Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
King Agrippa, before whom Paul defends himself in this chapter, was a client king of the Romans and had been brought up at the Emperor Claudius's court. He was Jewish in faith, though, and was more receptive to Paul's testimony than the thoroughly Roman Festus, who thought Paul was mad. While Agrippa was not disposed to conversion (verse 28) he does recognise that Paul's experiences and teaching were entirely within Jewish religious life and scriptural tradition. Pharisees believed in resurrection; so did Paul. The prophets taught that the Messiah would be rejected and killed; Paul said he had been. Calmly but passionately, Paul outlines the logic of faith, and succeeds in convincing them, at least, that he isn't a criminal. However, he has appealed to Caesar, and the wheels of Roman justice have been set in motion: to Caesar he must go.
Agrippa sees – in a detached, academic sort of way – that Paul has a point. But Paul has been seized by a great truth. He has seen a vision, and met Jesus for himself – and as he tells the king, 'I did not disobey the vision I had from heaven' (verse 19).
Not all of us have visions like Paul's on the road to Damascus. For most of us, most of the time, faith might be in a lower key: Christianity makes sense, and Jesus is real. But we're still called to commitment: not just to analyse Christ, like Agrippa, but to follow him, like Paul.
God, let me be obedient to the vision you have given me. May Christ be all in all to me.
This reflection was written by Mark Woods, Bible Society's Editor
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