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Unashamed Before Kings
Acts — Chapter 26 (BSB)
Chapter Overview
In Acts 26, Paul stands before King Agrippa II and delivers one of the most complete and personal accounts of his testimony found anywhere in Scripture. Beginning in verse 2, Paul respectfully acknowledges Agrippa's familiarity with Jewish customs and uses that as a bridge to present the gospel boldly. He walks through his life as a devoted Pharisee, his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus in verses 12-18, and the commission God gave him to open the eyes of the Gentiles and bring them from darkness to light. Paul's defense is not merely legal — it is evangelistic, as seen in verse 29 where he expresses his heartfelt desire that everyone listening would come to know Christ as he does. Festus interrupts in verse 24 declaring Paul mad, yet Paul responds with calm, reasoned confidence, showing that true faith can withstand scrutiny and even mockery. This chapter matters deeply for the individual believer today because it models what it looks like to surrender your entire life story to God and let Him use it — including your darkest chapters — as a testimony to His grace.
Key Verses
Acts 26:9 (BSB)
"So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth."
Paul openly admits that he was once a fierce opponent of the very Christ he now serves. This transparency about his past is a reminder that no one is too far gone for God's grace to reach them. Your own story of resistance or wandering is not a disqualifier — it may be the very ground God uses to display His power.
Acts 26:15-16 (BSB)
"‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you."
The moment Jesus reveals Himself to Paul, He immediately gives him purpose — 'rise and stand.' God's encounters with you are never meant to leave you paralyzed by your past but to commission you for something forward-facing. You too have been appointed as a witness to what Christ has done in your own life.
Acts 26:18 (BSB)
"to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’"
This verse captures the entire mission of the gospel in a single sentence — eyes opened, direction changed, power transferred, forgiveness received, and inheritance granted. It is a vivid picture of what salvation truly means, not just a transaction but a complete transformation of allegiance and identity. Sit with this verse and ask yourself which part of it still feels most alive and personal in your own journey with God.
Acts 26:22 (BSB)
"But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:"
Paul attributes his very survival and endurance to God's help — not his own strength, strategy, or resilience. There is a quiet but profound humility in saying 'I stand here because God sustained me.' When you look back at how you have made it through hard seasons, can you say the same thing Paul is saying here?
Acts 26:28-29 (BSB)
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?” “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”"
Even in chains, Paul's deepest desire is not his own freedom but the salvation of every person in the room. His joy in Christ is so real and so evident that he literally wishes it upon a king. This challenges you to examine whether your relationship with Jesus is something you genuinely want others to experience, and whether that longing shapes how you live and speak.
Main Themes
- The power of a personal testimony
- God's sovereign call and purpose
- Boldness and courage in the face of opposition
Discussion Questions
- If you were standing before someone powerful today and had one chance to tell them about Jesus using only your own story, what moment in your life would you point to first?
- Is there a part of your past — a mistake, a season of doubt, or a period of running from God — that you have never fully allowed Him to redeem and use for His glory?
Personal Application
Write out your personal testimony this week in two to three short paragraphs — your life before Christ or before a key turning point, your encounter with Him, and how He has changed you — and ask God to show you one person in your life who needs to hear it.
The next time you face a moment where speaking about your faith feels awkward or risky, choose one truth from your own story and say it simply and honestly, trusting that God will do with it what only He can do.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the testimony You have written in my life through both my failures and Your faithfulness. Like Paul, I want to stand wherever You place me and speak of You without shame, trusting that You are the one who opens blind eyes and turns hearts from darkness to light. Give me the courage to let my story — all of it — be offered back to You as a witness to Your grace. In Jesus name, Amen.