"But rise and stand on your feet; for I have
appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a
witness both of the things which you have seen
and of the things which I will yet reveal to you."
ACTS 26:16
In his testimony before King Herod Agrippa II,
Paul now turns to his conversion. This account
varies in several ways from Luke' record in Acts 9
and Paul's testimony to the Jewish mob in
Acts 22. Paul is simply tailoring his account to
fit his audience he is speaking to a king who is
'"expert in all customs question which have to do
with the Jews,'" a king who believe the Jewish
prophets (26:27), Paul adds some details and
excludes others to show that he has been called
of God just as the Old Testament prophets were.
Pauls tells Agrippa that he was traveling to
Damascus to arrest Christians when a light
from heaven, brighter than the midday sun,
shone around him and his companions. Unlike
in the previous versions, Paul here notes that all
of the party fell to the ground, but it is possible
that to others fell and got to their feet quickly,
since they were not blinded and did not hear the
voice the addressed Paul. That voice, Paul notes
only here, spoke in Hebrew. Why does Paul
mention this detail? Perhaps because Hebrew
was the language of the Old Testament. That
could be significant for what follows.
The dialogue between Jesus and Paul is
familiar through verse 15. But whereas in
Acts 9 and 22 Jesus directs Paul to get up and
proceed into Damascus to await direction,
He here instructs Paul to stand and then begins
to give him the instructions that came through
Ananias in the earlier accounts. Paul likely is
simply reporting the words that Jesus spoke to
Ananias to be passed on to him. He is
telescoping his story, leaving out the
intermediary stoke of Ananias.
Jesus' instruction to Oaul closely parallel
those of earlier accounts, but the language He
uses draws on the Old Testament. He tells Paul
to stand on his feet, just as God told Ezekiel to
stand up after he was overwhelmed by his vision
(Ezek.2:1). He promises to deliver Paul from the
Jews and Gentiles to whom he is being sent, just
as God promised protection to Jeremiah
(Jer.1:8,19). The Lord's '"I Now send you'"
is reminiscent of God's sending of Jeremiah and
Ezekiel (Jer.1:7; Ezek.2:3). And Paul's
commission to open eyes and deliver from
darkness harken back to Isaiah 42;7. "Agrippa
would have to admit that Paul stood In the Line
of the Old Testament prophets." Dr. Simon
Kistemaker comments on these parallels.
The basic purpose of Paul's ministry, as he
relates It here is that unbelievers may received
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among
the saints. Thus, Paul was an instrument for
Jesus' use in the building of his church. You, too,
are an instrument for the Lord's use. Strive to
submit yourself willingly to any function He
chooses for you.
appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a
witness both of the things which you have seen
and of the things which I will yet reveal to you."
ACTS 26:16
In his testimony before King Herod Agrippa II,
Paul now turns to his conversion. This account
varies in several ways from Luke' record in Acts 9
and Paul's testimony to the Jewish mob in
Acts 22. Paul is simply tailoring his account to
fit his audience he is speaking to a king who is
'"expert in all customs question which have to do
with the Jews,'" a king who believe the Jewish
prophets (26:27), Paul adds some details and
excludes others to show that he has been called
of God just as the Old Testament prophets were.
Pauls tells Agrippa that he was traveling to
Damascus to arrest Christians when a light
from heaven, brighter than the midday sun,
shone around him and his companions. Unlike
in the previous versions, Paul here notes that all
of the party fell to the ground, but it is possible
that to others fell and got to their feet quickly,
since they were not blinded and did not hear the
voice the addressed Paul. That voice, Paul notes
only here, spoke in Hebrew. Why does Paul
mention this detail? Perhaps because Hebrew
was the language of the Old Testament. That
could be significant for what follows.
The dialogue between Jesus and Paul is
familiar through verse 15. But whereas in
Acts 9 and 22 Jesus directs Paul to get up and
proceed into Damascus to await direction,
He here instructs Paul to stand and then begins
to give him the instructions that came through
Ananias in the earlier accounts. Paul likely is
simply reporting the words that Jesus spoke to
Ananias to be passed on to him. He is
telescoping his story, leaving out the
intermediary stoke of Ananias.
Jesus' instruction to Oaul closely parallel
those of earlier accounts, but the language He
uses draws on the Old Testament. He tells Paul
to stand on his feet, just as God told Ezekiel to
stand up after he was overwhelmed by his vision
(Ezek.2:1). He promises to deliver Paul from the
Jews and Gentiles to whom he is being sent, just
as God promised protection to Jeremiah
(Jer.1:8,19). The Lord's '"I Now send you'"
is reminiscent of God's sending of Jeremiah and
Ezekiel (Jer.1:7; Ezek.2:3). And Paul's
commission to open eyes and deliver from
darkness harken back to Isaiah 42;7. "Agrippa
would have to admit that Paul stood In the Line
of the Old Testament prophets." Dr. Simon
Kistemaker comments on these parallels.
The basic purpose of Paul's ministry, as he
relates It here is that unbelievers may received
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among
the saints. Thus, Paul was an instrument for
Jesus' use in the building of his church. You, too,
are an instrument for the Lord's use. Strive to
submit yourself willingly to any function He
chooses for you.
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