46th Day of Easter, Wednesday May 27: Acts 26:1-32

Paul begins his pitch in a nearly obsequious tone. John the Baptist, recall, just told Herod he shouldn’t be sleeping with Herodias. Paul, faced with a similar case, is surprisingly generous to his judge’s personal morality. Perhaps the church would do well to remember – ‘you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’.

Paul’s speech is a variation on what he said to Felix and to Festus in turn. Enjoy the variations, though. There are really no new sermons, just variations on the basic themes of testimony and good news. This one is pitched to a privileged, non-believer audience – not unlike the audiences most of us face. Paul seems more contentious and provocative within the church than toward the rulers!

Paul concludes with an altar call to Agrippa, inviting him to join the Way. Agrippa declines, and Paul leaves the door open. Agrippa is left without any charges that lead to imprisonment, let alone death – but can’t release Paul, who has demanded his entitlement to appeal to the emperor. How do we leave open invitations, and claim an ongoing hearing, from those beyond our own club?