Agrippa gives Paul permission to speak. Paul addresses him with respectand tells of his blameless life as a Pharisee. - P125
He declares he is on trial becauseof his hope in God‘s promise to his ancestors. He admits he had zealouslyopposed Jesus of Nazareth in the past and even hunted down His followersin foreign cities. - P125
Paul makes it clear in his defense before King Agrippa that he was oncerespected as a devout Pharisee, held in high esteem for his commitment,
zeal, and belief in the resurrection of the dead. - P126
What we are hearingin these verses is Paul‘s self-portrait of Saul,
the deeply devout thoughmisguided Pharisee. - P126
Saul‘s zeal made him blind to God‘s truth. - P126
Paulthe apostle, on the other hand, saw the truth and his resulting zealfor Jesus led him to spread the gospel of life whereas he once breatheddeath against the church. - P126
Zeal without truth ends up going against theGod we profess to serve. - P126
Let us grow in the knowledge of God and letit inform our endeavors for Him. - P126
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