Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Paul, though a prisoner awaiting transport to Rome after appealing to Caesar, set forth the reasons for his faith in Jesus as risen from the dead before King Agrippa II and the leading men of Caesarea. His courteous, Spirit-empowered witness to Christ and to his own change of life fastened conviction upon the king, so that for a moment forgetting rank and surroundings he admitted he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. To be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost, for nearness to the kingdom without whole surrender, self-denial, obedience and reliance on Christ's blood never saves. That loss comes when conviction is put off to a more convenient season until impressions wear away, the heart hardens and the opportunity is gone. Therefore the call is to pass at once from being almost persuaded to fully receiving Christ and obeying God above every consequence, for He will receive all who come and give them power to become sons of God.
Paul Before Agrippa
The saying belongs to Paul's hearing before King Agrippa II after he had appealed to Caesar and while he was awaiting transport to Rome, when he was given opportunity to present the reasons for his faith before the leading men of Caesarea. The dispute at that hearing centered on Jesus, who had died and whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Though a prisoner, he thus brought the message of the gospel before rulers, nobles and powerful listeners, so that Christ was proclaimed in a royal court and palace. There the truth of God was heard by those who might have deemed it unfit for their own servants.
His speech stands as a model of dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence, showing that Christian witness can be both courteous and kind and powerfully persuasive. True courtesy of this kind springs from genuine kindness of heart, not merely from the formal politeness practiced by the world. With clear and courteous words he explained the change in his religious life and exalted Jesus as the world's Redeemer, and his testimony moved even a profligate king. Respectful conduct in this way helps bring the truth before those in power.
That testimony about Jesus and about his own conversion was given by the power of the Holy Spirit, and with such power that conviction that Jesus is the Son of God was fastened upon Agrippa. The same power of the Spirit upheld Paul against the tide of persecution, so that the power of Christ proved sufficient for every necessity. It sustained him even to sealing his testimony with his blood as a rejoicing conqueror.
Agrippa was deeply affected and convicted by the truths he heard about Jesus and the prophets, by Paul's arguments and by his zeal. For a moment he forgot his surroundings and his royal dignity, seeing only the humble prisoner standing before him as God's ambassador. In that moment he involuntarily admitted that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. To this Paul answered with the wish that Agrippa and all who heard him might become fully as he was, except for his chains.
Almost Means Lost
Agrippa was convinced of the right way and came close to accepting the salvation, grace, mercy, pardon and offered mercy through Christ, but he did not accept them. Deeply affected and confronted with the truth, he put aside the offered mercy and refused the cross of the crucified Redeemer. In turning away from the heaven-sent message he illustrates how people may recognize truth yet reject its light when pride, worldly concerns and policy close the heart even while the Spirit is pleading. Rejecting light in this way brings responsibility for the truth received, as Charles V did in refusing the truth presented through Luther.
To be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost. Being near the kingdom without becoming fully Christian does not lead to entrance, and almost will never save anyone. Full Christianity requires wholly surrendering wrong habits, dying to self, overcoming unholy ambition and worldly attractions, and following Christ in self-denial and sacrifice. It belongs to those who believe, obey God's commandments, and rely on the merits of Christ's blood.
Conviction stopped short of commitment when Agrippa and others put off deciding until a more convenient season or some future time. The delay wasted the moment when hearts were open. Neglect hardened the heart, impressions wore away, and the opportunity was lost. If the appeal had been heeded there would have been rejoicing in the heavenly courts.
Being almost persuaded means feeling the weight of evidence while heavenly angels invite acceptance of the whole truth and a firm stand with God's people, yet remaining hesitating, undecided, slow, unbelieving and dallying in yielding to convictions of duty. It means conviction without obedience while waiting until the way clears, leaving a person responsible for his course of action. It means being deeply moved with conviction of sinfulness even to making confessions yet stopping short of decided action. It is to be near to Christ without returning to Him and standing on the Lord's side.
Call to Decide Fully
Agrippa under Paul's eloquence was almost persuaded to be a Christian, and to be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost. If he had listened to Paul's appeals there would have been rejoicing in the heavenly courts, but the decision was put off with the excuse of waiting for a more convenient season. The verse warns not to turn from the gospel message, but to place oneself in the channel of light with not one hour to waste, laying aside love of the world. It calls for preparing for the grand review soon to take place when all must be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary to see if they are complete in Jesus Christ.
The verse calls for going at once from being almost persuaded to fully receiving Christ, for if decided efforts to receive Jesus are not made at once, the conviction will leave. Christ will receive all who come to Him and give them power to become the sons of God. To be almost persuaded is to be deeply moved with conviction of sinfulness and even to make confessions, yet to stop short of decided action, to be near to Christ without returning to Him and standing on the Lord's side. It is conviction without obedience, waiting until the way clears before acting, which leaves a person responsible for his course of action. God's claims are the first consideration and obedience to God is the first duty while leaving all consequences in His hands, taking a position on the truth feeling or no feeling, and hesitating because the strong convictions once felt are not now realized is no reason to delay, for such forcible conviction need not be expected again.
Those who hesitate at the point of deciding whether to give themselves wholly to God, while their decision for time and eternity is being made, need prompt, earnest appeals to help them choose for Him. Earnest, Spirit-filled appeals empowered by the Holy Spirit can deepen the convictions of such souls and help them decide for Christ. When preaching lacks the Holy Spirit's power and makes no direct appeal, conviction may fade and impressions be weakened, so hearers leave less willing and less inclined to serve Christ and put off their decision until the opportunity is lost. Preaching without the Saviour is like Cain's offering.
Those in the half-decided state without full surrender to God are the special object of Satan's working. If God's servant is not wide awake in ceaseless vigilance and earnest prayer, Satan will gain the victory over them. Winning them requires working together with Jesus, beating back the deceiver and placing the tempted one under the canopy of truth. This is done by the simple truth of God spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit and rooted in the heart, which alone sanctifies, pardons, and keeps the soul steadfast from sin to holiness.
Paul, though a prisoner awaiting transport to Rome after appealing to Caesar, set forth the reasons for his faith in Jesus as risen from the dead before King Agrippa II and the leading men of Caesarea. His courteous, Spirit-empowered witness to Christ and to his own change of life fastened conviction upon the king, so that for a moment forgetting rank and surroundings he admitted he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. To be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost, for nearness to the kingdom without whole surrender, self-denial, obedience and reliance on Christ's blood never saves. That loss comes when conviction is put off to a more convenient season until impressions wear away, the heart hardens and the opportunity is gone. Therefore the call is to pass at once from being almost persuaded to fully receiving Christ and obeying God above every consequence, for He will receive all who come and give them power to become sons of God.
Paul Before Agrippa
The saying belongs to Paul's hearing before King Agrippa II after he had appealed to Caesar and while he was awaiting transport to Rome, when he was given opportunity to present the reasons for his faith before the leading men of Caesarea. The dispute at that hearing centered on Jesus, who had died and whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Though a prisoner, he thus brought the message of the gospel before rulers, nobles and powerful listeners, so that Christ was proclaimed in a royal court and palace. There the truth of God was heard by those who might have deemed it unfit for their own servants.
His speech stands as a model of dignified courtesy and persuasive eloquence, showing that Christian witness can be both courteous and kind and powerfully persuasive. True courtesy of this kind springs from genuine kindness of heart, not merely from the formal politeness practiced by the world. With clear and courteous words he explained the change in his religious life and exalted Jesus as the world's Redeemer, and his testimony moved even a profligate king. Respectful conduct in this way helps bring the truth before those in power.
That testimony about Jesus and about his own conversion was given by the power of the Holy Spirit, and with such power that conviction that Jesus is the Son of God was fastened upon Agrippa. The same power of the Spirit upheld Paul against the tide of persecution, so that the power of Christ proved sufficient for every necessity. It sustained him even to sealing his testimony with his blood as a rejoicing conqueror.
Agrippa was deeply affected and convicted by the truths he heard about Jesus and the prophets, by Paul's arguments and by his zeal. For a moment he forgot his surroundings and his royal dignity, seeing only the humble prisoner standing before him as God's ambassador. In that moment he involuntarily admitted that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. To this Paul answered with the wish that Agrippa and all who heard him might become fully as he was, except for his chains.
Almost Means Lost
Agrippa was convinced of the right way and came close to accepting the salvation, grace, mercy, pardon and offered mercy through Christ, but he did not accept them. Deeply affected and confronted with the truth, he put aside the offered mercy and refused the cross of the crucified Redeemer. In turning away from the heaven-sent message he illustrates how people may recognize truth yet reject its light when pride, worldly concerns and policy close the heart even while the Spirit is pleading. Rejecting light in this way brings responsibility for the truth received, as Charles V did in refusing the truth presented through Luther.
To be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost. Being near the kingdom without becoming fully Christian does not lead to entrance, and almost will never save anyone. Full Christianity requires wholly surrendering wrong habits, dying to self, overcoming unholy ambition and worldly attractions, and following Christ in self-denial and sacrifice. It belongs to those who believe, obey God's commandments, and rely on the merits of Christ's blood.
Conviction stopped short of commitment when Agrippa and others put off deciding until a more convenient season or some future time. The delay wasted the moment when hearts were open. Neglect hardened the heart, impressions wore away, and the opportunity was lost. If the appeal had been heeded there would have been rejoicing in the heavenly courts.
Being almost persuaded means feeling the weight of evidence while heavenly angels invite acceptance of the whole truth and a firm stand with God's people, yet remaining hesitating, undecided, slow, unbelieving and dallying in yielding to convictions of duty. It means conviction without obedience while waiting until the way clears, leaving a person responsible for his course of action. It means being deeply moved with conviction of sinfulness even to making confessions yet stopping short of decided action. It is to be near to Christ without returning to Him and standing on the Lord's side.
Call to Decide Fully
Agrippa under Paul's eloquence was almost persuaded to be a Christian, and to be almost but not fully persuaded is to be lost. If he had listened to Paul's appeals there would have been rejoicing in the heavenly courts, but the decision was put off with the excuse of waiting for a more convenient season. The verse warns not to turn from the gospel message, but to place oneself in the channel of light with not one hour to waste, laying aside love of the world. It calls for preparing for the grand review soon to take place when all must be weighed in the balance of the sanctuary to see if they are complete in Jesus Christ.
The verse calls for going at once from being almost persuaded to fully receiving Christ, for if decided efforts to receive Jesus are not made at once, the conviction will leave. Christ will receive all who come to Him and give them power to become the sons of God. To be almost persuaded is to be deeply moved with conviction of sinfulness and even to make confessions, yet to stop short of decided action, to be near to Christ without returning to Him and standing on the Lord's side. It is conviction without obedience, waiting until the way clears before acting, which leaves a person responsible for his course of action. God's claims are the first consideration and obedience to God is the first duty while leaving all consequences in His hands, taking a position on the truth feeling or no feeling, and hesitating because the strong convictions once felt are not now realized is no reason to delay, for such forcible conviction need not be expected again.
Those who hesitate at the point of deciding whether to give themselves wholly to God, while their decision for time and eternity is being made, need prompt, earnest appeals to help them choose for Him. Earnest, Spirit-filled appeals empowered by the Holy Spirit can deepen the convictions of such souls and help them decide for Christ. When preaching lacks the Holy Spirit's power and makes no direct appeal, conviction may fade and impressions be weakened, so hearers leave less willing and less inclined to serve Christ and put off their decision until the opportunity is lost. Preaching without the Saviour is like Cain's offering.
Those in the half-decided state without full surrender to God are the special object of Satan's working. If God's servant is not wide awake in ceaseless vigilance and earnest prayer, Satan will gain the victory over them. Winning them requires working together with Jesus, beating back the deceiver and placing the tempted one under the canopy of truth. This is done by the simple truth of God spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit and rooted in the heart, which alone sanctifies, pardons, and keeps the soul steadfast from sin to holiness.