WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:04.000 Well today, here's a story of Paul's conversion. 2 00:00:04.719 --> 00:00:05.000 Again. 3 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:07.519 I know he said it twice, but he's gonna do 4 00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:08.439 it a third time. 5 00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:14.720 So Paul now is giving you defense before Agrippa. Yep, 6 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:17.000 and this is a big one. So he's Chris and 7 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:30.079 I'm Jeff and where the babba guys. Okay, Chris, this 8 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:30.879 is a good one today. 9 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:31.800 It is a good one. 10 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:32.640 I like this one. 11 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:34.799 Yeah, it's it's so we're supposed to we're giving the 12 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:37.840 segment that we're supposed to do a draft pizza draft. 13 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:41.079 Here's my here's my question. Like we've all been to 14 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:44.759 places you and I that that we've tasted specialty pieces. 15 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.119 In other words, they're not like Little Caesar's or Dominos. 16 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:50.520 So my question is do we do we branch off 17 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:53.600 and say like Raised Pizza on Ninth Street, New York, 18 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:55.960 or do we just stick with you know. 19 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:58.159 I don't know what are the rules because it does 20 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:00.560 a Raised, the one that gave us this desiree. 21 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.680 Okay, let's pick our favorite pizza places. You rock papers 22 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:06.799 and scissors to see who gets the first and go 23 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:08.239 into each have five pizza. 24 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:10.599 Places, so there's no rules. It's your favorite pizza. We're 25 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:12.840 just drafting our favorite pizzas sounds great, you're ready. 26 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:13.599 We're trying to bring. 27 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:16.079 People over to our side too, So we're trying to 28 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:18.879 do like we want people to go. Yeah, Jeff has 29 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:20.560 the best pizza draft oh. 30 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:22.439 In that case, In that case, we got to stick 31 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:23.319 with the famous. 32 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.000 I think you just draft whatever you want to draft. 33 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.560 Okay, yeah, yeah, all right, let's do our favorite sitters 34 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:29.439 read shoot? 35 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:30.640 Ready, one, two, three? 36 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:31.079 Shoot? 37 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:34.439 So I did scissors and. 38 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.879 Uh so here is my first choice pizza, which is 39 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:41.480 Raised Pizza in New York. 40 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:45.280 Really yes, okay, yeah, yeah, that's it. 41 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:48.120 Yeah, okay, my very favorite pizza in the world, and 42 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:51.159 I've driven five hours just to go get it one time. 43 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:55.040 One way is Connie's Pizza in Chicago. It's a deep 44 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.879 dish Chicago style. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, fine, my favorite pizza. 45 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:00.000 Yeah. 46 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:02.760 So this isn't going to be very popular, but I 47 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:07.280 did a I did a deep dish pizza in California 48 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:09.039 that was Chicago style. 49 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:12.199 Chicago style in California, I know, come on, man. 50 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:14.240 Yeah, and I don't even know the name of the place. 51 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:14.960 I can't draft that. 52 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:17.159 I can't draft a place you don't know the name of. 53 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:18.520 All right, well, then here it goes. 54 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:24.159 I'm actually going to say that my next choice besides 55 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:32.800 Ray's Pizza, is going to be Benitos Banitos Banito's Pizza. Okay, yeah, 56 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.240 I like Benito's better than any other brand. 57 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:39.120 Okay, I think in Michigan, so Michigan is a is 58 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:42.960 a hotbed for pizza, right, yeah, I think in Michigan, 59 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:45.159 I'm going to draft Buddies. 60 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:47.840 Oh yeah, Buddies Pizza, Buddies Red. 61 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:50.759 I mean that's the original eight square or you know what, 62 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:53.800 eight sided pizza or whatever. Script Yeah, okay, that's the 63 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:54.840 Detroit pizza. 64 00:02:54.919 --> 00:02:58.120 So all right, Well, since you know what, since we're 65 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:03.199 going out of state. In my hometown, there is a 66 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:08.159 pizza place called Westgate Pizza and it is extremely famous, 67 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:09.639 and I'll choose that for my third. 68 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:14.080 It's extremely famous in Youngstown, Ohio. Yes, yeah, because none 69 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:16.439 of your listeners have ever heard it except your mom. 70 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:18.439 Mom, Well she's listening. 71 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:22.319 So yeah, I think I'm gonna stick with us. So 72 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:27.319 the one that I pick, like if I just have okay, hey, 73 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:29.840 let's have pizza delivered at home. Yeah, it's one of 74 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:32.199 two that I have delivered, and I think I'm going 75 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:33.000 to pick Jets. 76 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:35.560 I was gonna say, Jets is my fourth. 77 00:03:35.400 --> 00:03:39.120 Let's get jets, Let's get Jets. 78 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:41.319 Yeah, I was gonna say Jets. 79 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:46.919 Okay, So I will then have to say that I like. 80 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:56.159 This is tough, Jess was it for me? Believe it 81 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:56.439 or not. 82 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:58.919 I know it's gonna sound crazy, but since Domino's is 83 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:00.439 as re done. 84 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:04.080 Their formula, it's it's pretty stromptious. 85 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:05.719 I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go Dominos. 86 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.919 Yeah. Yeah. For for fast delivery, Yeah, that's a good one. Uh. 87 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:10.479 The other one that I like, believe it or not, 88 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:12.719 is I like hungry howays because I like all the 89 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:14.800 stuff you can put on the crust. Yeah yeah, yeah 90 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.319 right right, so getting that extra garlic butter and yeah 91 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:22.519 yeah yeah yeah that's good. You know what, that's the throwaway. Hey, 92 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.839 I don't want to think about it. Disorder pizza, it's right, okay. 93 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:30.560 And and for the for the last one, I'll go nuanced. 94 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.600 How about have you ever had the pizza at the Alibi? 95 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.279 Yes, that's a really pizza on Rochester Road. 96 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:39.839 Rochester Road for our listeners, if you're ever in Michigan, 97 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:40.680 go to the Alibi. 98 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:41.839 Yeah, that's that's good pizza. 99 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:42.480 That's good pizza. 100 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.439 Yeah, so I think the one that I'm going to do, 101 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:46.360 and it's all the people in McComb County know, this 102 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:50.120 one is green Lantern. Well yeah, Greenland, Green Landers's Yeah yeah, 103 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:51.199 it's similar to Alibi. 104 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:54.160 Yeah yeah, yeah, so that's cool. So that would be it. Okay, 105 00:04:54.759 --> 00:04:56.600 what what do you love on pizza? What do you get? 106 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:00.639 So I believe it or not, I'm a I'm a 107 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:05.360 guy who gets like all the veggie toppings but not 108 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:08.800 olives because those are from Satan? What? 109 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:12.160 Yeah, so I would say I get like mushrooms. 110 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.360 I don't think you're really You're not Italian? You don't 111 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:17.000 like olives? Yeah, I know what you fraud. We just 112 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.040 we just exposed. 113 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:22.360 I like, I like, you know, like a meatballs. Isn't 114 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:25.519 the only the only requirement for being Italian you have 115 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.480 You're required. You're required to love meatballs, You're required to 116 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:34.000 love good cheese, and you're required to love olives. 117 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:38.040 It's required. Yeah, understand, we're gonna revoke your your Let 118 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:38.519 me get. 119 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:38.920 My answer out. 120 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:43.480 Mushrooms, onions, peppers, and slices of tomato. 121 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:45.240 But you don't do the meats a lot? 122 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:47.759 No, I do you just asked me what was my favorite? 123 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:51.959 Okay, so my dad orders everything, so we we all 124 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.839 the way to the anchovies, we weed it all and 125 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:55.879 so I love the everything pizza. 126 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:57.600 Those are always good. 127 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.399 But if I'm just ordered for myself, it's always going 128 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:03.279 to be a meat lover's okay, And I like I 129 00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:05.399 believe or not, I really like thin crust pizza too. 130 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.759 Yeah I did. Yeah, in fact, Benito's Thin Crust with 131 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.920 the topics they gave you. Yeah, is my wife and 132 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:11.319 I is go. 133 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:15.800 To okay, and then I uh, I'm very happy with 134 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:20.240 just a good pepperoni. Yeah. Yeah. So anyways, all right, well, hey, 135 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.040 that was very important stuff. I know people, Yes, everybody 136 00:06:23.040 --> 00:06:25.480 turned it off and went and ordered pizzas, but it is. 137 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.879 Six minutes of life wasted for love of you're never 138 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:29.560 getting that back. 139 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:30.680 I was gonna joke and. 140 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:33.519 Say Di Giorno's, but I didn't want people to be 141 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:35.839 like typeing in boom here. 142 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:39.360 That's right, that's not. 143 00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:42.519 We're going to pick up at the end of chapter 144 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:44.040 number twenty. 145 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.040 Five and read to the end of twenty read. 146 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:46.959 It to the end of twenty six. 147 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:48.720 Yes, let's get to it, man, because this is an 148 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:53.639 interesting story. It says in verse twenty three of chapter 149 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.160 twenty five of the Book of Acts. So the next day, 150 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:58.800 Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, 151 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.000 accompanied by military, all officers and prominent men of the city. 152 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:05.160 Fastest order that Paul be brought in. Then Festus said, 153 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:07.759 King Agrippa, and all who are here, this is the 154 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:10.519 man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both 155 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.000 here and in Jerusalem. But in my opinion, he's done 156 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.399 nothing deserving a death. However, since he appealed his case 157 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:18.439 to the Emperor, I've decided to send him to Rome. 158 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.800 But what shall I write the Emperor? For there is 159 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.920 no clear charge against him. So I've brought him before 160 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.399 all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that 161 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.480 after we examine him, I might have something to write, 162 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.279 for it makes no sense to send a prisoner to 163 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.639 the Emperor without specifying the charges against him. Then Agrippa 164 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:37.399 said to Paul, you may speak in your defense. So Paul, 165 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.319 gesturing with his hand, started his defense. I am fortunate, 166 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:42.839 King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense 167 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:45.759 today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders. 168 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.920 For I know you are an expert on all Jewish 169 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:51.279 customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently, as 170 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:53.480 the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a 171 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:56.839 thorough Jurish training from my earliest childhood among my own people, 172 00:07:56.839 --> 00:07:59.199 and in Jerusalem, if they would admit it, they know 173 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.160 that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the 174 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:04.399 strictest sector of our religion. Now I'm on trial because 175 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:06.600 of my hope and the fulfillment of God's promise made 176 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:07.439 to our ancestors. 177 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:08.319 In fact, that is. 178 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:11.279 Why the twelve tribes of Israels zealously worshiped God night 179 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.720 and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, 180 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:18.360 your majesty, they accused me for having this hope. Why 181 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.720 does it seem incredible to any of you that God 182 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:23.240 can raise the dead. I used to believe that I 183 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:25.360 ought to do everything I could to oppose the very 184 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:28.079 name of Jesus and Nazaren. Indeed, I did just that 185 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:31.920 in Jerusalem, authorized by the leading priests. I caused many 186 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:33.639 believers there to be sent to prison, and I cast 187 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:35.919 my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 188 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.360 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to 189 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.120 get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed 190 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:43.639 to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities. 191 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.000 And one day I was on such a mission in Damascus, 192 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:48.600 armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 193 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:50.720 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, 194 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.759 a light from having brighter than the sun shone down 195 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:56.320 on me and my companions. We all fell down, and 196 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:59.080 I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, 197 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:01.759 why are you person secuting me? It's useless for you 198 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:05.200 to fight against my will. Who are you, Lord, I asked, 199 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:07.919 and Lord replied, I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting. 200 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:09.720 Now get to your feet, for I have appeared to 201 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.000 you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You 202 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:15.399 are to tell the world what you have seen and 203 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.240 what I will show you in the future, and I 204 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.200 will rescue you from both your own people and the gentiles. Yes, 205 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:22.240 I'm sending you to the gentiles to open their eyes 206 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:24.399 so they may turn from darkness to light and from 207 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:26.440 the power of Satan to God. And then they will 208 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.080 received forgiveness for their sins and be given a place 209 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.399 among God's people who are set apart by faith in me, 210 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:34.639 and so King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 211 00:09:34.919 --> 00:09:37.320 I preached first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem, 212 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:40.120 throughout all Judea, also to the gentiles, that all must 213 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:42.600 repent of their sins and turn to God and prove 214 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:45.440 they have changed by the good things they do. Some 215 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:47.639 Jews arrested me in the temple for preaching this, and 216 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.919 they tried to kill me. But God has protected me 217 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.159 right up to this present time, so I can testify 218 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.000 to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach 219 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.440 nothing except what the prophets of Moses said would happen, 220 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:59.440 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to 221 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:01.600 rise from the dead, and in this way announced God's 222 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:06.039 light to Jews and Gentiles alike. Suddenly Festus shouted, Paul, 223 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:09.120 you were insane. Too much study has made you crazy. 224 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:13.159 But Paul replied, I'm not insane, most excellent Festus. What 225 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:16.399 I'm saying is the sober truth, and King Agrippa knows 226 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.799 about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure 227 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:20.919 these events are familiar to him, for they were not 228 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:23.879 done in a corner King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? 229 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:26.799 I know you do, Agrippa interrupted him. Do you think 230 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:28.440 you can persuade me to become a Christian? 231 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.000 So quickly? 232 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.879 Paul replied, whether quickly or not, I pray to God 233 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:35.360 that both you and everyone here in this auditorium might 234 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.759 become the same as I am, except for these chains. 235 00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:41.200 Then then the King, the Governor, Bernice, and all the 236 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.240 others stood and left. As they went out, they talked 237 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:46.720 it over and agreed, this man hasn't done anything to 238 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:50.159 deserve death or imprisonment. And Agrippa said to Festus he 239 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.200 could have been set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar. 240 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:59.039 Wow, he said to Festus, he could have been set 241 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:01.080 free if he had hadn't appealed the season. 242 00:11:01.159 --> 00:11:01.960 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 243 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:04.879 Some some historians would say Paul kind of overplayed his 244 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.399 hand by that, right, Yeah, for sure. But I think 245 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:11.120 Paul was always going to Rome, right. Jesus had told 246 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.559 him you're going to Rome, right, So he's going to Rome. 247 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:15.399 Yeah, and he saw he saw the way that was 248 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:19.639 the path right right? So yeah. So and by the way, 249 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.440 we ultimately know that this is going to end in 250 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.519 Paul's demise. 251 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:22.840 That's right. 252 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:26.240 So he never really gets released, he never gets back, 253 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:29.559 you know, and you know with his with his friends, 254 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.960 with his comrades, back on mission, he pretty much just 255 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:34.200 defends himself until they kill him. 256 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:36.600 Yeah, which is years by the way. 257 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:41.120 Yeah, yeah, so this is like fifty eight AD. 258 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:45.840 He doesn't die until like sixty seven, sixty seven, yeah, yeah, 259 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.440 so fifty nine. I think this, This would be fifty 260 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:51.440 nine because he began with Felix and fifty seven, so 261 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:54.000 then it was Felix and then two years in jail 262 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.399 and then this is brand new with Fests. 263 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:57.480 That's like ten years nine yeah. 264 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:00.279 Ten years of being in prison. So you know, if if. 265 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.879 You think you have problems right right, you think you've 266 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.600 been inconvenienced for God's mission, you think that God has 267 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.559 asked too much of you. And by the way, I'm 268 00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.679 not saying that he hasn't. I don't know your situation. 269 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:15.879 I don't know you know your story, but Paul certainly 270 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.000 trumps me in a lot of ways. 271 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:21.159 Well, God lets us know these things for our own benefit. 272 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:23.919 And so what God is saying is, hey, your circumstances 273 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.679 might be bad. They were bad for Paul too. But 274 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:27.879 Paul made the best of them. I think that's the thing. 275 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.159 And if I can tell you my story, my story's bad, 276 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:32.440 but God made the best of it. And I think 277 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:34.080 it's the same for all of us. If we will 278 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:36.879 trust him, God will take the bad story make it good. 279 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:39.080 Paul wrote about that in Romes chapter eight. He can 280 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.360 make all things work together for good to those who 281 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.200 love God and are called according to this purpose. So 282 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:45.279 if you understand that your life is according to God's purpose, 283 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:47.360 then God has a plan for you. God wants to 284 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:49.519 use you. Then it doesn't matter the circumstances you're in. 285 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:52.559 I'm not saying they're not bad. I'm just saying those 286 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:55.960 don't define you. You can decide to let them define you, 287 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:58.120 but God doesn't view them as defining you. They might 288 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:00.559 make you stronger and better, but they don't find you. 289 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.720 So anyways, there's Paul. He's in jail again. 290 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.200 Now he's standing in front of h He's standing in 291 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:07.679 front of the two of the biggest power players in 292 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:11.919 his region. Right, I mean he was in front of governors, 293 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.320 now he's in front of kings. This is pretty amazing 294 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:17.039 that he's able to share the gospel. How else who 295 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:18.960 else would ever have the opportunity to share the gospel 296 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:19.639 King Agrippa. 297 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:24.200 Yeah, and and is this the verse that's translated into yes, 298 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:25.120 that almost. 299 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:27.679 Persuaded me, almost persuaded me, Yeah, yeah. 300 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:30.919 Because we both grew up reading the King James version. 301 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.399 Yeah. 302 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:34.279 And and so then in this one it's translated just 303 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:34.879 slightly different. 304 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:37.679 Resais do you think you can persuade me so quickly? 305 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.159 Yeah? 306 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:41.000 And the other translation for it would be a little 307 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:43.559 more in your arguments, would make me a Christian. But 308 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:47.000 clearly he's kind of mocking Paul, right, He's so there's 309 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:49.360 there's maybe a little bit of wow, that's compelling message, 310 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:51.480 but I'm not in it. No, thank you, Right, that's 311 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:51.960 what he's doing. 312 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:56.000 Yeah, I've preached messages on King Agrippa almost becoming a Christian. 313 00:13:55.960 --> 00:13:57.000 Yeah before yep. 314 00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:59.799 And but you know, it's it's so cool to see 315 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.480 again Paul, you know, give his testimony, and it just 316 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:06.759 solidifies that, you know, telling your story is a really 317 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.320 powerful tool. And just in case we're wondering, Paul tells 318 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.440 his story. Paul's conversion story happens in Acts chapter nine, 319 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:17.080 then also at Act chapter twenty two, and then twenty 320 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:21.960 six and the full version is in nine. Twenty two 321 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:26.960 is a summary, and then twenty six seems to be smaller, right, 322 00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:30.399 not as many verses, but yet the exact same details. 323 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:35.000 Although in this one he's clearly presenting the gospel yeh, 324 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:37.360 So he minimizes history. I think that this is the 325 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.840 best presentation that we see for Paul. Paul talks a 326 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.360 little bit. 327 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:43.799 Because he makes this history with Jesus story right. 328 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.639 Right, right, So he's taking his story and he's saying, hey, 329 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.720 I was a radical. I was, you know, even a 330 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.720 better guy in our religion than all these guys that 331 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.759 are accusing me now. And they can't argue with it. 332 00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:58.600 But the reality is I had this encounter with Jesus 333 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:01.519 that transform my life and now. And then he spends 334 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:04.240 all this time saying, it's all you know, so you 335 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:06.679 can receive forgiveness of your sins and be given a 336 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.320 place among God's people. 337 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:11.480 And then he comes back to it. 338 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:15.240 Multiple times that he's driving at home that salvation is 339 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.559 by faith, right, that it's available to you too. He 340 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.440 reminds them several times it's not just for me as 341 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:23.960 a Jew or my Jewish brothers, it's for gentiles too, 342 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.320 just like you. He's very respectful, and he talks about 343 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.720 how esteemed. 344 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.879 Here it is right. 345 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.960 He's doing all the things necessary to not drive a wedge, 346 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.919 but instead to open the gates and say this is 347 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.000 available to you too, and you can have the same 348 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:40.799 experience I did, maybe not having light from heaven, but 349 00:15:40.840 --> 00:15:42.799 you can place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ too, 350 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:49.120 And he's really driving home faith for everybody, salvation for everybody, 351 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:52.919 forgiveness for everybody, and in this one. So it's less 352 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.720 of him, more of Jesus, and then more of a 353 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:58.039 push or and encouragement for them to respond in faith. 354 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.480 One of the things that stands out to me is 355 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:03.679 when Agrippa did say that famous line, you think you 356 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:05.440 can persuade me to become a Christian so. 357 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:08.879 Quickly, Paul says, whether quickly or not? And here it comes. 358 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:13.960 I pray to God that both you and everyone here 359 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.399 in this audience might become the same as I am, 360 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.919 except for these chains. And what I was really saying 361 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:21.080 is he's saying, you know, as I stand up here 362 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:24.120 and I profess my story, I pray that you would 363 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.480 all get to the place where you realize that Jesus 364 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.559 Lord as well so you know, it just goes into 365 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:36.120 it speaks into Paul's who he is, Paul's life, his mission, 366 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:36.799 what he's called to. 367 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.720 But it's who he is. And think about it. Everywhere 368 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:41.279 Paul has ever ever has been. 369 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.799 You know, he's at Act seventeen, He's at Mars Hill, 370 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:46.440 and he just can't sit there and wait for his friends. 371 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:50.159 He feels completely compelled to go tell people about Jesus. 372 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:53.600 He is so driven by his mission. 373 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:57.039 God has called him to preach the gospel and bring 374 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:59.559 it to those who are not of the Jewish faith, 375 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:04.440 who are lost and wandering and don't know Him. And 376 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:09.279 so I try to think of like people in our church, 377 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:11.000 because you know, you and I were pastors, and we 378 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:14.000 live in church world, and so we live around you know, 379 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:16.559 people who attend to our churches, who volunteer with us. 380 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:19.000 You know a lot of them are staff, most of 381 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.160 them are not. But it's the people who get it 382 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:25.880 that I love the most. Right, So every time that 383 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:30.519 I stand in a place where there's like key volunteers, 384 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.559 like for instance, a lot of times, what we'll do 385 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.279 is we'll pray with all the people who show up 386 00:17:34.519 --> 00:17:36.319 in the morning, and we'll gather like in a little 387 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:40.559 circle and we'll pray, and usually I feel this and 388 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:43.079 I share this in those moments, or sometimes we'll do 389 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.920 like a volunteer celebration kind of a thing or a 390 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:51.000 volunteer training where you know where the crowd is, specifically 391 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.640 people who are on mission with you. And I always 392 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:55.640 say the same thing. And here's what I say. I say, 393 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:59.480 you are my favorite people. And it's the truth, because 394 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:03.640 anybody who has that kind of desire, yeah, and who says, listen, 395 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.799 I don't care what kind of song you're singing. I 396 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.039 don't care you know how many chairs need to be 397 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.519 set up. I don't care what needs to happen or 398 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.920 in the parking lot or with coffee. I'm just going 399 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:16.279 to do everything I can so that everybody here can 400 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.359 hear about Jesus and come to know Jesus. And so 401 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.559