Paul, World Evangelist

ACTS 26:9-20

PAUL was a world evangelist in the sense that much of his ministry was on behalf of the Gentiles. True, Peter also preached to the Gentiles. In fact, it was Peter who used one of the keys of the kingdom entrusted to him by Jesus when he opened up kingdom privileges to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. However,’ Peter’s missionary efforts among the Gentiles were incidental to his ministry to the “circumcision,” that is, to the Jews. Nor did Paul ignore the Jews, for in many places visited by him he first of all preached in the synagogues. However, he is especially designated the apostle to the Gentiles, and he spent much labor in this field.—Gal. 2:7-9

It was perhaps partly because of his conscientiousness that he was especially commissioned to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles that Paul appealed his case to Rome when taken into custody because of Jewish accusations against him. His approach to the whole problem of his arrest and imprisonment indicates that he was much more interested in bearing witness to the truth on every occasion afforded him than he was in securing his freedom. This fact is emphasized in connection with his appearance before Agrippa, who admitted after hearing Paul that had he not appealed his case to Rome he could have been released.

Even when Paul was given the opportunity to present his case to Agrippa he was more concerned in giving a witness for the truth than he was in convincing the ruler that he was innocent. And how glad he was for this opportunity to proclaim the glad tidings of the resurrection through Christ! “I think myself happy, King Agrippa,” said this world evangelist, “because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.”—Acts 26:2

Checking back to the time Paul was taken into protective custody in Jerusalem, it is found that the Jewish opposition against him was on the ground that he had defiled the temple. But he ignores this in his speech before Agrippa. Perhaps this was because the temple charge would not afford him such a good opportunity to present the truth; or it may have been he recognized that this was not the real reason that the Jews hated him.

In his statement to Agrippa, Paul indicates that the Jewish opposition was due to his absolute faith in the promises of God through the prophets that God would raise the dead. Of course many of the Jews professed to believe these promises, although the sects of the Sadducees did not. Their hatred, however, stemmed from the Christian belief that the promised resurrection would be accomplished by, or through Jesus, whom they had crucified.—Acts 4:2

But Paul was not concerned at the moment with explaining this detail of doctrine to Agrippa. He was desirous, rather, of appealing to the king’s reason and to help him see the light of truth and become a believer. “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you,” he asked, “that God should raise the dead?” (Acts 26:8) Notice here the personal appeal. And then again, in the 27th verse of the chapter, “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.”

Agrippa answered, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Seemingly the king recognized that Paul was laboring harder to convert him than he was to gain his freedom; and in this fact we see the true missionary spirit of the great apostle to the Gentiles. And no doubt it was this objective that Paul had in mind in relating to the king those stirring facts relative to his conversion from being a persecutor of the church to being an ardent servant of the Master. According to tradition, Agrippa was of the Jewish faith and was well versed in the Law. He would know, therefore, of the marvelous manner in which God had appeared to certain of the prophets in Old Testament times, and no doubt was deeply impressed to realize that Paul had experienced a similar manifestation of divine power, guidance, and blessing.

Paul recognized clearly the meaning of the vision given to him on the Damascus road. It was not merely for the purpose of restraining him from further persecuting the church. It accomplished this, but it was also the divine commission to proclaim the Gospel of Christ both to Jews and to Gentiles, “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” in Christ.

Paul’s assertion to Agrippa that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision explains the whole course of his life of faithful service from his conversion until finally, and on account of his obedience to the vision, he was executed in Rome. As a world missionary, the farthest extent of Paul’s travels was probably Rome; but his writings, his sermons, and the eloquent example of his life have helped to turn many from darkness to light wherever the Gospel has been preached. He has truly been an epistle, “known and read of all men.”—II Cor. 3:2

QUESTIONS

In what sense was Paul more of a world missionary than Peter?

What did Paul seemingly have in mind when presenting his case to King Agrippa?

What did Paul understand to be the meaning of the “heavenly vision” that was given to him at the time of his conversion?

Explain how Paul became a world evangelist, although not traveling farther than Rome.

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