Read Acts 26:24-32

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.””
—Acts 26:28

The apostle Paul has found himself in what we commonly call a “Divine Appointment.” But this Divine Appointment didn’t come by easily. Paul has been chained and incarcerated as a Roman prisoner for over 2 years awaiting a fair trial before Caesar. What was his crime? Even that was to be determined for no one really knew.

At first glance, it would seem like Paul was loosing precious time while waiting around for the system to process him, but as we all know, Paul used every opportunity to persuade people to believe in Jesus, whether free or in bonds. As Paul said to Pastor Timothy:

“I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.”
(2 Timothy 2:9)

In some cases, Paul was even able to speak with many governing authorities and kings about the Gospel while in chains. The Lord Jesus had already told Paul he would do this from the beginning of his conversion, for Jesus said:

“[Paul] is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel…”
(Acts 9:15–16)

And this is exactly what we see happening here in 26th chapter of Acts. Paul was in chains but was speaking freely about the good news of Jesus to King Agrippa. In fact, we learn that it was by King Agrippa’s own desire that he came to hear Paul (see Acts 25:22).

Could King Agrippa have ever thought he would say openly before the courts and before Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian”?

What a delight that was to Paul’s ears to hear a king come so close to the Kingdom of God. The only thing that would have been better is if King Agrippa had chosen to become a disciple of Christ right then and there.

Paul commands the church in the book of Colossians to make the most of every opportunity.

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
(Colossians 4:5–6)

There’s something truly golden about this principle, and it’s a spiritual discipline we must learn to follow. Too often we find ourselves waiting for the perfect opportunity to share the Lord Jesus rather than making the most of the opportunities we already have before us.

Do you ever see a child waiting to go outside until the sun is perfectly centered, the temperature is perfectly adjusted and the breeze carries just the right coolness to it? Certainly not. Children make the most of the opportunity regardless of the weather. Sunshine or rain or snow or sleet — they’ll go out there and do what they want to do. And they would do it without the proper clothing if we let them! This is the beauty of a child.

If a child can live by this principle day in and day out over the weather, can we not as Christians live by this principle over the souls of those around us? We don’t need wait around. We just need to open our eyes to the opportunities the Lord has put before us right now and make the most of them.

We should always be asking ourselves: “How can this become an opportunity to share the Lord Jesus?”

Sometimes that opportunity will make itself known immediately. At other times it will take time to nurture the opportunity. In Paul’s case, it took over 2 years of being in chains for his opportunity to speak before King Agrippa.

As soon as we’re thinking toward this goal, the the Holy Spirit will open opportunities for you everywhere and give you the wisdom to persuade people to Christ.

Never say, “That person just isn’t interested.” For only the Lord knows the heart. Besides, that is not our concern. We are simply called to carry the message. For how will we know they wont right there give their lives over to Jesus and be saved forever?

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
(2 Corinthians 5:20)