Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.           -2 Timothy 2:15

BUTTER AND CHEESE

(1 Samuel 17:18)
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

(2 Samuel 17:29)
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

(Job 10:10)
Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

(Genesis 18:8)
And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

(Deuteronomy 32:14)
Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat (best, tops, a-one) of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

(Judges 5:25)
He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

(2 Samuel 17:29)
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

(Job 20:17)
He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.

(Job 29:6)
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

(Psalms 55:21)
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

(Proverbs 30:33)
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

(Isaiah 7:15)
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

(Isaiah 7:22)
And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.

A total of thirteen verses.

(Ephesians 6:19)
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

(Luke 21:12)
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

(Acts 26:1)
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
  • A ball and chains for his feet, but hands freed, surrounded by guards, or shackles on his hands with long chains, however it is, he gestures
  • A self defense is allowed in an y fair trial, something the Jews did not want for Paul, as they plotted twice to kill him without a trial

(Acts 26:2)
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:
  • Paul has waited patiently, silently, very much prepared to answer all of the charges and even more
  • Paul relates that he is accused of the Jews, not the Gentiles, his own people by blood, not the Romans by citizenship
  • Paul needs no lawyer to defend himself, no witnesses in his corner because he knows that God is on his side

HAPPY, IN SCRIPTURE

  • Leah said she was happy when she gave birth to Asher
  • God said Israel was happy to be saved by God of her enemies
  • The queen of Sheba said Solomon's men and servants were happy
  • Job said happy is the man who God corrects
  • David said happy is a man with a lot of children
  • Happy is the man who walks with God and fears Him
  • God said happy will be the one who destroys Babylon
  • God said happy will be the one who destroys Babylon by dashing their little ones against the stones in the judgment
  • Happy is the one whose God is the LORD
  • Happy is the one who has God to help, whose hope is the LORD
  • Happy is the one who finds wisdom and understanding
  • Happy is the one who finds wisdom and understanding because it is a tree of life to him
  • Happy is the one who has mercy on the poor
  • Happy is the one who trusts in the LORD
  • Happy is the one who fears the LORD
  • Happy is the wicked one who deals treacherously
  • Happy is the one who is prideful
  • Happy is the one who serves others
  • Happy is the one who does not condemn himself for liberty in the LORD
  • Happy is the one who endures like Job
  • Happy is the one who suffers for righteousness sake
  • Happy is the one who is reproached for the Name of Christ

(Genesis 30:13)
And Leah said, happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

(Deuteronomy 33:29)
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

(1 Kings 10:8)
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

(2 Chronicles 9:7)
Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.

(Job 5:17)
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

(Psalms 127:5)
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

(Psalms 128:2)
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

(Psalms 137:8)
O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

(Psalms 137:9)
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

(Psalms 144:15)
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

(Psalms 146:5)
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

(Proverbs 3:13)
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

(Proverbs 3:18)
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

(Proverbs 14:21)
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

(Proverbs 16:20)
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

(Proverbs 28:14)
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

(Proverbs 29:18)
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

(Jeremiah 12:1)
Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

(Malachi 3:15)
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

(John 13:17)
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

(Acts 26:2)
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:

(Romans 14:22)
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

(James 5:11)
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

(1 Peter 3:14)
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

(1 Peter 4:14)
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

(Acts 26:3)
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.
  • Agrippa, being Jewish himself, was apparently a scholar, studying Jewish law, customs, the Old Testament, etc.
  • Paul is about to give a decently, long discourse, and merely wants Agrippa to hear all that he has to say
  • Agrippa was known to be very Jew-ISH, so would automatically be against Paul and his gospel, and in favor of the law that he learned

(Acts 26:4)
My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
  • The accusers knew that Paul was raised in the synagogue, trained in the law

(Acts 26:5)
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
  • Paul was no slouch in the Jewish religion at all; he was "The Jew of Jews"!
  • That same Law was actually used by Paul to kill Stephen and other Christians in the Church

(Philippians 3:4-7)
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

(Acts 26:6)
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
  • This hope is the resurrection from the dead, as he will explain to Agrippa

THE PROMISE OF GOD TO THE FATHERS

(Isaiah 26:19)
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

(Psalms 71:20)
Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

(Psalms 85:6)
Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

(Psalms 16:9-10)
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Daniel 12:2)
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

THE OTHER EARTHLY HOPE FOR ISRAEL: NATIONAL RESURRECTION (1948, etc.)

(Ezekiel 37:12)
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

(Acts 26:7)
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.
  • The Jews hopes for Resurrection, just not through the LORD Jesus Christ, but by their own works
  • The accusation the Jews made against Paul was the preaching of the saving Gospel without works through grace alone

(James 1:1)
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

(Acts 26:8)
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
  • What Paul is saying here is that the gospel of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was too incredible for them

(Acts 26:9)
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
  • This was his zealousness in Judaism, persecuting Christians
  • When one does not want to believe in the resurrection of the dead, then one wants to basically automatically persecute those who do, through mocking, taunting or, in the case of Saul (now Paul) killing those who believe in the resurrection

(Acts 26:10)
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; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
  • The ones wanting to put Paul to death for believing in the resurrection wanted Paul to put to death those who believed in the resurrection
  • The Gospel has the power to save Paul and make him as one of his own victims, to turn him from a persecutor to the persecuted, from darkness to light, from denying the resurrection of the dead to defending the resurrection of the dead

(Acts 26:11)
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
  • Any person who would would then, as today, be a "Christian' would not survive the torture of Paul, being cast into prison, stones, lashed, or whatever else they could devise up to the point of death, and so would recant. Nothing has changed in 2,000 years
  • Jesus called this "sifting of wheat", and persecution always brings out the real Christians and separates them
  • However, there were some. Others were steadfast to the point of death, or the point of a sword, or the point of nail in hands and feet on a Roman cross. These were and are true believers

(Luke 22:31)
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

(Matthew 3:12)
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

(Matthew 13:24-30)
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

(Matthew 25:32-46)
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

(1 Timothy 1:13)
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

(Acts 26:12-13)
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.
  • "These same people who sent me to kill Christians now want to kill me for being a Christian"
  • "But God had other plans, and needed to get my attention in the strongest way, so He personally came to me, as light"
  • This light is at midday, noon, when the sun is highest, and eclipses the sun, so how bright is Jesus Christ's Glory?
  • This light is Jesus Christ, and a blinding light to the lost, and it is not in any way some sort of lightning, as some commentators incorrectly, ignorantly speculate, but a bright, steady light

(Isaiah 24:23)
Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

(Isaiah 60:19)
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

(John 8:12)
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

(John 9:5)
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

(Revelation 22:5)
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

(Acts 26:14)
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.
  • It is probable that, at some point during his persecutions, some Christian would give Paul (then Saul) the Gospel in short form before being killed-and he would have just killed them anyways!
  • This voice Paul (then Saul) hears speaks to him in the Hebrew tongue, his own tongue not in "an unknown language"

(Acts 26:15)
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
  • One cannot separate the body of Christ from Christ, and Saul was ignorantly persecuting Christ by persecuting His body, the Church, which is what Matthew 25 above is talking about-"Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.", and "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

(Acts 26:16)
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, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
  • After acknowledging thew LORD and getting saved, now time to work to get others saved, now, immediately, on your feet and walk the walk
  • Does Agrippa know that, right here, Paul is being "witness both of these things which thou hast seen"?
  • When God touches a life, our life, it is not just to be saved, but to work for Him, and no longer for ourselves, our flesh-it is "for this purpose...to arise, to stand upon thy feet"

(Acts 26:17)
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
  • Delivering from "the people" is speaking of his own people, the Jews, as seen in the next words, "and from the Gentiles"
  • Paul was delivered many times throughout his ministry, from all sorts of perils

DELIVERANCES OF PAUL

(Acts 14:19-20)
And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

(2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

(Acts 27:39-44)
And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

(Acts 28:3-6)
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

(Acts 26:18)
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.
  • Light, freedom, forgiveness, everlasting life, sanctification-all by faith alone
  • Paul was on trial for preaching to Gentiles salvation by grace through faith, repentance from sin

(Acts 26:19)
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
  • Cornelius (Acts 10:33), Peter (Acts 10:21), Paul (acts 9:8) all obeyed their heavenly visions
  • Will Agrippa obey his heavenly vision he is receiving here from Paul
  • Paul was not compelled into Christ like he compelled others out of Christ at all, but by revelation from God

(Acts 26:20)
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
  • This is "the lost fourteen years" of Paul's life
  • Mostly in Scripture, with a few exceptions such as Nineveh, the Jews are always told to repent; the Gentiles to believe and then repent

(Galatians 2:1)
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

(Acts 26:21)
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
  • "I was doing God's work, being obedient to my calling, I was apprehended for it, and they want to kill me for it"
  • Remember this when you are also persecuted for doing God's work, obediently

(2 Timothy 3:12)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(Philippians 3:12-13)
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

(Acts 26:22)
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:
  • By grace I preach, and only grace, to all who will hear
  • Paul was called to preach before great (albeit pagan) leaders.......but also before paupers, outcasts, Gentiles (dogs), pagans
  • His message is the unchanged Gospel message, Genesis to Malachi, through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which Old Testament believers accepted
  • Paul further acknowledges that, despite the charges, he preaches not one single thing contrary to the doctrine of the Old Testament, nor did any of the apostles

(Acts 6:13)
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man (Stephen)ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

(Acts 21:28)
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, (Paul) that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

(Acts 26:23)
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
  • Jesus is the one, Paul acknowledges, Whose light shines on all, not Paul-he merely took hold of that torch light and aimed it
  • Again, "the people" (the JEWS) are contrasted with the Gentiles here, as elsewhere

(Acts 26:24)
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
  • Festus said this "with a loud voice", as though yelling for all to hear, purposely
  • When truth is told, and people want to reject it, they will attack first the truth teller with name calling, accusations about their (lack of or too many) college degrees, their intelligence, their behavior, their sanity (as here)
  • Remember Festus is not even the prosecutor here, not even one of the original accusers here, just part of the court proceeding, involved before Agrippa
  • Festus has been listening for the last however many minutes, seething, probably because he thinks it could be revealed that he merely brought a maniac before the king, not a criminal!

REASONS THE WORLD THINKS CHRISTIANS ARE NUTS

  • Trouble makers

    (Acts 17:6)
    And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

  • Bucking the system, fringe, control freaks, politically motivated

    (Galatians 5:22)
    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • More trouble makers!

    (Acts 19:40)
    For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

  • Railers!

    (Titus 3:2)
    To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

  • They will proclaim, loudly, "You think EVERYONE ELSE is wrong and only YOU are right!"

    • (1 Corinthians 11:1)
    Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

(Acts 26:25)
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
  • So Festus thought Paul was joking (not sober)...or is convicted by Paul's words
  • The world also thinks that the Word of Truth is crazy and does not need to be heard
  • The "most noble Festus" is not just a sign of necessary due respect, but a way to heap hot coals on Festus's head through loving kindness

SO'BER, a. [L. sobrius.]

  1. Temperate in the use of spiritous liquors; habitually temperate; as a sober man. Live a sober, righteous and godly life.
  2. Not intoxicated or overpowered by spiritous liquors; not drunken. The sot may at times be sober.
  3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary or heated with passion; having the regular exercise of cool dispassionate reason. There was not a sober person to be had; all was tempestuous and blustering. No sober man would put himself in danger, for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
  4. Regular; calm; not under the influence of passion; as sober judgment; a man in his sober senses.
  5. Serious; solemn; grave; as the sober livery of autumn. What parts gay France from sober Spain? see her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.

(Acts 26:26)
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.
  • Paul is merely emphasizing that the entire Roman empire knew of the Acts of the apostles
  • The apostles openly preached in streets, synagogues, marketplaces-any place people would gather to hear, as well as privately in homes
  • If Paul was crazy, this was not the charge of the Jews at all, and the charge would have been brought up much earlier against other apostles, disciples, by others

(Acts 26:27)
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
  • Paul reminds the king of his schooling, heritage by first asking and then answering for the king, boldly

(Acts 26:28)
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
  • Witnessing does not get people saved, it reveals unassailable truth to the lost
  • Witnessing does not persuade people to get saved; the Holy Spirit does the conviction
  • Paul has not even given the Gospel as he spells it out in first Corinthians fifteen; he merely mentions the resurrection part ("he rose again the third day"), not even the death and burial part
  • In other words, this is not Paul's doing, but rather the Holy Spirit doing the conviction here

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

(Acts 26:29)
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.
  • One must be careful in speech before leaders, especially monarch, not to even hint that they wish that monarch to be in liter bondage, tied up by guards, but only to say that they would be free-free from sin because of the Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ
  • Paul here is a free man, freed from the bondage of sin, and also a man in bonds from sinful men, precisely because he is a free man from his sins, in bondage to Christ

(1 Corinthians 7:22)
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

(John 8:34-36)
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

(Romans 6:18-23)
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Acts 26:30)
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
  • Giving one's testimony is something inarguable, it is unassailable, incomparable to all other testimonies of any other person

(Acts 26:31)
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
  • Things "worthy of death" would have been becoming a Christian in the Roman Empire or synagogue, if God in His Sovereignty so chose to allow an execution by a Roman Cross, or beheading, etc.
  • This is clearly the sovereignty of God, evidence of a life not fully lived yet, a mission not accomplished. Many other believers in the Roman empire were put to death shortly after getting saved, martyred for the cause of Christ
  • Why was Paul then spared? God had other plans, more plans, more work for Paul to do. When He was done with Paul, He would call him home. Just not today.

(Acts 26:32)
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
  • No, Paul will not be executed for his "crimes", but God had told him that he would go to Rome to perhaps even die there, though this is unclear from history

(Acts 19:21)
ΒΆ After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

(Acts 23:11)
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

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