Acts 28:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
As we begin a new year, what are we thinking about? What we dwell on drives us, convicts us, convinces us and motivates us. For the Apostle Paul, the mission of bearing witness to Jesus and seeking to persuade men to follow Him was all consuming. It was the essence of his life.
And it is for us too. Every day, every way, to every one, we are giving a witness. And when God opens an opportunity, we can graciously speak so as to persuade others. Paul put it this way in 2 Corinthians 5: Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.
If you read the whole interaction (you can here) you will find a few things. First, Paul is very honoring and respectful to King Agrippa. He is not aggressive or insulting or accusatory. He counts it a privilege to have an informed conversation. Second, he tells his story in a concise but relevant manner. The details he gives, as he says later, are what the king would be aware of. He was testifying to the truthfulness of the events in light of Jesus. And he concludes by asking the king if he believed what the prophets have said. In other words, do you find merit in what you have seen and heard?
When challenged, Paul responds by showing concern, stating only that his desire is that the King and others would find the same peace and joy and confidence in Christ he has.
What do you learn by "sitting in" on this interaction? Do you have the same daily passion to want to "persuade others" about the Gospel? Is your approach gentle and respectful or argumentative? Do you show respect in the process? Is your testimony focused on what Jesus has done or about you?
These are good questions that can guide us to a powerful year of watching Jesus open the door for more and more opportunities to give a witness for Him.
