By Tim Seevers

Testifying in a court of law can be a nerve-racking experience. Testifying on your own behalf can be life altering. Yet, that’s exactly where Paul found himself. It wasn’t before a judge, but before a king, a governor, and other dignitaries. It wasn’t so much a trial as it was entertainment.

We should never waver when it comes to sharing the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation (see Romans 1:16). If we are convinced the gospel has the power to change lives, and it does, we should never be ashamed to stand before anyone and give our testimony concerning the power of God’s good news.

Who Is Crazy?

After Paul proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Festus had enough. He interrupted Paul’s testimony and declared, “You are out of your mind, Paul! . . . Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:24).

In the movie Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, Jones was stuck in a deep bunker during the British Open. He had taken three shots trying to get out of the bunker when his caddie said to him, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If that’s the case, then Paul wasn’t insane. He kept preaching the gospel but he always expected the same result. He expected lives to be changed. Contrary to what Festus said, Paul was the sanest man in the room. He even expected to convert Agrippa.

Almost Persuaded

Agrippa was like a lot of people we know. He was on the verge of becoming a Christian, but for some reason he held out. He was close, but close doesn’t get it.

The Bible is filled with people who were almost where they needed to be in their relationship with Christ. Agrippa is just one of them. He was almost there but he was still lost. Whether it is in accepting Christ or sharing the gospel as Paul did, don’t let the opportunity pass you by.

Tim Seevers is the senior minister of the Sherman Church of Christ in Dry Ridge, Kentucky. He and his wife, Peggy, have three adult children and six grandchildren.