v.4-8 My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?v.22-23 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: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.v.25-26 And as he was saying these things in his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of you mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”Promise:*Jer 31:15 Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more *Mic 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. *Psa 22:16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet *Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; Isa 35:6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;Fulfillment*Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men *Mat 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, *Luk 23:33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. *Mat 9:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. v.16-18 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeard to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles-to whom I am sending you 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 a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “...through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth”Col 1 : 6``the gospel, which has come to you...is bearing fruit and growing-as it does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God``John 6:56 he says “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him”Titus 3:8 “...insist on these things so that those...devote themselves to good works”Greed vs. GospelDiscouragement vs. Gospel Discrimination vs. GospelGal 2:14 "But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas...""Preoccupied with the rules and regulations, we find ourselves watching to see if others are keeping them properly and fail to discover one another as true friends. When I realize I am “accepted in the Beloved” I find myself free to receive you who are also accepted. Now we are free to relate to on a new basis altogether." Terry VirgoTips on how to believe morePreach to yourselfCustomize the gospel to your situationUnderstand the “sinfullness of sin” more...and thank God for His mercy!Start your day off with reminders of what the good news is
