Paul Tells His Story — A Life Changed by Jesus (Acts 26:1–32)
Have you ever had a moment that completely changed your life? In Acts 26, the Apostle Paul shares the story of how Jesus changed everything for him.
After many unfair trials and years of waiting in prison, Paul finally stands before King Agrippa to defend himself. But instead of just arguing for his freedom, Paul uses the opportunity to tell his testimony—his personal story of how Jesus met him and gave him a new purpose.
Let’s look at what happened.
Paul Is Given Permission to Speak
Standing in front of King Agrippa, his sister Bernice, and the Roman governor Festus, Paul is calm and respectful. He says:
“I’m glad to explain myself to you, King Agrippa, because you understand Jewish customs and beliefs.”
Paul wants everyone to know that he didn’t suddenly start following Jesus out of nowhere—he had been deeply religious his whole life. He was a strict Pharisee and followed every rule in the Jewish law.
Paul Shares His Past
Paul admits that, at one time, he was totally against Jesus and His followers. He had even:
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Arrested Christians,
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Voted to have them put to death,
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Tried to force them to deny their faith,
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Traveled to other cities to hunt them down.
He thought he was doing the right thing—until something incredible happened.
A Bright Light on the Road to Damascus
Paul tells the king about the moment that changed his life forever:
One day, while traveling to the city of Damascus to arrest more Christians, a bright light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say:
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against me.”
Paul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
And the voice replied:
“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.”
Jesus told Paul that He was sending him to the Gentiles (non-Jews) to open their eyes, so they could turn from darkness to light and receive forgiveness.
That moment changed everything for Paul. He obeyed Jesus and spent the rest of his life telling people the good news: that Jesus died, rose again, and offers new life to everyone who believes.
Paul’s Message: Repent and Turn to God
Paul explained that his mission was simple: call people to repent (turn from sin) and turn to God. He told both Jews and Gentiles that Jesus was the promised Savior. This is why the Jewish leaders were angry with him.
But Paul said clearly: “I have only been saying what the prophets and Moses said would happen—that the Messiah would suffer, rise from the dead, and bring light to Jews and Gentiles.”
Reactions to Paul’s Story
As Paul passionately shares his message, Festus interrupts, saying:
“Paul, you’re out of your mind! All your learning has made you crazy!”
But Paul calmly replies, “I’m not crazy. What I’m saying is true and reasonable. The king knows about these things.”
Then Paul looks directly at King Agrippa and asks:
“Do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
Agrippa responds, almost jokingly:
“Do you think you can convince me to become a Christian so quickly?”
Paul answers with love and boldness:
“Whether quickly or not, I pray that you and everyone listening to me today would become like me—except for these chains.”
The Verdict: Not Guilty
After the meeting, Agrippa and Festus speak privately. They agree that Paul has done nothing wrong and could have been set free—if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.
But Paul wasn’t afraid. His goal wasn’t just freedom—it was faithfulness. He was going to Rome to share Jesus with even more people.
What We Can Learn from Acts 26
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Your story matters
Paul didn’t give a speech filled with facts and arguments. He told his personal story—how Jesus changed his life. Your story can make a difference too. -
Jesus can change anyone
Paul went from hunting Christians to becoming one of their boldest leaders. No one is too far from God’s grace. -
Be bold, but kind
Paul spoke the truth clearly and confidently, but always with respect and love—even to the people holding him prisoner. -
Following Jesus is worth it
Even though Paul was in chains, he had peace, purpose, and joy. He didn’t focus on his suffering—he focused on the hope he had in Jesus.
Final Thought:
Paul stood in front of powerful people and didn’t defend his reputation—he shared his faith. His story was simple: Jesus found me, changed me, and gave me a mission.
What’s your story?
If Jesus has changed your life, don’t be afraid to share it. Your words may be the very thing that opens someone’s heart to the truth.
Acts 26:1-32 (WEB)
26:1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.”Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense. 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.4 “Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa! 8 Why is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead?9 “I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. 11 Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.12 “Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’“He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17 delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 23 how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”24 As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”25 But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness. 26 For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”28 Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”29 Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”30 The king rose up with the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them. 31 When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”