Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 26:12 - 26:18
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_26:12-18
12"While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16'But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'"
Act_26:12 Luke records Paul's personal testimony three times in Acts, Act_9:1-31; Act_22:3-21, and here. God's mercy and election towards Saul are so obvious. If God in Christ can forgive and use this man, He can forgive and use anyone!
Act_26:13 See full note in Act_9:3.
The fact that there is variation in details in all three places where Paul shares his conversion speaks to the accuracy of Luke's recording of Paul's legal defenses (and, thereby, also the sermons) in Acts!
Act_26:14 See full note at Act_9:4.
Frank Stagg, New Testament Theology, has a great paragraph on the vital connection between Jesus and His church.
"The most important fact about judgment is that we are judged in relation to Christ. In turn, this is a judgment in relation to his people. Our true relationship to him is reflected in our relationship to his people. To serve them is to serve him and to neglect them is to neglect him (Mat_25:31-46). Never does the New Testament allow one to divorce his relationship to Christ from that to other people. To persecute them is to persecute him (Act_9:1-2; Act_9:4-5; Act_22:4; Act_22:7-8; Act_26:10-11; Act_26:14-15). To sin against the brethren is to sin against Christ (1Co_8:12). Though we are not saved by our works, we are judged by them; for they reflect our true relationship to Christ and his grace. Judgment is merciful toward them that accept judgment, and judgment is merciful toward them who are merciful (Mat_5:7)" (p. 333).
▣ "Hebrew dialect" In Paul's three personal testimonies in Acts, this is the only one in which the detail of Jesus speaking Aramaic is mentioned. See full note at Act_22:2.
▣ "Saul, Saul" This last half of Act_26:14 and the last part of Act_26:15, as well as Act_26:16-18, are a quote from Jesus to Paul on the Damascus road.
▣ "It is hard for you to kick against the goads" This phrase is unique to this context, possibly because it was a Greek/Latin proverb, not Jewish. Paul always knew to what audience he was speaking and how to communicate to them! This is referring to
1. a pointed stick used by those who directed oxen to pull carts and plows
2. projections on the front of the cart or wagon to keep the animals from kicking backward
This proverb was used to denote the human futility of resisting divine initiatives.
Act_26:15 See complete note at Act_9:5.
▣ "Jesus whom you are persecuting" This shows the close connection between Jesus and His church, (cf. Mat_10:40; Mat_25:40; Mat_25:45). To hurt them is to hurt Him!
Act_26:16 "'But get up and stand on your feet'" These are both aorist active imperatives. This sounds very familiar to the prophetic call of Jer_1:7-8 and Eze_2:1; Eze_2:3.
▣ "'for this purpose I have appeared to you'" God had a specific assignment for Paul. Paul's conversion and call are not typical, but extraordinary! God's mercy is powerfully demonstrated as well as God's election for Kingdom service and kingdom growth.
▣ "I have appeared to you. . .I will appear to you" These are both forms of horaô. The first is aorist passive indicative and the second is future passive indicative. In a sense Jesus is promising Paul future personal encounters. Paul had several divine visions during his ministry (cf. Act_18:9-10; Act_22:17-21; Act_23:11; Act_27:23-24). Paul also mentions a training period in Arabia in which he was taught by Jesus (cf. Gal_1:12; Gal_1:17-18).
▣ "to appoint" This is literally "to take into the hand." It was an idiom of destiny (cf. Act_22:14; Act_26:16).
▣ "a minister and a witness" The first term literally referred to an "under-rower" on a ship. It came to be used idiomatically for a servant.
From the second term, martus, we get the English term "martyr." It had a double meaning:
1. a witness (cf. Luk_11:48; Luk_24:48; Act_1:8; Act_1:22; Act_5:32; Act_10:39; Act_10:41; Act_22:15)
2. a martyr (cf. Act_22:20)
Both connotations were the personal experience of most of the Apostles and many, many believers throughout the ages!
Act_26:17 "rescuing you" This is a present middle participle. In the middle voice this word usually means to select or choose. Normally it is translated "rescue or deliver" (cf. Act_7:10; Act_7:34; Act_12:11; Act_23:27). God's providential care is evident here. Paul received several of these visions during his ministry in order to encourage him. This possibly alludes to the Septuagint's reading of Isa_48:10 or possibly Jer_1:7-8; Jer_1:19.
▣ "from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles" Paul will suffer opposition from both groups (cf. 2Co_11:23-27).
▣ "to whom I am sending you" The "I" is emphatic (egô) here as in Act_26:15. The verb is apostellô (present active indicative), from which we get the term "Apostle." As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends His witnesses, apostles (cf. Joh_20:21).
Act_26:18 "to open. . .turn" These are both aorist infinitives. This may be an allusion to Isa_42:7. The Messiah will open blind eyes as a metaphor for opening spiritual eyes (cf. John 9). Gospel knowledge and understanding must precede the call to a volitional response (repentance and faith). Satan tries to close our minds and hearts (cf. 2Co_4:4) and the Spirit tries to open them (cf. Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65; Joh_16:8-11).
▣ "from darkness. . .from the dominion of Satan" Notice the parallelism. "Dominion" is the Greek term exousia, usually translated authority or power (cf. NKJV, NRSV, TEV). The world is under the influence of personal evil (cf. Eph_2:2; Eph_4:14; Eph_6:10-18; 2Co_4:4; Col_1:12-13, see Special Topic at Act_5:3).
In the OT, particularly the prophecies of Isaiah, the Messiah (see Special Topic at Act_2:31) was to bring sight to the blind. It was both a physical prediction and also metaphorical for truth (cf. Isa_29:18; Isa_32:3; Isa_35:5; Isa_42:7; Isa_42:16).
hyperlink
▣ "to light. . .to God" Notice the parallelism. Ancient humans feared darkness. It became a metaphor for evil. Light, on the other hand, became a metaphor for truth, healing, and purity. A good parallel passage on the light of the gospel is Joh_3:17-21.
▣ "that they may receive" The verbal in this phrase is another aorist infinitive. There is no "may" in the Greek text (cf. TEV, NJB). The only condition in this context is "by faith in Me" clause, which is put last in the Greek sentence for emphasis. All of God's blessings are contingent on a faith response (i.e., receive, cf. Joh_1:12) to His grace (cf. Eph_2:8-9). This is the NT counterpoint of conditional covenants in the OT.
▣ "forgiveness of sins" Luke uses this term (aphesis) often.
1. In Luk_4:18 it is used in an OT quote from Isa_61:1, where it means release, which reflects the LXX usage of Exo_18:2 and Lev_16:26.
2. In Luk_1:77; Luk_3:3; Luk_24:47; Act_2:38; Act_5:31; Act_10:43; Act_13:38; Act_26:18, it means "the removal of the guilt of sin," which reflects the LXX usage of Deu_15:3, where it is used of the cancellation of a debt.
Luke's usage may reflect the New Covenant promise of Jer_31:34.
▣ "and an inheritance" This is the Greek term klçros, which denotes the casting of lots (cf. Lev_16:8; Jon_1:7; Act_1:26) to determine an inheritance, as in Gen_48:6; Exo_6:8; and Jos_13:7-8. In the OT the Levites did not have a land inheritance, only the 48 Levitical cities (cf. Deu_10:9; Deu_12:12), but the Lord Himself was their inheritance (cf. Num_18:20). Now in the NT all believers are priests (cf. 1Pe_2:5; 1Pe_2:9; Rev_1:6). The Lord (YHWH) is our inheritance; we are His children (cf. Rom_8:15-17).
▣ "those who have been sanctified" This is a perfect passive participle. Believers (faithers) have been and continue to be sanctified by faith in Christ (cf. Act_20:21). See Special Topic at Act_9:32. Neither Satan nor the demonic can take this away (cf. Rom_8:31-39).