Below is a sermon outline from our ‘Walking it Out’ Series where we aim to learn how Paul & the early church lived out their faith with their boots on, step by step & day by day. This sermon was preached on 9/14/25 and starts in Acts Chapter 26.
Refuge Church Byhalia exists to share the hope of Jesus, grow together, & love our neighbors in Byhalia, Barton, Marshall County, Lewisburg, & surrounding areas.
Main Points
- Christ’s suffering fulfills what the Old Testament prophesied, a path to fix our relationship with God that was broken by our sin.
- With a stroke of communication genius, Paul knows that King Agrippa knows & believes in the Jewish prophets, and relatably turns that into a Gospel Opportunity.
- Paul again demonstrates he has no ill will toward the Roman or Jewish leaders. He knows, as he later penned in Romans ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.’
- Paul’s burning passion & desire, was for people to come and know Jesus as the long promised Messiah, Lord, & Savior.
- Here I am, It’s Gospel Time.
Intro
- Good Morning & welcome to Refuge Church Byhalia
- We are so glad you all are here
- It’s a beautiful day in the house of the Lord!!
- People have been prayed for
- we have sung about our amazing God
- We’ve sung the Gospel and remembered Christ’s atoning sacrifice through communion!
- Just a marvelous day.
- So we can, regardless of how the Holy Spirit works over the next few minutes
- Leave fed and ready for our work to go wherever God takes us and love neighbors and share the hope of Jesus
- For those newer, my name is Michael & i serve as the Planting Pastor here at Refuge Church Byhalia
- And a journey I’ve been going on in life recently is walking through my first car accident
- Very minor
- But it’s been a journey
- Back in May I started a new position with my full time job
- Which means I’ve got to drive around some in a company truck
- And in late July while inching forward at an intersection, I checked to my right to ensure traffic wasn’t going to run the red light and tbone me.
- Only for the traffic 3 cars in front of me to unexpectedly stop short and I was the vehicle that didn’t quite stop.
- But I wasn’t going fast at all
- But unfortunately for me, the guy in front of me, had a hitch, that found its way through some plastic, and then my bumper fell down, and grabbed that hitch.
- And as he pulled away, he nearly ripped my bumper off.
- Not even 3 months into having a work truck, i broke it.
- So I Walked through the chaos of insurance
- Finally booked an appointment to fix my truck. And dropped it off over 3 weeks ago.
- But there were no rental cars available for me when I needed one, I had to wait a few days.
- Only for the rental company to say – all we’ve got is this here minivan.
- Which as I mentioned recently, fine for my wife. But not something I’m going to get excited about.
- But I took it – and used it for work.
- And then was hilariously belittled by some rough and tough lumberjacks in South Mississippi as I made a sales pitch after walking out of my minivan and approached them with a foot perched on their ¾ ton lifted monster trucks.
- At this point I’m like, I cannot wait for my truck to be fixed.
- It’s just a bumper, surely this will happen soon and not be hard to happen.
- But you know, we see in scripture that God is at work in and through all things
- And we can know He isn’t surprised in our situations
- Even my truck repair
- Which keeps taking longer and longer
- And i mean keeps taking longer
- Because I still don’t have my truck back.
- Now my wife’s van – we paid a couple grand for back in 2019 and its been a great van.
- But it’s had an intermittent transmission issue for a few years now
- Basically every few months it will forget that it has anything beyond 1st & 2nd gear.
- Well in the last 10 days, its decided to have this issue every time Melanie drives somewhere
- And today, we are supposed to leave for a family vacation.
- And we are sitting here, wondering how to make the drive with our sometimes limping van
- How are we going to work with the hand that we are dealt in this moment??
- And we realize – my rental car while my truck is in the shop – and delayed
- Is a minivan – that can seat all 6 of us
- and carry all of our luggage – somehow – man it takes a lot to keep 6 people clothed & entertained for a week…. But thats another illustration for another day.
- So in the middle of me being frustrated and annoyed with my work truck repair and minivan situation
- God – because he is sovereign and in control of all things.
- Had a plan – for us to on our vacation – utilize a much newer & much more reliable – rental van.
- How about that?!
- Well today, as we dive back into Acts – we are once again going to see Paul in the middle of an unfair trial
- That is no surprise for God
- God is working and planning and controlling every move
- The Bible says the die is cast but it’s every turn is of the Lord
- So what does Paul do
- With the hand he is dealt?
- Open your Bibles to Acts 26:22 on page ________ and let’s find out.
- Blue Bibles Plug
- Today’s Sermon title ‘The Bold Wish of a Bound Man.’
- Let’s read
Acts 26:22-32
‘22 eTo this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so fI stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what gthe prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 hthat the Christ imust suffer and that, jby being the first kto rise from the dead, lhe would proclaim mlight both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, nyou are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, omost excellent Festus, but I am speaking ptrue and qrational words. 26 For rthe king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be sa Christian?”2 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day tmight become such as I am—except for uthese chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and vthe governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, w“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, x“This man could have been set yfree if he had not appealed zto Caesar.”’
Let’s Pray.
- Well how about that
- We see Paul
- Once again
- Sharing the hope of Jesus
- Skillfully and relatably.
- Here’s where we start.
- Christ’s suffering fulfills what the Old Testament prophesied, a path to fix our relationship with God that was broken by our sin.
- Paul again – isn’t missing a chance to declare
- Jesus Christ
- Whom everyone there had much knowledge about
- Must suffer – must pay the price for sin
- Must bear the wrath of God
- And then conquer sin & death
- And be the first to rise from the dead.
- John Owen helps explain what Christ did through His suffering, with this comment, ‘The full and due debt of all those for whom Jesus Christ was responsible was fully paid in to God, according to the utmost extent of the obligation.’ -John Owen
- Paul knows this
- Personally
- As he said in the verses above
- He wanted to destroy the church
- And then Jesus showed up
- And changed everything
- He was the chief of sinners
- And now He was being used, faithfully
- However God wanted Him to be used.
- Warren Wiersbe says:
- He simply shared with others what he had learned and experienced as a follower of Jesus Christ. -Warren Wiersbe
- Now Paul – knowing that much of the Jewish Audience along with King Agrippa
- With a stroke of communication genius, Paul knows that King Agrippa knows & believes in the Jewish prophets, and relatably turns that into a Gospel Opportunity.
- He says – Jesus did what all the prophets said the messiah would do
- You do believe the prophets don’t you!?
- And we have to take a sidestep here and remember
- The early church didn’t have the New Testament
- They had the old testament to affirm their beliefs, strengthen their souls, & prepare them to go about their weeks.
- I say all the time
- Jesus is the long promised Messiah
- And what I mean by that
- Is that the one who would fix the broken relationship between God & man
- Was the head crusher that was promised to come from Eve’s offspring
- The old testament
- Written before jesus’ life – prophesies – that one would come and defeat sin and death.
- And Paul knows that these people know that a Messiah was prophesied.
- I’m sure he’s recalling passages like: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Page ___
- Let’s read that now.
‘13 Behold, bmy servant shall act wisely;1 he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— chis appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so dshall he sprinkle2 many nations. eKings shall shut their mouths because of him, ffor that which has not been told them they see and that which they have not heard they understand. 1 gWho has believed what he has heard from us?3 And to whom has hthe arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, iand like a root out of dry ground; jhe had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 kHe was despised and rejected4 by men, a man of sorrows5 and acquainted with6 grief;7 and as one from whom men hide their faces8 he was despised, and lwe esteemed him not. 4 mSurely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, nsmitten by God, and afflicted. 5 oBut he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, pand with his wounds we are healed. 6 qAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; rand the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, syet he opened not his mouth; tlike a ulamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, vwho considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked wand with a rich man in his death, although9 xhe had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet yit was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief;10 zwhen his soul makes11 an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; athe will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see12 and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall bthe righteous one, my servant, cmake many to be accounted righteous, dand he shall bear their iniquities. 12 eTherefore I will divide him a portion with the many,13 fand he shall divide the spoil with the strong,14 because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; gyet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.’
- What a beautiful passage
- My goodness
- Our Jesus is amazing.
- And Paul knew it
- And Paul knew that this passage from the prophet Isaiah – was all about Jesus
- And he knew that many if not all int he room
- Knew of that passage.
- And were looking forward to – Messiah coming
- NOw to be honest
- I find it amazing that Paul wanted to communicate the hope of Jesus
- Like
- You keep beating me up
- You keep imprisoning me
- You keep bringing me to trial and unfairly never let me go despite my obvious innocence
- I’m gonna start getting ticked off
- I’m gonna start fighting back.
- And yet Paul
- In the middle of this
- Remembers Vengeance is the Lord’s.
- Paul again demonstrates he has no ill will toward the Roman or Jewish leaders. He knows, as he later penned in Romans ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.’
- How often do we keep loving neighbors and sharing the hope of Jesus at the forefront of our actions
- Even when we are annoyed, bothered, or sinned against.
- Paul in these accounts
- Keeps the mission of God at the top.
- I, am nto good at that.
- John Gill says
- “Vengeance belongs to God, and to him only; it is proper and peculiar to him … and who therefore should never once think of avenging themselves, but leave it with their God, to whom it belongs.”. -John Gill
- When we are sinned against
- When we are annoyed
- When we are nagged
- Loving Neighors
- Stays a priority
- Sharing the hope of Jesus
- Is our aim
- It was Paul’s
- Paul’s burning passion & desire, was for people to come and know Jesus as the long promised Messiah, Lord, & Savior.
- Is that true for us Refuge Church Family?
- We have found peace in and through Christ
- We have found our relationship with God restored.
- Repaired
- And we should Rejoice
- And go therefore
- And share that same peace offering.
- BB Warfield says
- “Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, because He takes away sin; and you and I are workers for peace when we preach His Gospel, which is the Gospel of peace.’ – B.B. Warfield
- Do you work for peace
- At home
- At work
- At school
- With your spouse
- With your parents
- With your kids
- With your coworkers
- With your boss
- Wehther they are awesome or not
- We should pursue peace
- And to share Christ
- THat is – if we enjoy Jesus
- Paul loved Jesus
- Paul knew his hope was in Christ & in Christ alone
- Nothign else was satisfying or desirable in comparison to Christ
- And this reality – played out in actions
- “The soul which has in it heavenly affections will have fervent desires and prayers for the salvation of others.” -John Owen
- Oh may we Refuge Church Byhalia
- Find ways to turn every hand we are dealt
- For the Gospel.
- As we near the end of Acts
- My hope is we’ve seen and learned many things.
- Today
- Christ’s suffering fulfills what the Old Testament prophesied, a path to fix our relationship with God that was broken by our sin.
- With a stroke of communication genius, Paul knows that King Agrippa knows & believes in the Jewish prophets, and relatably turns that into a Gospel Opportunity.
- Paul again demonstrates he has no ill will toward the Roman or Jewish leaders. He knows, as he later penned in Romans ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.’
- Paul’s burning passion & desire, was for people to come and know Jesus as the long promised Messiah, Lord, & Savior.
- Here I am, It’s Gospel Time.
- Now the hand I’m dealt today –
- Is to be the guy leaning into the HOly Spirit
- And be a voicebox for the things of GOd & HIs Kingdom.
- So here I am Lord
- Use me
- GOSPEL TIME
- Let’s Pray!
Warren Wiersbe
- The fact that Paul continued was proof of his conversion and evidence of the faithfulness of God.
- He simply shared with others what he had learned and experienced as a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Acts 26:23 is a summary of th eGospel and each part can be backed up from the Old Testament.
- Isaiah 52:13-53:12
- 13 Behold, bmy servant shall act wisely;1 he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— chis appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so dshall he sprinkle2 many nations. eKings shall shut their mouths because of him, ffor that which has not been told them they see and that which they have not heard they understand. 1 gWho has believed what he has heard from us?3 And to whom has hthe arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, iand like a root out of dry ground; jhe had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 kHe was despised and rejected4 by men, a man of sorrows5 and acquainted with6 grief;7 and as one from whom men hide their faces8 he was despised, and lwe esteemed him not. 4 mSurely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, nsmitten by God, and afflicted. 5 oBut he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, pand with his wounds we are healed. 6 qAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; rand the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, syet he opened not his mouth; tlike a ulamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, vwho considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked wand with a rich man in his death, although9 xhe had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet yit was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief;10 zwhen his soul makes11 an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; athe will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see12 and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall bthe righteous one, my servant, cmake many to be accounted righteous, dand he shall bear their iniquities. 12 eTherefore I will divide him a portion with the many,13 fand he shall divide the spoil with the strong,14 because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; gyet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.’
- Psalm 16:8-11 ‘8 tI have uset the Lord always before me; because he is at my vright hand, I shall not be wshaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my xwhole being1 rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to ySheol, zor let your aholy one see bcorruption.2 11 You make known to me cthe path of life; in your presence there is dfullness of joy; at your right hand are epleasures forevermore.’
- Isaiah 49:6 ‘6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; tI will make you uas a light for the nations, that vmy salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”’
- Isaiah 52:13-53:12
- Paul had been called crazy, and he was only following the footsteps of his Master.
- He reminded Festus that the facts about the ministry of Jesus Christ, including His death and resurrection were public knowledge and not done in a corner.
- No, the governor was only giving evidence of conviction in his heart. Paul’s words had found their mark, and Festus was trying to escape.
- Agrippa knew that if he affirmed his faith in the prophets, he must then face the question, “Is Jesus of Nazareth the one about whom the prophets wrote?”
- King Agrippa eluded Paul’s question by adopting a superior attitude and belittling Paul’s witness.
- Festus and Agrippa knew that their prisoner had a compassionate concern for them, and they could not easily escape his challenge.
- Luke continues to accumulate these official statements so that hsi readers will understand that Paul was an innocent man.
- Acts 16:35-40
- 18:12-17
- 23:29
- 25:25
- They had been shown the light and the way to freedom, but they had deliberately closed their eyes and returned to their sins.
Acts 26:22-32 Quotes
- John Gill “This prayer of the apostle’s shows his affection for the souls of men, and his great desire for their conversion … that all that were present … were … entirely, in the highest and fullest sense, Christians, as he was … regenerate by the Spirit of God, new creatures in Christ … believers in Christ … children of God, and heirs of eternal life.”
- John Calvin “Such a violent change … being moved with no occasion, neither persuaded by mortal man, he changeth his mind, it appeareth that he was tamed and brought under by the hand of God.”
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown “To open their eyes; the eyes of their minds, that they might know God, and their duty towards him … Our Saviour assures Paul, that he should do that for the souls of men which he should find effected in his own body … but those which are sanctified … by faith in Me.”
Main Point Notes
- Christ’s suffering fulfills what the Old Testament prophesied, a path to fix our relationship with God that was broken by our sin.
- Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) “He meant, first of all, that all the types, promises, and prophecies were now fully accomplished in him…” — “It is Finished!”.
- John Calvin (1509–1564) “Christ fulfilled the office of Redeemer in each of its parts.” — Institutes of the Christian Religion.
- John Owen (1616–1683) “The full and due debt of all those for whom Jesus Christ was responsible was fully paid in to God, according to the utmost extent of the obligation.” — The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
- Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) “There is in faith not only a belief of what the gospel declares, that Christ has satisfied for our sins, and merited eternal life; but there is also a sense of it; a sense that Christ’s sufferings do satisfy, and that he did merit, or was worthy that we should be accepted for his sake.” — Works / Religious writings.
- Matthew Henry (1662–1714) “He was wounded for our transgressions, to make atonement for them and to purchase for us the pardon of them.” — Commentary on Isaiah 53.
- J. C. Ryle (1816–1900) “But above all let us prize Him as our Sacrifice, and rest our whole weight on His death as atonement for sin.” — Expository writings / sermons.
- R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) “The higher purpose of the cross was that the Father would be glorified by the satisfaction of His justice.” — on the atonement / Ligonier resources.
- Westminster Confession of Faith (1646, Reformed standard) “Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction of His Father’s justice in their behalf.” — Westminster Confession (Chapter XI: Of Justification).
- B. B. Warfield (1851–1921) “Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, because He takes away sin; and you and I are workers for peace when we preach His Gospel, which is the Gospel of peace.’ just because it is the Gospel of deliverance from sin.” — Faith & Life / assorted writings.
- Paul again demonstrates he has no ill will toward the Roman or Jewish leaders. ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.’
- John Calvin (1509–1564) — on Romans 12:19: “The precept; then is, — that we are not to revenge nor seek to revenge injuries done to us. … Hence, as it is not lawful to usurp the office of God, it is not lawful to revenge; for we thus anticipate the judgment of God, who will have this office reserved for himself.”.
- John Gill (1697–1771) — on Romans 12:19: “Vengeance belongs to God, and to him only; it is proper and peculiar to him … and who therefore should never once think of avenging themselves, but leave it with their God, to whom it belongs.”.
- Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) — sermon comment on Romans 12:19: “Do not avenge yourselves, but make room for the wrath of God… The emphasis there is upon the word ‘mine.’ So the apostle brings in his quotation, as was his custom, to substantiate an argument.”.
- Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) — reflecting on Acts 26 (Agrippa & Paul): “Then Agrippa said, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’ … NOTWITHSTANDING his bonds, Paul is to be envied that he had an opportunity of addressing himself to kings and rulers.”.
- John Gill (1697–1771) — on Acts 26:29 (Paul’s words to Agrippa): “This prayer of the apostle’s shows his affection for the souls of men, and his great desire for their conversion … that all that were present … were … entirely, in the highest and fullest sense, Christians.”.
- R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) — (summary teaching on Romans 12:19 from Ligonier resources): “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ saith the Lord” — the certainty that God will take up the cause of justice frees us from nursing resentment and usurping God’s office.”.
- John Calvin (1509–1564) — (on living peaceably; related to Paul’s posture): “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”.
- Charles H. Spurgeon — (on Paul’s persuasive, non-vengeful testimony before rulers): “Paul, who persecuted Christ, was forgiven. He says he was the very chief of sinners, but he obtained mercy. So shall you.” (used by Spurgeon when urging mercy, clemency and gospel appeal even to rulers).
- Paul’s burning passion & desire, was for people to come and know Jesus as the long promised Messiah, Lord, & Savior.
- Matthew Henry (1662–1714) “It was not only his heart’s desire, but it was his prayer.”
- Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) “I can deeply sympathize with Paul when he said, ‘My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.’”
- John Gill (1697–1771) “The apostle… expresses his trouble and sorrow on their account; so now his great love and affection to them… which obliged him to a concern for their good and welfare.”
- Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
- J. C. Ryle (1816–1900) “That is the language of one who longed with all his heart for the spiritual good of his kinsmen after the flesh.”
- John Owen (1616–1683) “The soul which has in it heavenly affections will have fervent desires and prayers for the salvation of others.”
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981) “Paul’s longing for the conversion of his people is not timid sentiment; it is the burning, agonizing prayer of an apostle.”