In the twenty-sixth chapter of the book of Acts, Paul makes his defense before king Agrippa.

“Speak for yourself, Paul,” said king Agrippa.

Paul was hardly the kind of person who needed a special invitation to speak for himself. He was outspoken by nature, and he’d been warming the bench in prison for a long time now, waiting for a chance to make his case to somebody important enough to get something done on his behalf. Governor Felix had kept him in prison for at least two years (Acts 24:27), bringing him out periodically to have a little chat, and make some hints for a bribe, but it never amounted to anything. Then Governor Felix left office, and instead of resolving Paul’s case on his way out, he left Paul in prison during the transition to the next governor, Governor Festus.

Imagine the tiresome paperwork and bureaucratic hassle that must have generated. But now Festus has summoned Paul at last, and not just to speak to Festus, but to make his case in the presence of the great King Agrippa, the king of the Jews. Paul rises to the occasion, and makes his defense. He speaks for himself, and tells the story of his conversion to Christ and his commission to take the gospel to the world. Speaking for himself, he leads us back to the encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
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