Paul, ever the evangelist, turns the tables on Aggripa. He challenges Aggripa with the evidence and then demands a verdict from the heart of Aggripa: "Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe."

The Christian Gospel is not a philosophical idea to be considered; it is a message that must be embraced. Paul is asking Aggripa, in the presence of the Jews and his pagan court, to acknowledge Christ publicly. If Aggripa says, "No, I don't believe the Scriptures" he risks insulting the Jewish leaders who were in the audience. If he says, "Yes, that's right, I've seen those prophesies in the Scriptures," he risks proving Paul's point and being associated with the despised "sect" called Christians.

What is his response? The NKJV says, "You almost persuaded me to become a Christian." The NIV reads, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

While some have seen his remark as sarcasm, Simon Kistemaker of Reformed Seminary says that "Aggripa resorts to a delaying tactic ... [and] does not want to be identified as a Christian."1

Moreover, there is a "time element" in Aggripa's response, as if he is thinking, "It is impossible for me to accept what you are saying in so short a period of time. These things need to be thought out, pondered, considered."

What is he really saying?

Aggripa's Worldview: Anything worth adopting as a worldview -- if it were profound and meaningful -- could never be presented and received as truth in only a few moments (v. 28). Again, that is probably a delaying tactic, a smokescreen, a cover for not having to make a decision about Jesus Christ, but he is saying that a man cannot be persuaded in such a short time to adopt such a radical worldview as Christianity.

Paul will not let up. He responds with a sort of prayer: "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

Reminding Aggripa that his imprisonment was unjust, he nevertheless tells him that he wished he would yield to Christ and follow Him and that all others would as well. So Paul is admitting his worldview.

Paul's Response: With God anything is possible (v. 29). In this response, we see Paul's heart. He preaches, he argues, he is called mad, and his Gospel is spurned. So what does he do? He prays. He offers Christ yet again. The force of this Scripture calls us to make some considerations. As Christians how do we respond to worldviews in collision?

II. The Christian's Response to the Difference in Worldviews

We Present A Simple Gospel. While we respect other's and can't force ideas on anyone, we must faithfully preach the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ as the historical answer to man's sin. Charles Hodge of old Princeton told his preacher-boys in the 19th century, at the height of debate between the anti-supernatural views and the higher critical views coming from the German theological schools, "We teach nothing new here."