The Third Telling of Paul’s Conversion (Acts 26)
Messenger dox
Call to worship/Old Testament reading:
pastor bobby owens
Psalms 93
New Testament reading:
pastor michael champoux
Romans 10.5-17
song:
The lord almighty reigns
Historical reading:
pastor zachary mcguire
Apostles Creed
song:
Christ is risen
Confession & Pardon:
dr. brett eckel
song:
Lord I need you
Sermon:
dr. alex logionw
Acts 26
The Third Telling of Paul’s Conversion (Acts 26)
Introduction
George W. Bush is not usually regarded as one of our nation’s smartest Presidents. Whether that is based on his own rhetorical faux pas or his caricature from Saturday Night Live, the 2nd Bush President has more of a reputation of an “aw shucks” buddy you’d like to have a beer with more than an intellectual elite but actually much has been published to the contrary. Bush reportedly has an IQ in the top 5%, and since leaving office stories have proliferated from West Wing assistants and counselors about the intelligence of our 43rd President. One such assistant has gone on record noting that President Bush’s frequent frustration when advisors repeated information. Apparently Bush can consume, process, and retain information after only hearing or reading it once. His assistant remarks at how often Bush would scold anyone repeating information already received, saying things like, “I already know that, we’ve already discussed it, move on to the next thing.”
There is a temptation to approach passages like Acts 26 the same way President Bush responded to repeat information – “I already know this; move on!” Acts 26 is the 3rd telling of Paul’s conversion and it can be tempting to think, “let’s skip over this, we’ve already talked about it, we already know it.” In fact, many preachers who don’t practice expository preaching will skip over pericopes like Acts 26, assuming the 1st sermon on the topic was enough. Is that fair? Are 3 sermons about Paul’s conversion excessive? Do we already know this? Or is there divine intention behind the repetition that fosters the glory of God and the good of his people? I suspect you already know the answer or at the very least you know what I think (I am preaching this sermon, after all), but let’s look at Acts 26 together with the confidence that God speaks through the preaching of his Word and let’s find out what he has to say.
Experience Unique to St. Paul
Scripture reveals elements of Paul’s conversion universal to every Christian, but there are also redemptive-historical distinctions to Paul – aspects of Paul’s story are unique to Paul and are merely descriptive to the rest of the church throughout the ages. We must understand this if we are to practice faithful hermeneutics. By hermeneutics we mean interpreting and understanding Scripture. In order to correctly understand and interpret the Bible we must discern what is descriptive (aspects of the pericope unique to the text or redemptive moment not applicable to all believers) and what is prescriptive (aspects of the pericope applicable to all believers for all time). In the last 150 years there has been a lot of confusion about this hermeneutical key especially with the book of Acts. So let’s 1st ask what was unique to Paul’s experience that is descriptive for us?
First, Paul’s ministry is unique. This was true for St. Paul prior to his conversion. Paul was a Pharisee. In verse 5 Paul says that he lived according to the strictest party of [the Jewish] religion…as a Pharisee and that everyone knew it. Sometimes we might call someone a Pharisee if they’re acting self-righteous, but Paul actually was an historical Pharisee.
But the focus here is on Paul’s post-conversion ministry – Paul was an Apostle. Some pastors today refer to themselves as apostles but they are confused. There are no apostles today and there have not been any for 2 millennia. Apostolic ministry was unique in redemptive history – only those commissioned specifically by the risen Lord Jesus in the 1st century were apostles. In 1st Corinthians 15.8 Paul calls himself the last of the apostles. No one now is an apostle but Paul was.
Not only did Paul have a unique ministry but also he had a unique message. The gospel that Paul preached was not unique to him, but the context in which he and the other apostles preached was. Paul and the other apostles preached at the turning of the ages, the transition between the old covenant and the new. They preached the message that Jesus was the messiah to 2nd temple Judaism and they 1st brought the gospel to the world at large. We preach the same gospel Paul did but Paul preached to a specific audience at a specific time in history.
Paul’s ministry was unique, his message was unique, and so was his martyrdom. Pastor Kevin mentioned last week that church tradition tells us Paul was martyred by Caesar Nero in Rome in the late 60s AD. There have been many other martyrs in church history, even up to our day and age, but the martyrdom of the apostles is unique. All of them were martyred except for John, which Jesus predicted in John 21. The apostles were not only specifically called to be the 1st witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, but they were also called to do so through a death like his own.
We should also note that the manner in which Paul was converted was unique – Paul experienced a radical conversion. Some Christians are guilted into feeling like if they didn’t experience a radical conversion, if you can’t remember the date and time and where you were and all that then your conversion may not be real. That is silly. Some of you have a radical conversion experience – you’re life looks extremely different than it did before conversion but especially for those of us raised in the church and Christian homes, it doesn’t look that way and thank God! Our goal should not be for our children to experience radical conversions but for our kids to grow up knowing nothing other than “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” We understand theologically that there is a point in time when God works regeneration and changes the heart giving each saint the gift of faith, but I have no idea when that happened to me and I thank God for that!
Experience of Every Christian
While key elements of Paul’s conversion, life, and ministry were unique or descriptive, there are also aspects of his conversion that are true for the church universal. None of us are called to be apostles and we may not be martyred but we are all saved by the same gospel. And while every Christian’s conversion is unique, there are core truths universal to all of God’s elect. What do we see here in Acts 26 that applies to all of us? What is not merely descriptive but is prescriptive?
We are Guilty in Sin
The 1st truth is that we are all guilty in sin. In verses 9-11 Paul confesses his sin. Convinced in his opposition to Jesus, Paul locked up many saints in prison, he punished Christians, tried to make them blaspheme, persecuted the church in raging fury, and even cast his vote against them in order that they would be put to death. It seems to me that while there may have been others, Paul is probably thinking specifically of Stephen here. In Acts 8.1 Luke told us that Paul approved of Stephen’s execution, the 1st martyr of the church.
While we may not identify with Paul’s specific sin, we must acknowledge that we too are guilty sinners. Romans 3.10 quotes the Psalms in declaring that there is none righteous, no not one. Romans 3.23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Every week in the confession and pardon we’re reminded if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1st John 1.8). Because our father Adam fell in sin we have all inherited a sin nature and we practice sin – we break God’s law in though, word, and deed, and James 2.10 says that whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. The bad news is that you have broken God’s law, you are guilty and you justly deserve God’s justice and wrath – eternal conscious punishment in a place called hell.
We are Saved by Jesus
That’s the bad news but the good news is that while we were still sinners Christ died for sinners. Paul’s conversion reminds us not only that we’re all guilty in sin but also that all believers are saved by Jesus. Paul tells us for the 3rd time in Acts that he was convinced that he was worshipping God by breathing murder on the church of Jesus but then Jesus stopped him dead in his tracks. Jesus chose Paul; Paul did not choose Jesus. We refer to this doctrine as predestination, or election, or foreknowledge and it is true of every person who has ever believed. No person has ever chosen Jesus of his or her own free will; everyone who has ever believed has done so because Jesus chose us of his own free will.
That begs the question: how do you know if you’ve been chosen, or elected, or predestined? The answer is yes if you have faith in the gospel of Jesus. Well, what is faith? Faith means you know, assent to, and trust the good news of Jesus.
Do you know the good news of Jesus? Paul preached the good news in verse 22 saying, I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles. Do you know this gospel? Do you know that there is 1 true and living God who created you and that you are a sinner who deserves hell? Do you understand that the guilt and shame you feel is because you have sinned against your holy God? Do you know that God sent his Son to be conceived by the Spirit and born of the virgin to live without sin in your place and to die for your sin in your place? Do you now that he resurrected on the 3rd day so that you might be declared righteous, forgiven of your sin, and live forever?
This knowledge is essential for faith, but it is not enough. You must move beyond knowledge to assent. You must acknowledge that it is true. You must confess and not deny this good news.
And while knowledge and assent are nonnegotiable elements of faith, the final and key component of faith is trust. Do you trust in Jesus? Are you resting in Jesus for your righteousness, your forgiveness, and your hope of eternal life? To trust in Jesus means you’re betting everything on him; he’s all you’ve got and he’s all you need. Do you trust?
If God chose you he will give you the gift of faith and if God gives you the gift of faith it will be revealed by your repentance. This is what Paul says in verse 20 – repent, turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with repentance. To repent of your sin means to confess it and turn from it. To confess your sin means to name it as sin – to confess means to acknowledge your guilt, to name your sin as sin. And after you confess your sin you must turn away from it. Turning away from your sin means doing whatever you have to do to change – if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, if your phone causes you to sin, delete the app, if your job causes you to sin, get another job. Repentance is the fruit of faith so ask yourself: do I repent of my sin? Not merely do I feel guilt and shame, but do I confess it and turn from it?
If you repent of your sin it is proof that God has given you the gift of faith and if God has given you the gift of faith it’s because he chose you, he predestined you, he elected you. This is what we mean by grace – if you’re a Christian it’s not because you were smart enough, holy enough, humble enough, raised in church, had Christian parents, walked an isle, prayed a prayer, got baptized, or anything else. If you’re a Christian it’s because Jesus saved you; nothing else. You don’t deserve it even 1%; what you deserve is hell – that’s why it’s grace, unmerited favor.
We Tell Others of Salvation in Jesus
Paul’s conversion reminds us 1st that we are all guilty in sin; 2nd that all of God’s people are saved by Jesus, and finally that we tell others of salvation in Jesus. Paul goes on to say that after Jesus saved him, he went to tell everyone he could the good news of Jesus. In verse 29 Agrippa even asks Paul if Paul is trying to make him a Christian and Paul responds, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” Paul didn’t tell others of the good news of Jesus simply because he was an apostle, all Christians are called to share the good news of Jesus.
We share the good news of Jesus every week here at church through the liturgy, through the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments. We share the good news of Jesus as we catechize and disciple our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We share the good news of Jesus when we honor marriage – getting married and practicing faithfulness in our marriages. We share the good news of Jesus when we tell our non-Christian family, friends, and neighbors the good news that if they place their faith in Jesus he will forgive their sins and give them eternal life..
Sharing the good news of Jesus isn’t always easy, is it? We’re afraid of rejection, or being ostracized, or awkward conversations. Sharing the good news of Jesus isn’t always easy or comfortable because the world hates Jesus and the fear of man over against the fear of God is real. But God allows sharing the gospel to be difficult because he wants us to rely on him. Pray for courage, pray for opportunities, and pray for fruit. And remember that you believed the gospel because someone had the courage and loved you enough to share the good news of Jesus with you.
Conclusion
We close this morning returning to our original question – should we skip over Acts 26 because we already know this, or is there divine intention behind the repetition for the glory of God and the good of his people? What do you think? Do you see the divine intention behind the Bible’s 3-fold repetition of St. Paul’s conversion? Like practicing your golf swing or asking your child a catechism question is there value in hearing and saying certain things over-and-over again?
Paul’s conversion story teaches us of his unique place in redemptive history, especially his unique ministry, message, and martyrdom. But Paul’s conversion also reminds of what all believers’ have in common – we are guilty in our sin, we are saved by Jesus, and we tell others of salvation in Jesus. It is clear that this repetition is for the glory of God and for the good of his people because in the re-telling of Paul’s conversion, just as in the re-telling of your own conversion, we are telling the old, old story – the greatest story ever told; the story for which the world was created. We are telling of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.
Jesus doesn’t audibly speak to us or call us to the ministry of apostleship, but Jesus does come to us, and he does save us from our sin. He gives us a new view of the world and he empowers us to share this good news with others so they can experience the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And Paul’s trial reminds us that it is through the unlawful conviction and execution of Jesus that we find freedom and life. Even though he is innocent and we’re guilty, Jesus was convicted and executed for us. And even though we deserve eternal death, Jesus resurrected for us. May we never get tired of hearing or telling that story!