The Essential Question (Part 9): Paul's Roman TrialSample

Paul's Apologia

Prepare: What is the spiritual state of the people you'll be with this week or month? Pray that they will become fully committed followers of Jesus.

Read: Acts 26:1-18

Reflect: Years ago, I went to a Sunday night evangelism class at our church in West Philadelphia. At the beginning of the course, the pastor assigned writing a personal mission statement that we would have to read aloud by the end. "I know my testimony," I thought, "so I don't need to write anything down." When the day came to read our statements, the pastor called on me first. When he realized I hadn't done the assignment, he moved on to someone else, to my embarrassment.

In this passage, Paul finally got his chance to stand and deliver his apologia (Latin for "the defense of one's beliefs, positions or actions"), and he was ready. Despite the contrast between his humble position as a prisoner and the "great pomp" of the official Roman setting (Acts 25:23), Paul was not intimidated. Perhaps you've been allowed to explain your beliefs about Jesus publicly at times. It can be challenging, even for longtime believers. That's why it will help us examine what made Paul so effective in this high-pressure situation.

The first thing we notice is that Paul knew his audience (26:1-8). He was aware, for example, of Agrippa's spiritual interests (26:3). Despite all he'd been through, Paul still cared about the spiritual state of his Roman oppressor. Paul was convinced the good news was not just for "good people." He later wrote to Timothy, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15). That's the ethos of evangelism.

Paul also had personal knowledge of his Jewish opponents (26:5). Again, given their repeated attempts to discredit and harm him, Paul might be excused for expressing anger. No doubt they did make him angry at times. But underneath, Paul had a brokenhearted love for his countrymen who wouldn't accept Jesus as their Messiah (see Romans 10:1). That's the heartbeat of evangelism.

Paul's apologia's second key was that he knew his story (26:9-18). This is the third time in Acts that we've read of Paul's conversion, and each time the message is basically the same (Acts 9; 22; 26). Even if it lacks the drama of Paul's story, can you quickly retell the basic facts about how you began a relationship with Christ? In this version, Paul emphasized the commissioning God gave him on the Damascus Road; he was to be a "servant" and a "witness" (26:16). Those are still good marching orders for anyone wanting to make a difference for God today.

After the awkward end of my evangelism course years ago, I finally finished the assignment our pastor gave me. Now I keep my personal mission statement, including my testimony and defense of the gospel, on my laptop, so I'm always ready to stand and deliver.

Apply: At the back of the book The Essential Question by Whitney T. Kuniholm is a section called "My Apologia." Take some time this week to write the basics of your testimony and your defense of the gospel.