and according to the Jews, what he speaks about Jesus is false. He's a liar. He's promoting a false Jesus, a false Christ, a false religion, a false faith. Paul, according to the Jews, is a charlatan, a faker, a liar, not worthy of being listened to. They are attacking Paul's faith. And now, God has given him an occasion before a governor, Festus, who's a Roman, and Agrippa, a king in Bernice, and before these Jews who hate him, Paul is given by God an occasion to give an answer, an apology. That's what literally verse 1 speaks of. Paul stretched forth his hand and apologized for himself. And he said in verse 2, I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall apologize for myself this day. And that's where we get the word apologetics, if you've ever heard that. It's a word that refers to a defense of the faith. And that's really, perhaps in English, the most clear way to translate what we have here in verse 1 and 2. I'm going to defend myself and my faith. And I'm going to give a defense for myself this day for the things touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews." And what is Paul's defense? It's not a lie. Everything that I've said about Jesus Christ is true. It's all true. Paul is convicted. And you and I, beloved, must share his conviction this morning as believers and office bearers. Jesus Christ is Son of God and risen Lord. So let's consider this morning Paul's defense of faith in Jesus. First of all, his testimony. Secondly, his desire. And beloved, this desire he has is part of his defense. It shows that he is truly convicted He wants others to believe in Jesus too. And then finally, his manner of life. Why would Paul live the way he does? This also shows that he believes that Jesus Christ is the real living Lord. We have opportunity to consider Paul's defense of his faith in Jesus and then receive instruction for our conduct, our testimony, our desires, and our manner of life. Let's consider then first of all his testimony. The issue here is, is the Christian faith really based on history, real events in history? And we have to understand the setting of the testimony of Paul is described by Luke as putting concrete, really, on these events, showing that they're real. Luke, the writer of Acts, is known for doing this, for calling our attention to historical details. Luke 2, why does Luke make mention at the time of Jesus' birth of Caesar Augustus and of Cyrenius being the governor of Syria. Luke does that by inspiration of the Holy Spirit to say to you and me, Jesus' birth is not a made-up event. It really happened, and you want to know when it happened? Not when Abraham Lincoln was president or George Washington, but when Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome and when Cyrenius was ruling in Syria. This Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It really happened. And now we're told about this Roman governor named Festus, this king named Agrippa, and his sister Bernice, and none of these people are of real importance. Why do I say that? Well, if you go to a history course of Western civilization at Calvin or Hope, Cornerstone, You'll hear about Caesar and many other great historical figures, but you probably won't hear one word about Festus or Agrippa or Bernice. Historically, they're not all that significant. It's almost like Luke is going out of his way to find some minutia. some very small details to give us here in the book of Acts. These people were rich in their day. They had some power in their day, especially Festus. He had real authority as a governor in Judea serving the Romans. Agrippa was more of a figurehead. a king in name that the Romans like to use because his family had a long history in the region and he had some familiarity with the Jews but he's really a very unimportant figure. Luke is making the point this is when these things really happened and this is what really happened. There really was a governor named Festus and a king named Agrippa and his sister Bernice who held a hearing. And this happened, the Apostle Paul stood before them to give a testimony of his faith. And all of this is an orderly account in order to say to you and me, not only that Jesus' birth really happened in our time in history, his death really happened when Agrippa's ancestor Herod was king, and when Pilate was the governor, His resurrection also really happened. That's not a made up story. It was while these men were ruling and living, Jesus Christ appeared to above 500 people, appointed him as his witnesses, including this man, Paul. Paul. Jesus appeared to you on the Damascus Road in order that Paul could be able to give the testimony that's really happened. While I was this man who was an expert in the sect of the Pharisees, I was serving the chief priests, I was persecuting those who claimed the name of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ appeared to me with a light that was brighter than the sun in the sky. And he talked to me and I'm an eyewitness of the resurrected, it really happened. He really ascended into heaven during this time when there was a Festus as a governor and a Grippa as a king. And he really is sitting as Lord and ruler at the right hand of God. Now Paul is given the opportunity to say it's not true. I'm sorry, I was lying. Now why would he be motivated to do that? We know from an earthly point of view as he stands before this king and this governor If he wanted all the charges dropped, if he wanted to not have to go to Rome and appear before Caesar, if he didn't want to have to spend another day in prison, he didn't want to have to face the threat that he could be put to death for the sake of his faith in Jesus Christ, Paul only had to say one thing. I was lying. It's not true. But Paul explains, that's the side I was on. I denied it. I said it's all not true. But I can't say that anymore. And that's not because I've been paid to change sides. It's not because I was lured by some status or position that, here Paul, you get to be an apostle if you join the church. It's because Jesus really appeared to me, and it's because God really changed my heart and opened my eyes. And I stand before you to tell you the truth of what I believe, but also of what really happened. Jesus Christ really died, and he rose again from the dead. It is now Savior and Lord. Paul staked his life on this being true. And this, beloved, is why Paul is a Christian and an apostle, and no other reason. He's not thinking about what his parents think of him. He's not thinking about what his former friends, the Pharisees, are thinking about him. He's not thinking about what Festus and Agrippa think. He is thinking about what he believes. I believe in Jesus Christ. And he explains in verses 22 and 23 that he agrees with the prophets. And that means with the writings of scripture, the writings of God. And remember verse three gives us this detail which is very important. Paul says to Agrippa, I know thee to be an expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Agrippa is not Jewish himself, he's a Gentile, but he's in the line of the Herods, he's been living in the region of Judea for a long time, his family has. He knows the Old Testament scriptures, he knows the religion of the Jews, and Paul appeals to him. Why, verse eight, should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? Agrippa, you understand that this has been prophesied for a long time. This is a central part of the Jewish faith. The dead rise again. And then verses 22 and 23 is saying, Agrippa, you know the prophets. I, having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both through small and great, saying none other things than those things which the prophets and Moses did say should come, that Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. Anyone? Like Paul or the Jews or Agrippa, anyone who knows the scriptures going back to Genesis knows this is what God said would be true of the Messiah, the anointed one, the one who would save sinners. He will suffer, he will die, he will rise again. not knowing the prophets in Moses, immediately says loudly, Paul, you're a madman. That's the only way that you can be convicted of the truth about Jesus Christ. You must be out of your mind. You ever witness that response in the world to the Christian faith? It doesn't make any sense, this idea of a savior who dies and rises again and he sends to heaven and he's ruling. It's mad. But Agrippa, he knows the Old Testament scriptures. Apparently he was taught even by Jews. According to some people who study history, he probably knew the Old Testament better than you and me. Hundreds of references to the suffering Messiah and to His resurrection from the dead. He knew Genesis 3, the promise of the seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent and bruise his heel. He knew Psalm 16, Psalm 22, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 53. I'll leave it to you to look at all those references. He, we know, He knew them better than us. He says to Paul, almost. That's how clear his testimony is. Almost you persuade me to be a Christian. Beloved, I hope you see two things that are very sad here. First, there are people who don't know the gospel. That's represented by Festus. And when they're not given faith and they hear the gospel, they think it's madness. But secondly, there are people like Agrippa and that's closer to home to you and me, who know the truth, who know the scripture, but who will not confess it personally true for themselves. Why? Is it because Agrippa was proud and he didn't want to have to say, I'm a sinner? Me being a king who's used to pomp and ceremony, I have to humble myself? He didn't want to do that? Or was it because he didn't want the cost? Maybe he was thinking of what he would give up socially or even maybe financially if he became a believer in Jesus. He didn't want to be a Christian. And his sinful stubbornness allowed him to reject the truth of Jesus Christ. Beloved, are you willing to say, I not only know the scripture, but I confess whether I'm great or small, I'm a sinner. And this is true. He is true. He is the Savior I truly need. And now I'm willing to identify with Him and stake my life on this and give this testimony. Jesus is the Messiah, the crucified but also risen and living Lord and Savior. This is what we want to mark our office bearers and the members of our congregation, that the gospel is real to them, that Jesus is real to them, and that they're willing to devote everything in their lives to Jesus. Paul's testimony is to the truth of the gospel with his words, but then I want you to notice his desire that he expresses. I wish that you and everyone who hears me would be like me, except the bonds or the chains that bind me. Paul knows that he has something he can't keep to himself. And I'm going to explain. why I think this is part of the defense of the gospel. It shows that this is truly what I believe in a moment. But first of all, notice that Paul knows he has something he cannot keep to himself. There are things that you and I might say God has given me or that I have that's mine and it's my private, personal property. I'm not sharing it. I think of my toothbrush. Not to be silly, or my razor. I don't really want to share my razor. Many other things that you and I may have that are ours and we don't share with anyone. But then you can see it, can't you? If you're in some public place and somehow a message has come to you so that you're in possession of knowledge that says, if I go there, up there ahead, there is danger. So I'm not going to go there. Now, A selfish human being would say in that circumstance, all I care about is myself, my own skin, my own safety. I'll let other people walk past me and go right into the danger. Beloved, you and I understand, don't we, that's not proper for a Christian. A Christian's response is to say, I'm not only saved by Jesus, but now here's sanctification. And Paul witnesses to that, that there's a sanctified life that we have to live. I love my neighbor as myself. I have to warn my neighbor. I have to tell them, this isn't knowledge just for me, but someone warned me that if you go down that road and you keep heading at this speed, you're gonna go off a cliff. And then if they keep going, well, they're responsible. But you're hoping, you're hoping that people hear you and are saved. Well, Paul knows that sin is real, he knows that hell is real, and he's been given the knowledge that Jesus is real. There's danger ahead, but there is safety and salvation in believing in the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and he has to tell others. This is not only real for me, but this is the reality for all people, and you need to know this. There are many other headlines that people think are important for you to hear today. There's a border crisis, or there's an economic crisis, or there's a climate crisis, or there's a health scare and crisis. So many things to pay attention to and to be aware of as human beings. Be aware of the danger. And the Apostle Paul's attitude is, no, none of that is as important for me and you as this, the sin crisis that we face. You, Fastus, are a Gentile and believer. You're going to hell. And what is the attitude of the Apostle Paul? I want you to be like me, to believe in Jesus and be saved. And you, Agrippa, Imagine this, beloved. Imagine you're a Jew and you know a Christian and you know the long history of Agrippa's family. You have an ancestor who killed all of the two-year-olds and younger in Bethlehem. You have an ancestor who is responsible for the death of John the Baptist. You have an ancestor who is responsible for the martyrdom of the apostle James. Not that many years ago, he put James to death. You and your family, you have been enemies of Christ and his people, and you even were involved in the trial and the execution of Jesus. Damn you. No. Agrippa. I wish you were all together like me, that you too. After all, Paul gives that testimony, doesn't he? You're no more wicked than me, Agrippa. I was an enemy of the faith too. I caused people to be arrested and put to death, be put to death for the name of Jesus. But I've been forgiven and I want you to have that too. And what about the Jews? my brethren, my countrymen who have falsely accused me. You've got me arrested. You have me on trial before kings. My life might be taken from me. I hate you. I wish you would be like me. I wish you would see that Jesus, born a Jew, is not just another man, but he is the son of God. who died and rose again and is, I wish you would see it, as your own personal savior, the one who saves sinners. Beloved, if you know Jesus, and believe He is real and true, this should be your desire for every human being that you come across. But isn't this what we want for office bearers, men who care more than anything else about the souls of sinners outside of the congregation and in this congregation? Oh, you want them to care for all your needs? You want them to be sympathetic to all your suffering, the troubles you have in your family life, maybe your work life, your personal life, your sicknesses, whatever circumstances of life you're in, you want these men to be shepherds who care for your needs. And yes, sometimes when they come to you, you hope that they will do something to help you with your circumstances, with your needs. Sometimes, maybe especially the deacons you hope will come and help you pay bills, or fix a roof, or show some kind of other concrete help in an earthly way. But you understand, don't you? Their main job is they come to you great and small. And don't get too hung up on that, beloved. Who are the great and who are the small? Who are the rich and the important and the people of status and the people of low degree? It doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, we are all humble, damn worthy sinners who need soul care. And what you want, and this is the main job of an elder and deacon, what you want is a man who will come to you and say, you know what's great about being a Christian no matter what circumstance you are in? Jesus is really Lord and Savior, the hope of your soul. Be like me. And that's what you want them to say, like Paul too, as they come to visit you in family visitation or any visit they make. I want you to be like me. Not looking for help or comfort anywhere else in the world, but believing in Jesus Christ. Respond to whatever you are facing in this life as a Christian who says, I know who my Lord and Savior is. Paul doesn't want others to be in prison. He doesn't want others to have to suffer as he is suffering. But that's not what is most important to him. What is most important to him is that others know Jesus Christ. And beloved, that is evidence that what he believes about Jesus is true. How can I show you that I believe Jesus is real and that he is the Savior? By hiding it? By keeping quiet? A true Christian can't do that, can they? Be embarrassed? Yeah, I really do believe in this man who died and I can't see him, I didn't see him rise from the dead. But I really do believe in him. No, Christian says, on the basis of the testimony of God, and the Spirit working in my heart, this is something that I'm convicted of is true for me and for the whole world. You need to know about Jesus Christ. And I want you to know you're a sinner who needs to be saved by Him. That should be our desire. Not condemnation, not judgment. We leave that to God. But I want you to know Jesus Christ. So first of all, there's Paul's testimony. Secondly, there is his desire. Finally, there is his behavior or manner of life. How would you expect Christians to live If it was just a hoax, Jesus wasn't real, the Christian faith and everything that we believe was not true. Do you believe that people would turn their entire lives around and change everything in their life? Do you believe that people would be willing to travel the whole world like the Apostle Paul did to tell people something that is a hoax? Do you believe he'd be willing to be imprisoned, to be shipwrecked, to be beaten, finally to give his life for a lie? Paul's life, his preaching, his suffering His being willing to be in bonds and chains, and to be called to appear before a court of law to talk about Jesus Christ, all of this is what you would expect of someone who is a servant of the living and true Lord Jesus Christ. You understand that Paul's not the only one. Stephen was before him, a martyr for the sake of Jesus Christ. James, the other apostles too. If I had time, I would talk about that more. Those who take certain courses at Heritage give disciple reports, and every one of them gave their lives. Why would they do that? Because they truly believed in Jesus Christ, and he is the real and living Lord and Savior. This is what we want in office bearers. This is what we want in members of the Church of Faith congregation. People who say, this is what I believe, and now I'm not only, this is maybe not going to happen to you, willing to give my life and be imprisoned for the sake of my faith in Jesus Christ, or have my life taken, be executed for the sake of Jesus Christ, but now in all the little things, every day, are you willing to say as a Christian, Everything I do, everything I say, how I spend my time, how I entertain myself, what I watch, what I don't watch, everything is going to be governed by this. It's not a lie. Jesus died and rose again and he redeemed me and he renewed me and I have a risen king in Lord. You wanna know why I don't get drunk every night or on the weekends? I'm not afraid of getting an OWI or is it DUI here in Michigan? I'm not afraid of getting fired or what the consequences, I believe in Jesus. Beloved, Many people ruin their witness to the truth of Jesus by their conduct. They have all the doctrine, all the words, but they bring blasphemy to the name of Jesus by their lie. The Apostle Paul doesn't leave an example of lip service or hypocrisy for us to follow. He does not leave people to say, oh, Paul has all the words, but you know, I don't really think he believes in Jesus, and you know why I say that? Because I look at how he lives, and he's no different from anybody else in the world. No, Paul lived his life in such a way that people said, There's only one thing, one of two things you can say about Him. Either He's a madman, He's so convicted, or He believes it's really true. What do you want your life to say about Jesus? No, what is your life saying about what you think of Jesus? Forget about yourself. Forget about others. Don't be the kind of Christian or office bearer who is happy because you've impressed others or anxious either. How many of you struggle with that? Being anxious because you're not sure you've impressed others in the church or your family. Don't think that way. Think about Jesus. If you believe He is real, that everything the Bible says about Him as the Son of God, the Savior and Lord is true, then let that be the answer for everything you do in your life and service in this world and in the church. Amen. Father in heaven, bless us by thy word, continue to bless us under the rule of Jesus, especially now through the men, the office bearers, our pastor, elders, and deacons that thou hast appointed, and cause us to give our testimony with our words, with our lives, that we believe in Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen. Salter number 91.