Douglas Young

I’ve come to realize that Paul used his story just about everywhere he went as a means of testifying to the matchless grace of God. In Acts 26, before Agrippa and Festus, he remained true to form.

His experiences were powerful, riveting and indicative of an uncanny strength. But from where was it derived? And how?

Paul answers the first question in his proclamation: “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass” (Acts 26:22, ESV). The Jews wouldn’t back off. In part, that’s why he’s before Agrippa. He’d only been saying what Moses and prophets had long before foresaw and forewarned. What was so bad about that?

That was to be expected though. What most bothers me is why Paul would leave these two men, and now me, hanging as to the “how” of God’s strength. Didn’t he know he would be leaving them and others hanging? Didn’t Luke know that eventually I would be asking this question? Why leave us wondering?

I’m convinced that God doesn’t necassarily want us to know the specifics of this question. Maybe its to keep us from becoming prideful about it all. Maybe its to keep us guessing. Nevertheless, Paul was 100% convinced he had “a help that comes from God,” and may we all yearn for the same thing!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10, ESV)