And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
The words belong to Paul's defense speech before Agrippa, part of his testimony carried before kings, governors, and rulers. He stood judged for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers of Israel. That hope was the promised Messiah foretold by Moses and the prophets, whom he identified as Jesus.
His trials gave him opportunity to testify about Jesus and his own conversion, and his testimony brought conviction, with some listeners believing while others delayed and lost their opportunity to respond. In this way the gospel for which he was imprisoned was brought before princes and nobles, just as the gospel was proclaimed before rulers in the imperial palace. His imprisonment and trial brought the message he proclaimed before rulers, just as the later Protestant confession was proclaimed before the princes of the empire. His speech before Agrippa shows that a Christian facing rulers can speak with courtesy and persuasive eloquence.
The words belong to Paul's defense speech before Agrippa, part of his testimony carried before kings, governors, and rulers. He stood judged for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers of Israel. That hope was the promised Messiah foretold by Moses and the prophets, whom he identified as Jesus.
His trials gave him opportunity to testify about Jesus and his own conversion, and his testimony brought conviction, with some listeners believing while others delayed and lost their opportunity to respond. In this way the gospel for which he was imprisoned was brought before princes and nobles, just as the gospel was proclaimed before rulers in the imperial palace. His imprisonment and trial brought the message he proclaimed before rulers, just as the later Protestant confession was proclaimed before the princes of the empire. His speech before Agrippa shows that a Christian facing rulers can speak with courtesy and persuasive eloquence.