part0033

Being stubborn and determined can be good qualities when people are trying to accomplish important tasks. For example, the Apostle Paul was trying to carry out the Great Commission, given in Matthew 28:19-20, by taking the Gospel of Christ to all nations. He determined himself to not be stopped, and even though he endured much persecution for the cause of Christ, he was still very successful. Many people became Christians, and many churches were born because of his efforts. At other times, however, being too stubborn or being too determined can be bad character traits. When a person is determined to do some bad action or to not do some good action and is too stubborn to be deterred, then his or her attitude becomes detrimental.

An example of the latter case was seen in the life of King Herod Agrippa II. He was the great grandson of Herod the Great, who in Matthew 2:16 had tried to kill the baby, Jesus. He was the grandson of Herod Antipas, who in Luke 23:7-11 had ruled when Jesus was tried. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I, who in Acts 12:1-2 executed the Apostle James for the crime of being a Christian. When Paul had preached about Jesus in Jerusalem, he was arrested, and he had to present his case to Herod Agrippa II. Based on the history of Herod's family, one can see that Paul was standing before a very dangerous man that would kill him in a moment without either concern or hesitation.

So, in Acts 26:1-32, a stubborn, determined Paul told his story to a stubborn, determined king. He knew that his life was on the line, but he did not hesitate to tell the truth about his conversion to a king whose family had had a history of ruling against God. On that fateful day, Paul was not executed, but the stubborn, determined king did not accept Jesus as his personal Savior, either. On a day that really mattered, King Agrippa II would not be persuaded.