Acts 26:24-29
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it ws not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
After Paul has given quite a testimony of what happened to him to change his faith, Festus, the governor, interrupts him; he believes that Paul’s long hours of study on the Scriptures has led him into a manic state. But Paul counters with calm reasoning–everything Paul has said so far can be vetted and researched for its truth, and indeed King Agrippa would know most if not all of the details anyway.
Then Paul asks the king directly (and bravely), “Do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” (Most Jews of the day believed that the Old Testament prophets spoke true when they claimed a coming Messiah–they just didn’t think that Messiah was Jesus.) Now, if Agrippa answers either “Yes” or “No,” he would either be forced to admit Paul was right, or to risk angering the devout Jews of his court by saying he didn’t believe in the prophets. Agrippa chooses to evade the question, answering with some dubiousness, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Paul’s answer is an example to all Christians–he prays for those listening to receive the kind of blessing that he has experienced through Christ.
When we witness to others, it is not about showing that we’re the best Christians ever, or acting like we’re better than everyone else. It’s about sincerely wanting others to experience the fulfillment and spiritual peace of knowing Jesus. Paul’s life had been changed for the better after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and he wanted others’ lives to be changed this wonderfully as well.
As Christians, let’s resolve not only to witness to others about Jesus, but to pray for them to receive the peace we enjoy, too. After all, someone else prayerfully shared the gospel with us once, otherwise we would not be Christians ourselves.