Acts 26 | Renewed Purpose

Monday: Read Acts 26:1-11
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Here Paul stood in the midst of royalty, leaders, and prominent men of the region. When given the chance to defend himself against the many accusations, he did not waste time proving his innocence or arguing point by point how his accusers were wrong. Instead, he recognized the gravity of the moment and stepped into it as an opportunity to point everyone in that room toward Jesus. He began by honestly reflecting on his life before encountering Christ. Without getting lost in details or glorifying his past failures, Paul simply acknowledged his wrongs and then turned the spotlight to the transforming power of God’s grace in his life.

This moment in Paul’s defense provides a powerful example for believers today. His boldness to share, even in front of people with influence and power, reminds us not to shrink back in fear of titles or status. His willingness to own his mistakes, without shame and without exaggeration, shows us that the true focus of every testimony is not our sin but the Savior who redeems us. Like Paul, we are called to step into opportunities to share honestly, to point others to Jesus, and to let our lives reflect the greatness of God’s grace rather than the weight of our past.

Spiritual Practice: Shaping Your Story for God’s Glory

Paul shows us that a testimony is not about defending ourselves or glorifying our past mistakes, but about pointing people to Jesus. Owning your story with honesty and humility allows others to see the greatness of God’s grace at work. This practice will help you prayerfully shape your testimony so that it becomes a tool for witness, encouragement, and hope.

1. Reflect Honestly – Spend time writing down what your life was like before encountering Jesus. Do not glorify the wrongs, but be honest about the struggles or emptiness you faced.

2. Remember the Turning Point – Identify the moment or season when Christ met you, whether dramatically or gradually, and describe how His grace became real to you.

3. Highlight the Change – Write down specific ways your life has been transformed since following Jesus. Focus on the fruit of His work rather than your efforts.

4. Pray for Courage – Ask God for boldness to share your testimony when opportunities arise. Commit to pointing people not to yourself but to the Savior who redeemed you.

Want to Dig Deeper?
Study: Psalm 71:15–16, John 4:1-42, 1 John 1:2–3

Tuesday: Read Acts 26:12-18
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In Acts 26:16, Jesus speaks to Paul with stunning clarity: “I appeared to you for this purpose.” Those words remind us that the Lord is always intentional in His dealings with His creation. Paul’s encounter was not random, nor was it poorly timed. Jesus could have confronted Paul earlier, before the first martyr fell, or later, once Paul was more open to faith. But the Lord chose this exact moment, on the road to Damascus, with purpose and precision. His timing was perfect, and His plan was unfolding exactly as He willed. The God who calls is never careless or late. His appearing always carries meaning, even when it seems unexpected to us.

This is not only Paul’s story, but ours as well. Jesus still comes to His people with purpose, not merely to stir emotion or to give fleeting comfort, but to draw us deeper into His kingdom work. For Paul, it was a blinding light that stopped him in his tracks. For us, it may be the convicting word of Scripture, the power of a sermon, the whisper of the Spirit in prayer, or the overwhelming sense of His presence in worship. Each encounter is purposeful. Each appearance of Christ in our lives is meant to shape us, redirect us, and equip us to live faithfully for Him. Rather than dismissing those moments as coincidence or mere inspiration, we are called to see them as divine invitations to surrender and to step into the mission of God.

Spiritual Practice: Responding to God’s Purposeful Call

Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus reminds us that every appearance of Jesus, every stirring of the Spirit, and every encounter with His Word is purposeful. Christ meets us not to leave us where we are, but to shape us, redirect us, and invite us deeper into His mission. This practice will help you notice and respond to the purposeful ways Jesus still speaks into your life today.

1. Recall an Encounter – Reflect on a time when God’s presence felt unmistakable, whether through Scripture, prayer, worship, or a sermon. Write it down and thank Him for meeting you.

2. Ask the Purpose Question – Pray and ask, “Lord, why did You reveal this to me? What are You calling me toward?” Listen for His direction.

3. Commit to Obedience – Choose one concrete way to act on what God has shown you, whether in serving, repenting, encouraging someone, or speaking truth.

4. Share the Story – Like Paul, be ready to testify to how Jesus has met you and what He is doing in your life, so others may see His power and grace.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Acts 26:16, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6

Wednesday: Read Acts 25:13-22
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When Paul declared that he had been faithful to the vision from the Lord, he made it clear that his strength to remain faithful did not come from himself. Despite constant setbacks, fierce opposition, and repeated attacks from the Jews, Paul acknowledged that it was God who had helped him stand firm. Looking back through the previous chapters of Acts, Luke recorded eleven distinct moments when Paul received divine help through visions, miracles, protection, and angelic assurance. Alongside these, there were at least fourteen occasions when God used other people to shelter him, pray for him, provide hospitality, or speak on his behalf. Paul’s life testifies that the help of God often comes in two ways, through His direct intervention and through the hands of His people.

This truth invites us to reflect on our own lives. How many unseen and unacknowledged ways has God helped us today? How many dangers has He shielded us from without our knowledge, how many times has He strengthened us in weakness, how many moments has He used others to encourage us, comfort us, or push us forward in faith? When we pause to recognize God’s help, both miraculous and ordinary, it stirs our hearts to gratitude and makes us more aware of His presence in daily life. It also reshapes the way we see others. The friends, mentors, coworkers, and family members who encourage us may in fact be the very means by which God is sustaining us in our mission. Like Paul, we can declare with confidence that God has helped us to this very day, and because of that help, we can remain faithful to His calling.

Spiritual Practice: Remembering God’s Help

Paul testified that he had remained faithful because God had helped him “to this very day.” In the same way, we are surrounded daily by God’s unseen help—through His Spirit, His providence, and His people. Taking time to recognize His hand at work nurtures gratitude, builds trust, and deepens our awareness of His presence.

1. Look Back: Take a few minutes to reflect on the past week. Write down one or two ways you can see that God has helped or strengthened you.

2. Name the Helpers: Identify one person God has used to encourage, support, or guide you. Thank God for them by name and, if possible, express your gratitude directly to them.

3. Pray with Gratitude: Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s help, both seen and unseen, acknowledging that He sustains you each day.

4. 1.     Carry it Forward: Ask God to make you attentive to opportunities where you can be His instrument of help to someone else today.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Psalm 121:1–2, Isaiah 41:10, Acts 26:22, Hebrews 13:6

Thursday: Read Acts 26:24-25
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In the middle of his defense, Paul shared how he once stood fiercely against Jesus by persecuting His Church, only to be transformed and called to proclaim the very Gospel he once tried to destroy. He declared that Christ had sent him to open people’s eyes and turn them from darkness to light. At this point, Festus interrupted with a loud voice, insisting that Paul was out of his mind, delirious, irrational, even insane. Luke does not tell us exactly what Festus found so hard to believe. Perhaps it was the bold claim that Jesus had risen from the dead, or perhaps the idea that a man’s life could be so radically changed by Him. Whatever the reason, Paul’s words stretched beyond Festus’s realm of possibility and touched places that may have unsettled his own comfort.

The same is true today. The world still considers Christians to be out of their minds, not only for believing that Jesus rose from the dead, but for living with such deep commitment to Him. Paul reminded the church that the message of the cross would always seem like foolishness to the world, yet God delights to use what seems foolish to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). This is why we can be encouraged. If the world thinks we are crazy for Jesus, we are in good company. And if there is anything worth being considered crazy for, let it be for following the One who gave His life to save ours.

Spiritual Practice: Finding Strength in Silence and Solitude

When Paul was accused of being out of his mind, his confidence came not from winning the approval of the crowd but from being rooted in the presence of Christ. To endure misunderstanding and opposition, believers need time away from the noise of the world to hear the steady voice of God. Silence and solitude create space to rest in His wisdom, to remember His truth, and to be strengthened for bold witness.

1. Withdraw for a While: Set aside 10 to 15 minutes in a quiet space where you will not be distracted. Turn off your phone and remove other interruptions.

2. Sit in God’s Presence: Begin with a short prayer, inviting the Lord to quiet your heart. Then simply sit in silence, letting your mind settle and your heart become aware of His nearness.

3. Listen and Reflect: As you rest in the quiet, reflect on Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 1:27 or Romans 1:16. Ask the Lord to remind you that His wisdom outweighs the world’s opinion.

4. Carry His Peace Forward: End your time by asking God to give you courage to live boldly for Him, even if others misunderstand, and to let the peace you found in solitude guide your words and actions throughout the day.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Psalm 46:10, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Romans 1:16

Friday: Read Acts 26:26-32
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Agrippa admitted that Paul had almost persuaded him to become a Christian. Luke does not record what held him back, though we know Agrippa was familiar with the Jewish Scriptures (Acts 26:26). Perhaps he looked around the room and weighed the cost. Did he glance at Bernice, his companion in an immoral relationship, and realize that following Christ would mean leaving sin behind? Did he fear the opinion of the powerful crowd gathered in the hall? Did he look at Paul in chains and shrink from the thought that faith might lead him down the same path of suffering? Whatever the reason, outside factors and superficial fears kept him from stepping into new life and all that Christ freely offered.

Paul, however, was faithful. He shared his testimony and boldly pointed everyone in that room to Jesus, believing that Christ’s commission to open eyes was for every person, regardless of title, power, or influence. This encourages us to remember that when we share our testimony or proclaim the gospel, not everyone will respond with faith. Some may allow the pull of sin, fear of people, or love of comfort to keep them away from Christ. Yet our responsibility is not to produce the results, but to be faithful witnesses. So, take heart. When you speak for Jesus, you are planting seeds that God can water in His time. And even if some walk away, like Agrippa, others may hear your words and find the courage to step into the light of new life. Be encouraged. Your story, like Paul’s, is a tool God uses to open eyes, soften hearts, and point people to the hope that is only found in Him.

Spiritual Practice: Sharing Your Story with One Person

Paul’s example reminds us that our role is to faithfully tell what Christ has done, whether others accept it or not. Your story of God’s grace is powerful, and someone in your life needs to hear it. This practice will help you prayerfully prepare and take a step of faith to share your testimony with one person this week.

1. Pray for Guidance: Ask God to show you one person who needs encouragement, hope, or truth this week. Write their name down and begin praying for them daily.

2. Prepare Your Story: Take time to reflect on how Jesus has worked in your life. Keep it simple: who you were before Christ, how He met you, and how He is changing you now.

3. Look for the Opportunity: Pay attention to conversations or moments where God opens the door. Be ready to share naturally, not forced, trusting the Spirit to guide your words.

4. Trust God with the Outcome:  After sharing, release the results to God. Whether they respond with interest, resistance, or silence, know that you have planted a seed He can grow.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Study: Mark 5:19, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, 1 Peter 3:15