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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_26:19-23
19"So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. 21"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. 22"So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Act_26:19 "So, King Agrippa" See note at Act_25:13, Intro. Paul was trying to reach this man for the gospel (cf. Act_26:26-29).
▣ "I did not prove disobedient" The Greek term peithô is from the name of the goddess of persuasion. In this context it has the alpha privative, which negates it, thereby denoting "disobedience" (cf. Luk_1:17; Rom_1:30; 2Ti_3:2; Tit_1:16; Tit_3:3). So, in a sense, this was a forceful way in Koine Greek to negate something, but in this context, it is a literary way of affirming Paul's obedience!
▣ "heavenly vision" This refers to Paul's Damascus road encounter with the resurrected, glorified Christ.
Act_26:20 "Damascus. . .Jerusalem" See Act_9:19-25; Act_9:27 for Paul's ministry in Damascus; Act_9:26-30 for Paul's ministry in Jerusalem and possibly Act_9:31 for Paul's ministry in Judea.
▣ "repent and turn to God" Paul's message (cf. Act_20:21) was the same as
1. John the Baptist's (cf. Mat_3:1-12; Mar_1:4-8)
2. Jesus' early message (cf. Mar_1:15)
3. Peter (cf. Act_3:16; Act_3:19)
The Greek term repent means a change of mind. The Hebrew word means a change of action. Both are involved in true repentance. See Special Topic at Act_2:38. The two New Covenant requirements (which are also old Covenant requirements) for salvation are repentance (turning from self and sin) and faith (turning to God in Christ).
▣ "performing deeds appropriate to repentance" The believer's lifestyle (present active participle) confirms his/her initial faith commitment (cf. Mat_3:8; Luk_3:8; Eph_2:8-10, James and 1 John). God wants a people who reflect His character. Believers are called to Christlikeness (cf. Rom_8:28-29; Gal_4:19; Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10). The gospel is
1. a person to welcome
2. truth about that person to believe
3. a life like that person's to live
Act_26:21 It was not Paul's theological views, but his preaching to and inclusion of "the Gentiles" (cf. Act_26:20) that caused the riot in the Temple.
▣ "tried to put me to death" This is an imperfect middle (deponent) indicative (tried again and again) with an aorist middle infinitive (to kill). The Jews (cf. Act_9:24) from Asia (cf. Act_20:3; Act_20:19; Act_21:27; Act_21:30) tried to kill Paul several times.
Act_26:22 "testifying both to small and great" This is an inclusive Semitic idiom. It is Paul's affirmation (like Peter's, cf. Act_10:38) that he, like God, is not respecter of persons (cf. Deu_10:17; 2Ch_19:7, see fuller note at Act_10:34). He preaches to all humans.
▣ "stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said" Paul is asserting that his message and audience (i.e., Gentiles) are not an innovation, but OT prophecy. He is simply following OT guidelines (see Special Topic at Act_1:8), promises and truths.
Act_26:23 Notice that Paul's message consisted of three parts:
1. the Messiah suffered for human forgiveness
2. the Messiah's resurrection was first fruits of all believers' resurrection
3. this Good News was for Jews and Gentiles
These three theological aspects must be combined with Act_26:20 which shows how we personally receive Christ (repentance, turning from self and sin; faith, turning to God in Christ).
▣ "that the Christ was to suffer" For the basic theological points of the Apostolic sermons in Acts see Special Topic at Act_2:14. It was the stumbling block for the Jews (cf. 1Co_1:23), but it was an OT prediction (cf. Gen_3:15; Psalms 22; Isaiah 53). This same truth is found in Luk_24:7; Luk_24:26; Luk_24:44-47.
The Greek "the Christ" reflects the Hebrew title "the Messiah." Paul asserts that Jesus, who was crucified, was truly the Christ, the Promised One, the Anointed One (cf. Act_2:36; Act_3:6; Act_3:18; Act_3:20; Act_4:10; Act_4:26; Act_13:33; Act_17:3; Act_26:23, see special Topic: Messiah at Act_2:31).
▣ "that by reason of His resurrection from the dead" Because of this text, and Rom_1:4, there developed an early heresy called "adoptionism" (see glossary), which asserted that the human Jesus was rewarded for a good life by being raised from the dead. However, this aberrant Christology ignored all the texts about His pre-existence, such as Joh_1:1; Php_2:6-11; Col_1:15-17; and Heb_1:2-3. Jesus has always existed; He has always been divine; He was incarnated in time.
▣ "the light" Light is an ancient metaphor of truth and purity (cf. Act_26:18; Isa_9:2; Isa_42:6-7).
▣ "to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles" There is only one gospel for both groups (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13). This was the mystery that had been hidden from the ages, but is now fully revealed in Christ. All humans are made in the image of the one creator God (cf. Gen_1:26-27). Gen_3:15 promises that God will provide salvation for fallen humanity. Isaiah affirms the universality of the Messiah (e.g., Isa_2:2-4; Isa_42:4; Isa_42:6; Isa_42:10-12; Isa_45:20-25; Isa_49:6; Isa_51:4; Isa_52:10; Isa_60:1-3; and also Mic_5:4-5).