Be Like Me
Acts 26:18, 28-29 NKJ
to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Well, that title is clickbait without trying to be clickbait. ‘Be like me’ is not talking about me, but about Paul’s response to King Agrippa.
Paul was presenting his defense in front of Agrippa and Festus. In verse eighteen, he shares what Jesus spoke to him in the Damascus Road experience. This is the overarching purpose of the gospel. “To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” I have often used this verse as a text for one of my roles as a pastor. This is why we preach the gospel.
As Paul continued his defense, Festus jumped in when Paul mentioned Jesus being risen from the dead. Rising from the dead seems to be the point where people jump in or out on the gospel story. Festus thought Paul had lost his mind because of all of his learning. Paul responded with grace to Festus but countered the accusation with politely disagreeing with Festus and then turning to King Agrippa and asking him if he believed the prophets. King Agrippa’s next statement is a bit sad when he tells Paul that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. Almost is not there. Almost will not work when you stand before God on the day of judgment. Hopefully, King Agrippa made an adjustment later in life, and again, only heaven will reveal the rest of the story.
I love the boldness of Paul’s response. Paul, the prisoner, looked a king in the eye and said that his desire was for the king and everyone hearing him speak to be like Paul. Paul knew the value of the spiritual rebirth. He knew the value of eternal life. Even though King Agrippa was powerful and wealthy, it was not enough. Paul knew that what really mattered was that the king receive the salvation, that was only through the risen Jesus. Paul wanted everyone hearing him to be like him - saved. The only thing Paul would not wish upon anyone was the imprisonment.
Application
Paul believed in the gospel. He believed that his mandate from Jesus was to reach lost people and turn them from darkness to light. I pray that we all can become so convinced in the power of the gospel that we can look at powerful people above our station in life and want them to be like us. Be like me is our cry to the lost.
Prayer
Lord, grant me the boldness to want everyone to be like me when it comes to salvation. For when all is said and done, what we have on earth will not matter in the next life.