SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, 23 August 2026
Sermon Series: “The Acts of the Apostles” (#43)
Sermon Text: Acts 26:1-32
Main Points:
Introduction
I. Called for the task
II. Entrusted with the message
III. Sent for the mission
Conclusion
We’re approaching the end of the book of Acts, and today we’ve come to its 26th chapter. By this point in the narrative, Luke has brought us to the third major speech of Paul in which he gives a defence of his ministry and bears witness to what God has done through him. After this, in Acts 27, Paul will sail for Rome.
And so, we’re standing at an important point in the story. Paul has been imprisoned for a considerable period of time. He has been examined by governors and rulers. He has defended himself against accusations brought by his fellow Jews. But, as we’ve seen throughout these chapters, something rather remarkable is happening.
Paul may appear to be the prisoner on trial. But, as he speaks it, it becomes increasingly clear that he is not merely defending himself – he is bearing witness to Christ.
In fact, there’s an extraordinary reversal taking place in this courtroom. Paul is standing before King Agrippa, his sister Bernice, the Roman governor Festus, military commanders, and the prominent men of Caesarea. From an ordinary human perspective, these are the people who possess power and authority. Paul is the man in chains, the man whose future depends upon the decisions of these rulers.
But, when Paul begins to speak, who is really speaking with authority? The prisoner speaks to the king. The man in chains proclaims freedom. The accused becomes the witness. And the rulers who appear to be judging Paul are themselves confronted with the claims of Jesus Christ.
Why? Because Paul knows that there is a King greater than Agrippa, greater than Festus, greater than Caesar, and greater than every earthly ruler. Jesus Christ is the true King! And Paul is not standing there merely as a prisoner who happens to be a Christian. He is standing there as the King’s appointed witness. That is why today’s message is entitled, ‘The King sends His witness.’
So, in this chapter, we see three things: first, the King calls His witness. Second, the King entrusts His witness with a message. And third, the King sends His witness for the mission.
I. Called for the Task
Let us begin with Paul’s calling. Look at the way Paul describes himself. In vs. 4-5, he tells Agrippa that his manner of life from his youth was known among the Jews. He had lived according to the strictest party of Jewish religion – that is, the Pharisees. Then, in v. 9, he says this: “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
This is Paul’s past. He was not a sympathetic observer of Christianity. He was not someone who was mildly sceptical about Jesus. He was a fierce enemy. He says in vs. 10-11 that he had imprisoned many of the saints, cast his vote against them when they were put to death, punished them in the synagogues, and tried to force them to blaspheme. He has been violently opposed to Christ and His people.
Why does Paul tell them all this? Because he wants Agrippa – and everyone else in that courtroom – to understand this: ‘I used to be exactly where you are.’
Perhaps, Agrippa was sceptical about the claims of Christ. Paul had once been sceptical. Perhaps Festus thought Christianity was foolishness. Paul had once thought Christianity was something to be eradicated. Perhaps the people in that room could not understand how someone could devote his life to Jesus Christ. Paul could understand. Because he had once devoted his life to destroying the name of Jesus.
And then, Paul tells them that something happened! Paul tells them that he was travelling to Damascus with authority from the chief priests. And then, at midday, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone around him and those travelling with him. And he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Paul asks, “Who are You, Lord?” And the voice comes: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
Imagine what those words meant to Paul. He had thought Jesus was dead. He had thought Jesus was a false Messiah. He had thought the Christian movement was something that needed to be destroyed.
But now, the risen Jesus is standing before him. Paul thought he was pursuing the followers of Jesus. But he discovers that he has been confronting Jesus Himself. And then, something even more astonishing happens. Jesus does not simply confront Paul, He calls him. V. 6, “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness ….”
The man who had been so fiercely committed to the Jewish tradition is now sent to the nations. The man who had tried to silence the name of Jesus is now commanded to proclaim that name. The man who had persecuted Christians is now appointed to serve Christ’s church. This is extraordinary!
Extraordinary because it all begins not with Paul’s ambition; it begins with Christ’s initiative. Paul did not wake up one morning and decide: ‘I think I’ll become the apostle to the Gentiles.’ No. Christ appeared to him, confronted him, appointed him, and sent him.
This is an important truth we must remember about our own Christian lives and about the church. We’re not Christians simply because, one day, we decided to become Christians. The church does not exist because Christians have invented a religious organisation. The gospel does not exist because Christians have decided that the world needs a particular philosophy.
No! We’re Christians because Christ Himself called us. He came to us when we were enemies – when were indifferent to spiritual things, self-centred, and unwilling to submit to God’s commands. He confronted us with the truth, called us to Himself, and changed us by His grace! Christ Himself is building His church. Christ Himself calls His servants. Christ Himself sends His witnesses.
II. Entrusted with the Message
But, being called is not enough. A witness must have something to say. And this brings us to the second point: ‘The King entrusts His witness with a message.’
Please look at v. 16 again which says, “I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness ….” A witness testifies to something that he has seen and heard. So, what does Paul testify about?
We might expect Paul to spend the whole speech defending himself. After all, he is a prisoner. He’s been accused. He is facing the possibility of further imprisonment or even death. But that is not what dominates his speech. Paul’s testimony is not primarily about his release from prison. It is about Christ’s death and resurrection – the decisive demonstration of Christ’s divine power and His victory over death. Paul says in v. 22, “I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass.” Then, v. 23, “that the Christ must suffer and that, by reason of His being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” That is Paul’s message. Christ must suffer; Christ must rise from the dead; and through the risen Christ, light is proclaimed to the nations.
Notice something that is easy for us to miss. Paul is not presenting Christianity as a completely new religious idea. We sometimes imagine the first Christians as though they suddenly appeared in the ancient world with a strange new religion centred around a man who had risen from the dead. But, that is not how Paul understands his message. He says that what he is preaching is what Moses and the prophets said would come to pass.
For Paul, the death and resurrection of Jesus are not an abandonment of the OT story. They’re its fulfilment. God had promised the coming Messiah. God had promised salvation. God had promised light. God had promised His purposes extending beyond Israel. And now, Paul stands before Agrippa and says, in effect: ‘What God promised, God has accomplished in Jesus Christ.’
This explains Paul’s extraordinary confidence. Paul does not stand before Agrippa as though he is defending some strange private opinion. He is standing there as a witness to something God has accomplished. He knows that Christ died. He knows that Christ rose. And he knows that this resurrection fulfils the promises of God.
Therefore, Paul does not see himself primarily as a prisoner. He sees himself as a witness. That changes his entire perspective. Think about it. The same physical circumstances can be interpreted in two completely different ways. One person says: ‘I am in prison.’ Another says: ‘I’ve been sent here to testify about Christ.’ Paul stands in the second position. So, in his eyes, the courtroom is a place where Christ’s gospel will be proclaimed.
This challenges something that has happened to the church in our own day. How often have we begun to think of Christianity as though we’re merely a small minority holding an unusual opinion? We live in a world where Christianity can sometimes appear to be regarded as an outdated belief system, a private spirituality, or a cultural relic. And if we’re not careful, we begin to absorb that perspective ourselves.
So, we think, ‘This is what we believe’; ‘This is our religious tradition’; ‘This is something that belongs to Christians.’ And then, we become hesitant to speak. We become apologetic. We begin to present Christianity almost as though we’re introducing an unusual idea to the world and asking permission for people to consider it.
But, Paul does not speak that way. Why? Because Paul knows something that we must never forget – that is, this message does not belong to Paul or to us. It belongs to the King! The gospel has been entrusted to us by the King of the universe. We’re not the authors of the gospel; we’re its witnesses. We do not decide what the gospel should say; we receive the message and proclaim it faithfully.
And what is that message? Jesus Christ died. Jesus Christ was raised. And salvation is found in the risen Christ. This is not merely a message for one ethnic group. The King sends His message to all peoples. Therefore, the King’s witness has a message for every people.
That means that the church must never become ashamed of the gospel. We’re not here merely to preserve Christian culture. We’re not here merely to maintain our church buildings. We’ve been entrusted with a message from the King. Christ died; Christ rose; Christ saves! This is the message entrusted to us, Christ’s witnesses.
III. Sent for the Mission
Now, finally, the King does not merely call His witness and entrust him with a message. He sends His witness for the mission.
Look at what happens when Paul begins speaking. He speaks boldly to Festus, Agrippa, and everyone in the room. He does not shrink back. He does not say: ‘Perhaps this is not the appropriate occasion.’ He does not say: ‘I’m only a prisoner.’ He speaks boldly, firmly. Why? Because he is on mission. The courtroom has become a mission field. Festus hears. Agrippa hears. Everyone hears Paul.
And notice Festus’ response in v. 24, saying this in loud voice: “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” Agrippa questions, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” They say that because they’ve heard the gospel! Paul had brought the resurrection of Jesus Christ directly before them. And Paul’s testimony was not an empty speech. The gospel had confronted the people in that room. Paul carried out what the King had called him to do. And the King has sent him farther to Rome with the same mission!
This teaches us something very important about the mission of Christ. We often assume that God’s mission advances only when circumstances are favourable. We think: ‘If there were fewer obstacles, the gospel would advance’ or ‘If people were more receptive, ministry would be easier.’ But, the book of Acts gives us a different perspective. God can use favourable circumstances and opposition. God can even use a legal process that appears to be delaying the missionary. Because the mission ultimately belongs to the King. And when the King sends His witness, His purpose cannot be frustrated.
Conclusion
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Acts 26 presents us with a remarkable picture. A prisoner stands before a king, but the prisoner knows that there is a greater King. And that King has given him a task, a message, and a mission.
We may not understand all that God is doing through our circumstances, but we know who has called us, what message He has entrusted to us, and whose mission we serve!
So, let us not be ashamed of the gospel. Let us faithfully bear witness wherever the King has placed us. The King has called His witnesses; the King has entrusted His message; and the King is still sending His witnesses for His mission.
May we be found faithful in the mission field to which each of us is called, proclaiming Christ the King! ***
