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Tag: Christ

2 Peter 1 – Know Christ’s Divine Nature
Does Christ wield divine authority in your life?

Second Epistle of Simeon Peter 1:

..seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

2 Peter 1:3-4 Legacy Standard Bible

Do you know God and Christ?

The Apostle Simeon Peter — Cephas , Simon Peter — wants you to know the Divine nature of God [theos] and Jesus Christ [Christos].

..to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

2 Peter 1:2b

And most essentially these of the Divine nature [physis] above all knowledge (or full knowledge), rather than partial knowledge [gnōsis] of man — even a righteous man or one with wisdom — corrupted [phthora] by our own sinful nature.

Note that by the unseen inspiration of the Holy Spirit in this scripture, the Apostle Peter in the opening of his second epistle had immediately claimed the authority of:

.. the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

.. the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

So to continue from when we introduced Peter in our introduction, the Apostle now writes to the church a second time so that all may be assured of their calling.

our mutually possessive God and Savior
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How we long to belong to someone whom we love!
 
A creature of fragile frame in God's image dare not approach the Almighty. 
--

Yet in JESUS, God touched man in a personal Way 
— in Christ a new covenantal relationship for which we yearn endlessly, 

forged in the love of God and our Lord.
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So Simon Peter, the Rock to whom Jesus looked to now build the church, assures believers and followers of The Way:

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.

These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises..

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:4-5a,8 NLT

But those who fail..
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The restored Apostle who had denied Jesus three times before Christ's sacrifice on the Cross cautions those who claim Jesus, yet fail in repentance:
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But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

2 Peter 1 9 NLT

Some in Adam have not seen the guarded gate of Eden reopened by Christ — God’s new election of saints called to return to the tree of life, mercifully clothed in righteousness through the perfect Sacrifice of our Savior and Lord.

Apostolic Faith Defined through Peter’s Second Epistle

The Apostle Peter — clearly in the Authority of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, here in his second epistle of Holy Scripture — commands discernment by the body of Christ – all pastors and every holy saint of the church called to grow in our faith.

You have no doubt noticed that I have briefly skipped the answer Simon Peter provides to HOW our sanctification grows our faith.

Peter’s progression in this list will help your personal discernment which the Apostle of Christ commands of those who love Jesus our Lord.

7 Affections of Sanctification

Growing Apostolic Faith Through Seeds of Holiness

Before we look at the list, let’s glance at some terms of faith considering the connection made by the Apostle Simon Peter.

Sanctification: Is Separation to the Service of God

Psa 4:3; 2Cr 6:17–

Torrey’s New Topical Textbook

IF Christians are sanctified to God through the Lord Christ Jesus, THEN, Peter tells us, those saints will grow in the same holiness, rejecting the sin of our former self.

The Apostle has already addressed sanctification. In fact, Simon Peter opens his first epistle to the saints with this bold greeting and claim in Christ:

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..

1 Peter 1:2a KJV

Therefore the Apostle lists a general,

‘HOW TO ‘ grow or mature in your faith

for the saints of God.

And again,

By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

2 Peter 1:4 CSB

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness..

add to your faith virtue,
to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control,
to self-control perseverance,
to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness
love.
2 Peter 1:5b-7 NKJV

No single translation of these few verses seems sufficient in conveying the full-depth of the Apostle’s advice. Therefore let us take a few moments to allow the cleansing of Peter’s description to open our blind eyes.

ADD these to your faith:

Adjectives of Affective Faith:
1. aretē
2. gnōsis
3. egkrateia
4. hypomonē
5. eusebeia
6. philadelphia
7. agapē
Peter describes how we may diligently apply our new desires in Christ to our faith. You may have even memorized one English translation of these descriptions from the Apostle’s directive; however you may find insight into the richness of Peter’s list from adjectives in other translations.
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Remember: these all translate from Peter's written Greek - common to all of the first century Roman Empire.
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Adjectives beginning with KJV:
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VIRTUE

moral excellence, goodness, worthiness

KNOWLEDGE

(insight, understanding)

TEMPERANCE

self-control,

PATIENCE

perseverance, patient endurance, steadfastness

GODLINESS

piety

BROTHERLY KINDNESS

brotherly affection, mutual affection, brotherly love

CHARITY

love, love for everyone, unselfish love, charity, love itself

source: BlueLetterBible.org – Bibles

Neither Useless nor Unfruitful

These affections are all good things. But more importantly to the Apostle’s evidence to ALL, all are Christian.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

2 Peter 1:8*9 NIV

SO then, how must you act, justified sinner?

Wherefore, the rather, brethren, (KJV)

Peter leaves no doubt in the expected actions of believers.

The Apostle addresses the brothers (as is customary in leadership — who teach their wives with the authority and compassion of Christ and will raise their children in the authority of God and Christ and Scripture).

He opened his epistle leaving no question as to his apostolic authority in the Divine POWER of God — theios dynamis [v.3] — and Peter confirms Christ’s confirmation to we who are now elect in Him to become participants in Jesus’ Divine NATURE — theios physis [v.4].

(After all, IF we are no longer like the unsaved sinners who we once were, then our Christ-like fruit of the Spirit will show His hope of eternal life in us.)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10-11 ESV

Divinity and Trinity

I would like to make a side-point concerning authority here which Simon Peter is about to address more fully as we proceed next time.

First (as I just mentioned from varied English translations), Paul addresses the men of the church as was done in Greek, Roman and Jewish culture. In AD first century culture men, women and deities interacted in an order of hierarchy. Some men over others, some women over others, children under the authority of their mother or a servant woman under her authority — even Greek and Roman deities held unseen authority over men and women in designated areas of their lives and creation.

As the Apostle has placed himself in this line of authority as both a doulos of DEITY — so Simon Peter also claims his delagated authority from ALMIGHTY GOD in the Person of GOD’s only Son Christ Jesus.

The APOSTLE claims this obedience not to him personally, but as the personal slave of God sent to the world with the Gospel.

The church cannot claim Christ while turning against GOD’s own commands.

Peter’s Apostolic Gospel applies to ALL men and to ALL women who claim to be Christians.

No claim of God while denying the written word of God in Scripture and instruction of an Apostle is true. Any christian claim of JESUS contrary to the Apostolic witness will not make a pastor, elder or bishop or any mortal man or woman a true Christian.

Even JESUS, the Son of God, submitted to the will of the Father in everything and He promises to send the Holy Spirit as a counselor to those elected to eternal life in the New Covenant.
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We cannot take time today to again address the Trinity.
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Am I numbered among God’s elect?

R.C. Sproul reminds readers that Peter’s first epistle was addressed to the elect and notes that his second epistle with this important teaching, ‘drips theology.’

So speaking of these affections we have just reviewed [2 Peter 1:5-7] Sproul writes:

Yet he wants believers to be even more diligent about something else. There is an even greater priority, and that is the doctrine of election—not in the abstract but in respect to your own person.

The most important question you need answered in your lifetime is this: am I numbered among the elect?

ibid. p.195

Consider the question in the mirror of God’s truth. Do YOU have the fruit of the Spirit shown in elected saints who turn to CHRIST?

Any who lack such humble witness of Jesus to which Peter points in this epistle may be heretics — ravenous wolves, clothed in some other gospel of an anti-Christ.

NEXT: The Will of a departing Apostle

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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
October 30, 2025
The Clarity and Connections of Apostolic Faith
How do WE respond after hearing a letter from an Apostle of Jesus Christ written to our Church?

We are about to take a look at the faith of three Apostles through Epistles they sent to many churches.

But more than that:

The Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims connections — relationships that matter.

We receive the same love evident through these connections to God and the Apostles, who continue to mean much to 21st century Christians who believe with Apostolic faith.

Apostolic Unity in the Gospels

When someone asks us about our faith, their questions may boil down to a single foundational question:

“Faith in what?”

or perhaps, “faith in whom?”

Let’s begin with what the Lord says about these connections. Jesus actually presents His clarifying question to the Apostles.

And out of all the possibilities of their answers, one stands out in every Gospel.

Peter’s answer to Jesus
- Gospel of Luke
9: And calling the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick…

And departing, they were going from village to village, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.

Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ

(Mat 16:13–20; Mar 8:27–30 )

.. and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

.. And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Luke 9:18b,20a BSB

And Peter answered and said,

“The Christ of God.”
- Gospel of Matthew
And Simon Peter answered and said,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Mat 16:16 LSB
- Gospel of Mark
And He continued asking them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Mark 8:29 LSB

Peter provided an answer communited to him by the Holy Spirit of God. And the Apostle John through the same Spirit says the same more fully and in mysterious revealed detail.

Gospel of John

Nearly all of us are familiar with John’s introduction of Jesus in his Gospel:

IN THE BEGINNING was the Word [logos]

(We will come to discover that John refers to JESUS as the Word in the flesh.)

and the Word

was with God [Theos]

[but now, in John 1:1, the Apostle clearly states:]

And the Word was God.

1:1 ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος

John 1:1 LSB – English translation from Greek New Testament

JESUS IS GOD !

The Gospels all record that the twelve Apostles witness God’s power personally MANY TIMES in JESUS.

“I and the Father are [in essence] one,” John records later in his Gospel [John 10:30].

The Apostle’s Gospel of connection to the Living God revealingly becomes even stronger and more forward-facing after Jesus’ resurrection.

We see this first in Peter and John, but with an additional absolute faith in Christ later proclaimed to all the world by the Apostle Paul.

John 20 – Apostolic Authority from God

ἐμφυσάω

emphysáō – John 20:22, where Jesus, after the manner of the Hebrew prophets, expresses by the symbolic act of breathing upon the apostles the communication of the Holy Spirit to them

He breathed on them and *said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Gospel of John 20:22b LSB

Christ’s communication from the One God — Father, Son and now the Holy Spirit given — to His Apostles sent into all the world with Gospel Good News!

What is Apostolic Faith?

πίστις – faith, assurance,believe, belief,them that believe, fidelity occurs 244 times in 228 verses in the TR Greek.

conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
- the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
- a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
- the religious beliefs of Christians
- belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
- fidelity, faithfulness
- the character of one who can be relied on
Source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G4102 – pistis – faith

This is Apostolic faith,

which finds its roots in the eternal truth that GOD IS — the Person of JESUS IS God — and Christ chose Apostles to continue God’s work of redemption of sinners by proclaiming the Gospel to all mankind.

Who are Apostles?

ACTS on Mission

Tens of Thousands of men, women and children witnessed the Son of God, JESUS, born as a man to a virgin.

Many followed JESUS as DISCIPLES, listening to His teachings and commands. Sometimes Jesus taught thousands. At other times hundreds would follow their Master (Lord) as a Rabbi sent from God. Jesus would teach a houseful of guests or sometimes just one chosen by Him even without witness of the Twelve.

More than five hundred witnessed Jesus AFTER the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection from the grave (even as several had seen Him raise Lazarus and others).

.. He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:

Luke 6:13, also Matthew 10 & Mark 3

Disciples followed their itinerant Rabbi from mountainside to village to city over three years, hearing the Messiah Jesus teach true faith. Yet even one of the Twelve had been chosen before time to betray the Lamb of God, our Savior redeeming our sins on a Cross in Jerusalem.

The APOSTLE’S sent out by Jesus were all chosen as witnesses to the Son of Man — an itinerant Teacher who was not of this world, but IS before all time — with God and was God.

Three Apostles nearer to Jesus

And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;

Gospel of Mark 5:37, 9:2, additional references

James, the older brother of John, became the first Apostle martyred for his faith in Jesus just fourteen years into the establishing of the Church. Another would later replace him, as Matthias would replace Judas Iscariot.
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It would be James the half-brother of Jesus who would later lead the church in Jerusalem, writing epistles to followers of The Way and conferring with the Apostles including Peter and John. 
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We witness these three Apostles nearest to Jesus on several occasions, both before and after the Lord’s resurrection.

Many witness the boldness of Simeon Peter and John in the Temple after Jesus is risen. It’s just once instance where Apostles proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of imprisonment, persecution and even death.

Σίμων Πέτρος – Simon Peter

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go?”

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Gospel of John 6:68-69 LSB

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and upon this rock
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Gospel of Matthew 16:17b-18 LSB

a Fisher of Men

Ἰωάννην Βοανηργές – John son of thunder

Jesus called these two brothers and close friends of His inner-circle of Apostles, “sons of thunder,” and more than once James and John had caused a commotion among his disciples.

And they [James and John] said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”

.. And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.

Gospel of Mark 10:37,41 LSB

And nearer the time of their journey to Jerusalem for Jesus’ crucifixion:

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

But He turned and rebuked them..

Luke 9:54-55a LSB

THEN on a hideous hill outside Jerusalem, as Peter and the other Apostles hid distanced from the iniquitous crucifixion of Christ, the youngest of these dared a nearby witness of this most ironic Sacrifice of all time — the Son of God, their friend, hanging and pierced on a cursed Cross.

When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother,

“Woman, behold, your son!”

Then He said to the disciple,

“Behold, your mother!”

From that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Gospel of John 19:26-27 LSB + Witness of the Disciple Jesus loved – youngest of the Twelve

The Lord Jesus entrusted His own mother Mary to the beloved Disciple John, who so often would cling to Him and His every word.

Christ would also restore Peter as the Rock upon which He would build His church.

“Children, have you any fish?”

Jesus’ love and connection to these two Apostles cannot be disputed.

Σαῦλος – Saûlos – Ῥωμαῖος Ταρσέα

After His resurrection the Lord will also embrace an arch-enemy who had not only denied a connection of the Son to God the Father, but even worse had persecuted and killed followers of The Way.
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- Saul, Roman Citizen of Tarsus and Leading Jew of the Pharisees 
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And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.

Acts of the Apostles 9:26 NKJV

Παῦλος – Paulos – ἀπόστολος ἐθνῶν
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apostolos ethnos  
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ACTS on Mission

But I say unto you, Love your enemies,

bless them that curse you,

do good to them that hate you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you,

and persecute you..

Gospel of Matthew 5:44 KJV – from Jesus’ sermon on the mount

.. and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen…

‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.’

And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts of the Apostles 7:58-60 excerpt KJV

Next: Introduction to the letters of Peter

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
October 6, 2025
Christ – Light to the People and Ethnos
A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,

And for the glory of Your people Israel.”

Gospel of Luke 2:32 LSB

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 BSB

Paul Convicted by the Light of Christ
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I had thought to skip past this story of Paul's too-familiar retelling of the Apostle's conversion by Christ (since Luke has already repeated it with frequency in Acts). 

But just as Paul now witnesses with intensensity to a new audience, so shall I point to the Light of Christ JESUS that changed his life. 
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Who are you, Lord?

ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ

egō eimi iēsous

Acts of the Apostles 26:

Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.

Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20 RSV

The Apostle witnesses the Gospel in his own defence before Agrippa the King and his Herodian sister, as well as the Roman Governor Porcius Festus for a second time.

šā’ûl apangellō [kept declaring]

the heavenly vision,
- to those at Damascus,
- then at Jerusalem
- and throughout Judea,
- and also to the Gentiles
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

To this day I have had the help that comes from God,

and so I stand here testifying both to small and great,

saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

Acts 26:22 RSV
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Paul then quotes Scripture - the Old Testment Scriptures
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that the Christ must suffer

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10 KJV

the first to rise from the dead,

my flesh also shall rest in hope.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:9b-10 KJV

Light to the People (of God – the Jews)

The Greeks have no Messiah — nor the Romans — nor did the Persians, the Babylonians or the Egyptians.

ONLY the JEWS. — Only the Jews are the PEOPLE of YHWH — the chosen PEOPLE of God.

When Paul points to the ‘people,’ the Apostle means the Jewish people, like Agrippa, Bernice and many other Herodian guests and officials hearing his argument.
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The Christian Standard Version makes this point clearly:
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“that the Messiah [christos] would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead,

he would proclaim light to our people

and to the Gentiles [ethnos].”

Acts 26:23

JESUS is the MESSIAH or Christ of the JEWS!

Yet the Apostle to the ethnos, Saul (from the Hebrew) or Paul makes clear what the risen CHRIST has done ALSO for the gentiles.

and to the Gentiles.”

To THIS the Gentile Governor reacts!
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Now remember that in addition to what the Governor knows from his predecessor Felix, Festus had already heard Paul's witness at length. 
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Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice,

“Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
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Now Paul's appeal is to Herod Agrippa, Bernice and the Jews in his hearing.
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For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things;

for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

Acts 24:26

The Jewish King responds

The Apostle defending the appearance of the risen Messiah of the Jews most certainly turns his own focus to the Herodian king claiming leadership of God’s chosen people.

“King Agrippa,

do you believe the prophets?

I know that you do believe.”
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Again, certainly Paul turns to Herod Agrippa II while the entire room also looks to the Jewish king for his answer. 
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The NIV perhaps catches the tone of Agrippa's meaning more clearly than the NKJV
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Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Acts 26:28 NIV

Herod Agrippa is on the spot. Some of the Jews hearing Paul may be convinced that Jesus appeared to the Apostle. But most of Agrippa’s subjects will not have ears to hear even the Prophets.

The Light of Christ

Why has Luke recorded this third trial of Paul in Caesarea reiterating the Apostle’s same witness of the risen Christ Jesus?

This is Paul’s last appeal to the Jews.

The Apostle witnesses not only his own conversion and the evidence of the risen Messiah Jesus, but supports his new Gospel with the evidence of Scripture.

and God divided the light from the darkness.

the Prophesy of Isaiah [NKJV]
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Prophet to Judah 740-681 BC   
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Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Isaiah 5:20a

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2

“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,

Isaiah 42:6

Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Isaiah 49:6

A light shines in the darkness

And Paul said,
“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts of the Apostles 26:29 NKJV

Agrippa’s hearing of Paul adjourned.

When he had said these things, the king stood up,

as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves saying,

“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus,

“This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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Luke records: 
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And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.

Acts of the Apostles 27:1
July 29, 2025