Almost, but not quite

I heard a preacher last night tell of his trip through Israel. As we listened, we walked with him across terrain where Jesus is acknowledged by all to have walked. The soil, the rocks he walked upon are scattered, most likely buried, across the land that has seen thousands of years of rolling progress. Specifics are gone, commercialization abounds, and has done so for those same years.

Yet, the words echo and remain the same.

Though billions of people today deny Christ's words claiming to be the Son of God, the Messiah promised to Abraham and his descendants over and over again, none deny that He lived and that other of His words are given as examples.

I do not understand how one can accept what is written of Him in later centuries yet deny the words written by His disciples. What vast conspiracy could exist that would send people to their deaths simply by telling His story -- without violence, without rancor, without sword nor shield?

To stand, as Paul did before Agrippa and say in Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Paul had said earlier that Agrippa was an expert in the cultural, he continued in Acts 26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

Nope -- many years had passed since Jesus was baptized by John and began His earthly ministry. Many since Paul had met Him on the road to Damascus, which Paul described to Agrippa and Festus in preceeding verses.

Agrippa understood all of it. He was the expert, as Paul said. Yet he broke off the interview following this one confession in Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

That's not enough. We are told in Ephesians 2:8 what is necessary: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Where's your faith?