One Hit Wonder

“One Hit Wonder”

Acts 25:1-Acts 26:23

In 2002, VH1 compiled the greatest one-hit wonders of all time and the number one song was produced in 1992 by Spanish pop artists Los Del Rio. Two years later, VH1 did another documentary, 40 Awesomely Bad No. 1 Songs, and this song also was at the top of the list. Even though the song had one of the longest runs on the Billboard Top 100 charts staying number 1 for 14 weeks, most people only remember one word of the entire song and most people wish they could forget that one word and the dance that came along with it. I am nervous of even saying the word, for my fear of how this one word may not leave your head the rest of the sermon. This one word, may even cause your bodies to have an involuntary reflex which may embarrass you. The greatest one-hit wonder and simultaneously the most awesomely bad no. 1 song of all time, the Macarena, took over the world in 1996. 

Most musical artists do not want to be known for being one-hit wonders, but the Apostle Paul rejoiced in being known for saying the same thing over and over again. Paul stood before the Sanhedrin, the Roman Tribunal, Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa with one message. His one hit message that shared over and over again was that: Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah who died on cross and was raised from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. Paul was known for testifying to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He was fine to stay in prison and share the same message over and over and over again.

Most scholars believe that during the two years Paul was in prison in Caesarea, Luke compiled all his resources for his gospel and the book of Acts. Acts is a sequel to Luke’s gospel and it continued where it left off. After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he was walking on the road to Emmaus with two disciples and as they were confused about the recent events as they were walking away from Jerusalem, Jesus said, Luke 24:25–27,

[25] And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus believed it was obvious that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead, “Why don’t you believe all that the prophets have spoken? Was it not necessary?” And a few verses later Jesus is with his disciples and after eating a broiled fish, he said to them, Luke 24:44–49,

“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 

Luke confirms the main message of the Bible: that the Christ should suffer and rise from the dead and repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed to all the nations. 

Like the Lord Jesus, Paul is preaching the same message as revealed in the Law and the prophets that the Christ must suffer and rise from the dead and repentance for the forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed to all nations. Paul was fine to be a one-hit wonder. Everyone knew he was about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I want to briskly walk through these chapters highlighting Paul’s main message and Lord willing, make some applications at the end we can apply to our lives. 

Paul has already been on trial with Felix. Felix did not repent and believe in Jesus Christ but seeking his own glory and desiring to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison. Porcius Festus succeed him. Acts 25:1–5,

[1] Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. [2] And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, [3] asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. [4] Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. [5] “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.” 

It's been two years and people still want to kill Paul. They are trying to ambush him on his way to Jerusalem, but Festus keeps Paul in Caesarea and invites the Jews again to come there and bring charges against him. Acts 25:6–7,

[6] After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. [7] When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.

Remember Paul’s innocence is an important point for Luke as he is writing, at least in part, to testify before Rome that Christianity is no threat to the empire. Acts 25:8–12,

[8] Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” [9] But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” [10] But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. [11] If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” [12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.” 

Again remember what the Lord Jesus spoke to Paul after he was arrested two years prior, Acts Acts 23:11, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Paul knew where the Lord wanted to take him to Rome so he appealed to Caesar.  

Paul would next be brought before a very familiar family who has long stood against Christians. King Agrippa was

Herod Agrippa II (AD 28–100), also known as Marcus Julius Agrippa. He was the only surviving son of Herod Agrippa I, whose death is recorded in Acts 12:23, and great-grandson of Herod the Great, ruler of the region at Jesus’s birth.

The fact that Festus brings Paul before Agrippa shows that he was at least somewhat suspicious of the charges brought against him. Acts 25:13–22,

[13] Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. [14] And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man left prisoner by Felix, [15] and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. [16] I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. [17] So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. [18] When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. [19] Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. [20] Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. [21] But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” [22] Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.” 

Festus highlights Paul’s main argument in verse 19, “Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” Paul and his one-hit wonder: Jesus Christ raised from the dead. Paul was on trial for the resurrection from the dead. 

Paul would have known who King Agrippa was and who his family was. His grandfather oversaw the execution of Jesus and his father oversaw the execution of James. He would have known the precarious situation he was in for King Agrippa came entourage displaying his power over the imprisoned Paul, Acts 25:23–27,

[23] So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. [24] And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. [25] But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. [26] But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. [27] For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Luke again notes Paul’s innocence that he has done nothing deserving of death and even though he has done nothing wrong, he is still in prison. Verse 27 is interesting because the Jews have indicated serious charges against Paul numerous times already, but Festus does not relate any of those charges. Either he chose not to share them or believed that the charges that were brought were not sufficient according to Roman law as they were mere disputes about Jewish law. 

After the grand entrance of Agrippa and Bernice with the military tribunal and prominent men from the city, Paul begins his defense. Acts 26:1–3,

[1] So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: [2] “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, [3] especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 

Agrippa was known to be very pious in regards to religious matters and an expert in Jewish issues as he was raised to know them. Paul’s introduction will be revisited at his conclusion. Paul is not forsaking Moses and the Law, but is rather holding on to the hope in the promise made by God to the fathers in the Law written by Moses. Acts 26:4–8,

[4] “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. [5] They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. [6] And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, [7] to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! [8] Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 

Paul is accused of the hope of the resurrection. And like the Lord Jesus, he is surprised that they do not believe in resurrection. 

In Mark 12, Jesus is answering a question about marriage when he addresses the resurrection from the dead in the book of Moses, Mark 12:26–27,

[26] And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? [27] He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” 

Jesus believed the hope of resurrection was obvious in Torah. And even before Moses, a contemporary of Abraham, Job wrote in response to his friends, Job 19:25–27,

[25] For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

[26] And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

[27] whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

My heart faints within me! 

The Redeemer, the Messiah, will stand upon the earth and Job believed that even after his skin was destroyed, after he died, he would in his flesh see God. Job, a contemporary of Abraham, believed in a bodily resurrection. There are a number of other places in the Old Testament that speak of the resurrection for remember Jesus said the main message of the Law and the prophets was that the Christ must suffer, die and be raised on the third day. Paul writes elsewhere very emphatically, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4,

[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

He reiterated twice, in accordance with the Scriptures. Which is why he asked the question as he began his defense, “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”

Paul then shares his testimony of how he was an aggressive pursuer of Christians before becoming one. Again, it makes no logical sense, unless he saw the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Acts 26:9–18.

[9] “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. [10] And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. [11] And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

[12] “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. [13] At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. [14] And when we had all fallen to the ground, 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] And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 

Paul adds one sentence here which is new to his conversion, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” A goad was a stick that would prod an animal to go in a particular direction. God was charging Paul not to go against his discipline and direction but to stop persecuting Christians and become one of them. I believe Paul adds this here as an invitation to his hearers to not be like him and fight against God’s clear prodiing to follow him. Paul then shares his glorious commissioning at the end of his conversion,

[16] But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, [17] delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you [18] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 

Jesus suffered and died and rose from the dead to offer forgiveness from sin through faith in him. 

Jesus told this to his disciples at the end of Luke’s gospel and now he is giving the same directives to Paul. Paul finishes his defense by affirming that he is merely being a good Jew who is believing in the hope of the resurrection as what was laid out in the prophets and through Moses. Acts 26:19–23,

[19] “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, [20] but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. [21] For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. [22] To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: [23] that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Paul and his one hit wonder: Since Christ was crucified for our sins and raised from the dead, repent and turn to God. He is saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass. So, why in the world, would the Jews want to be me on trial? I am not saying anything different than what Moses and the prophets have already declared. Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, and if he was the first, there shall be others.

Let me offer several observations and pastoral applications from Paul’s continued and repetitive defense.

The Main message of the Bible is that the Messiah will suffer and be raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus highlighted how the Law and the prophets were all about him. Paul confirmed that same message. I have already made the point, but I believe it bears repeating. Let us never tire of sharing the same message over and over and over again. It is a beautiful, timeless message that underscores the entire Bible. 

The Gospel must be proclaimed for the salvation to both the small and great

Paul says in verse 22, “I stand here testifying both to small and great.” King Agrippa came into the hall with great pomp and he needed the gospel. Slaves and servants attended him and they needed the gospel. Every single person, whether a King or a slave, need the gospel. For there is only one message of salvation. There is only one hope offered in the Old and the New Testament. The Messiah suffered for sins and was raised from the dead so repentance towards God for the forgiveness of sins is offered to all both small and great. 

Friend, regardless of status and situation in life, you need the gospel. The gospel is the great equalizer. All have sins and all can be saved. Yet we can only be saved from the dead through the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is why Paul kept on sharing the same message. We are not saved from another one. There is only one name under heaven in which men can be saved. Friend, if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior do it today. Repent of your sins. Turn to God. He will save you. The offer of forgiveness is made to both small and great, rich and poor, the self-righteous who believe they don’t need salvation, and the self-condemned who believe they are beyond salvation. 

Christianity is different from every other major religion. You are not saved by your works, your wealth, or your cast.You are only saved by Christ. Many want to focus on the exclusivity of Christ and therefore want to reject him. But friend, focus on the inclusivity of Christ. Everyone, small and great, can be saved by Christ. Everyone who turns to God will be saved. He shows no partiality.

Be a one-hit wonder of the resurrection

Our culture wants to celebrate the uniqueness of every person. There are many things that are unique about us, but Christians, the most important thing about us is Christ. We believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. That is the greatest thing about us. I have done a number of funerals in my life when the greatest thing that was celebrated about a person was their love for a sports team or particular hobby. There is nothing wrong with a hobby or a passion for sports, but the most important thing people should know about us as Christians is our hope in the resurrection from the dead. 

Do people see the hope of the resurrection from the dead in our lives? Do people see how we are willing to share our money and possessions with one another because our hope is in heaven? Do people see how we are willing to lay down our desire for pleasure and entertainment because we believe there are pleasures forever more at God’s right hand? Do people see how our hearts faint with us as we long for eternity? 

Do you find yourself wanting other people to view you as unique or special? Do we want other people to view our church as doing something unique and grand? What if we wanted people to view us not for our uniqueness but the uniqueness of our Savior? We do not want to celebrate our uniqueness from other churches. We do not want to be unique. We want to be faithful as we want all churches in our city, state and nation to be faithful. We want to celebrate the uniqueness of Christ and the resurrection he has promised his people. Our gospel is no different than others for there is only one gospel and one hope in the resurrection. 

I love the story of Spurgeon going to preach for his grandfather but the train arrived late and he walked in the door with his grandfather in the pulpit,

He was far on in his sermon when I made my appearance at the door. Looking to me, he said: “You have all come to hear my dear grandson, and therefore I will stop that you may hear him. He may preach the gospel better than I can, but he cannot preach a better gospel. Can you, Charles?”

My answer from the aisle was: “I cannot preach the gospel better; but if I could, it would not be a better gospel.”

So it is, brethren: others may break the bread to more people, but they cannot break better bread than the gospel which you teach, for that is bread from our Saviour’s own hand.

Get to work each one of you with your bread-breaking, for this is Christ’s way of feeding the multitude. Let each one who has himself eaten divide his morsel with another. Today fill someone’s ear with the good news of Jesus and His love. Endeavour this day, each one of you who are Christian people, to communicate to one man, woman, or child, somewhat of the spiritual meat which has made your soul glad. This is my Master’s way.

Put all your hope in the resurrection

Paul knew King Agrippa and his family’s legacy of killing Christians, yet Paul was not afraid to die. He was not afraid because he knew a resurrected awaited. Beloved, I want you to put all your hope in the resurrection from the dead. A few blocks from here Mary Sanford is in the last hours of her life. She is a dear saint with a tender conscience. Over the last couple of days as I have held her hand and stroked her hair, and read and sung her the gospel, my deepest desire for her was that she would fully believe in the resurrection from the dead. I prayed that her heart would not be troubled, but because Jesus has gone to prepare a place for her, she has no need to fear. She is safe in Christ and even though her body will fail, she will experience the resurrection from the dead. 

Friends, my greatest hope for you is that when your strength is failing, and your day comes, you would not fear because you have placed your hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I pray you will go all in for the resurrection like Ms. Mary, whose last words to me yesterday before she drifted to sleep was, “God has been so good to me. I love the Lord. He is faithful.” Beloved, because of the resurrection we have no need to fear in life or death. For He who calls you is faithful. He will keep you in this life and raise you in the life to come.