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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We are in Acts 25, where the setting is Paul, the servant and slave and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he has been in prison in Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast. He has now been in prison for two years without a single charge against him being proved. How would we react if we were to find ourselves in that situation?
He has been a puzzle to Governor Felix, causing him fear and upsetting him spiritually, as the demands of Christ were presented so clearly and challengingly. Now he is a puzzle to Felix's successor - Governor Festus. Yes, committed disciples of Jesus Christ can be a puzzle to people. Are you a puzzle to certain people? You should be!
King Agrippa and his wife Bernice arrive in Caesarea, and Festus tells the king all about prisoner Paul - verse 13. Imagine talking about Paul the prisoner so soon.
Verses 15 to 21 recount the conversation Governor Festus has with King Agrippa, and it is quite detailed and accurate.
King Agrippa is so interested by what he hears, that he says to Festus - "I would like to hear this man myself." How can we become more interesting? How can people become really interested in us that they too will want to hear, and have that longing and desire to hear us and meet us, and find out what make us tick? Surely we are NOT uninteresting - and unattractive!
Verse 22. "Tomorrow you will hear him." Paul saw through Felix and his desire for a bribe. Paul saw right through his accusers. Paul saw right through Festus. Paul saw the games people were seeking to play.
Again, he remains - calm and gracious - exercising self-control - keeping to the facts - with no trace of bitterness or ranker or resentment - and no self-pity. Paul is a man of God who is able to demonstrate in such a practical manner the love of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ - as the Holy Spirit wells up within his heart - filling him - and overflowing from him. These rulers were people-pleasers. Paul was a Father-pleaser.
As soon as King Agrippa heard about Jesus there was a fascination. His attention was taken. He was attracted - his ears pricked up. And, do you know why? Agrippa's great grandfather was Herod the King who in Matthew Chapter 2 had all the babies of two year old and under slaughtered. Agrippa's grandfather was the Herod who mocked Jesus at His trial. Agrippa's father killed James, the brother of John.
Consider what had happened in that family. Agrippa's great grandfather had tried to have Jesus killed when He was so very young. His grandfather met and despised Jesus Christ. His father had trouble with Jesus Christ's followers - and he troubled them.
Here we see how evil can be passed on from generation to generation - from father to son - like father like son.
Now, remember - there is a remedy. If you have had evil or unbelief in your family, you can be released from that. You can be set free through the power of the risen Jesus.
It is as if a curse had been passed on - and this is common in Scotland - but there is a way out from under the curse. It is possible to be delivered from it in the power of Jesus.
No wonder Agrippa so wants to meet Paul, and the next day we see the congregation gathering - kings - Roman Officials - soldiers - and the principal men of the city. What an audience, just to hear a prisoner.
Paul was brought in. They might have had all the pomp and ceremony as they entered that room, but the anointing of the living God was upon Paul. Wherever you go this coming week may that anointing of the Holy Spirit be upon you.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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