Acts 26:19-23 Paul Defends His Calling.

Paul made clear to king Agrippa that he was engaged in his activity out of a duty to obey the heavenly vision he had received (v. 19). He wasn’t just an individual trouble-maker, rather, he was called to proclaim the gospel and the need for repentance and faith, primarily to the Gentiles (v. 20 Cf. 9:19-22; 11:26). This was the reason that the apostate Jews wanted to seize him and kill him (v. 21). Furthermore, part of his testimony to Agrippa and those present, was the sovereign providential favour of God protecting him and bringing him to sit before Agrippa (v. 22a). He also made clear that the message that he preached was identical with Moses and all the prophets (v. 22b Cf. 24:14; 28:23; Lk. 24:26; Rom. 3:21; Jn. 5:46) – “that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” (v. 23 Is. 42:6; 49:6; Lk. 2:32; I Cor. 15:20-23; II Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5)